January 1st, 1713
Burgess, Pennsylvania
"Shule, shule, shule aroon
Shule go succir agus, shule go kewn,
Shule go durrus oggus aylig lume,
"Shule, shule, shule aroon
Shule go succir agus, shule go kewn,
Shule go durrus oggus aylig lume,
Iss guh day thoo avorneen slawn.
"I wish I was on yonder hill
'Tis there I'd sit and cry my fill,
And every tear would turn a mill
"I'll sell my rod, I'll sell my reel
I'll sell my only spinning wheel
To buy my love a sword of steel
"Shule, shule, shule aroon
Shule go succir agus, shule go kewn,
Shule go durrus oggus aylig lume,
Iss guh day thoo avorneen slawn.
"I'll dye my petticoats, I'll dye them red
And 'round the world I'll beg my bread
Until my parents shall wish me dead."
I walked down the path in the large forest, leading from the next town to Burgess. I had gone in the forest to check on some of my father's traps. As usual, they were all empty. It was hard getting food this winter. I hardly ate; I let my mother use most of my portion to feed my two year old brother, Oliver. Food had been scarce since the cold months started, around late October. Some families got along fine, but they had money. My family was poor, like much of Burgess. My best friend often sent food over. His family had money. Well, enough sad talk. I kept singing Shule Aroon, looking at the ground. Singing brought me to a new world. It was endless; it was a sanctuary. I felt a hand grab my shoulder, a strong hand. I turned around and kneed the man right in the soft spot. The streets were full of drunks, as a party was just ending at the local pub. The man fell to the ground, brown hair shining in the moonlight.
"Aw, come on, Emily. I haven't had kids yet!"
It was Jackson Overland, my best friend.
"Well, don't just sneak up on me like that, Jack!" I grabbed his hand and helped him up.
"Okay, okay. What are you doing out this late?" Jack brushed off his white shirt. It was pretty late; the full moon was high in the sky.
"I had to go check my father's traps. Empty as usual." I picked an apple off the ground that Jack had dropped and gave it to him.
"You know, my family would be happy to help your's. You just have to ask. My parents love you too much. They treat you like you're their daughter." Jack smirked, towering at least five inches over me. "I'm actually surprised they haven't made me marry you just to get you into the family. I actually wouldn't mind that. Our own house, little versions of us running around. That'd be nice."
"Are you proposing marriage to me, Jack?" I raised an eyebrow; Jack didn't talk like that often.
"Maybe. It'd be fun. Married couples have the best fun," Jack said, raising his eyebrows jokingly.
"Pig!" I laughed, shoving him. "If you are going to ask me, I suggest you try having an actual romantic relationship with me first."
"Fine, fine. You mean romance like this, right?" Jack leaned close to me, putting on of his hands on the back of my head. His lips brushed mine, soft and warm. I felt a blush creeping up my neck to my face. Jack slowly leaned in closer, the kiss deepening. He pulled away a few seconds later, a wide smile on his face. "Like that?"
"I, uh, um, y-yes." I cleared my throat so I would stop stuttering. "Exactly like that." Jack smiled down at me and I smiled back.
"Well, you better go to sleep, little girl. Tomorrow's a big day," Jack smirked at me.
"Little girl? I'm only five months younger than you!"
"Well, you still better go to sleep. Tomorrow is Sarah's birthday."
Sarah was Jack's little sister. She was a young girl, not even ten yet.
"Fine. I'll see you tomorrow, Jack," I said as I stood on my tiptoes and kissed him on the cheek, his brown eyes reflecting the full moon shining above us.
"Emily, can you sing me a song before I go to sleep?" My little brother waddled into my room, hugging a teddy bear my grandmother had given to him. He climbed onto my bed and sat cross legged at my feet.
"Sure, Oliver. What song do you want?" I sat up and pulled him onto my lap.
"The one about the spaceman!" Oliver smiled up at me and I carried him to his room and put him on his bed.
"That was my favorite when I was your age." I smiled at him and pulled his blankets over him.
"A spaceman came traveling on his ship from afar
'twas light years of time since his mission did start
And over a village he halted his craft
And it hung in the sky like a star just like a star
He followed a light and came down to a shed
Where a mother and child were lying there on a bed
A bright light of silver shone round his head
And he had the face of an angel and they were afraid
Then the stranger spoke he said "do not fear
I come from a planet a long way from here
And i bring a message for mankind to hear"
And suddenly the sweetest music filled the air
And it went la la la la la la la la la
La la la la la la la la
La la la la la la la la
Peace and goodwill to all men and love for the child
This lovely music went trembling through the ground
And many were wakened on hearing that sound
And travellers on the road
The village they found by the light of that ship in the sky
Which shone all around
And just before dawn at the paling of the sky
The stranger returned and said "now I must fly
When two thousand years of your time has gone by
This song will begin once again to a baby's cry"
And it goes la la la la la la la la la
La la la la la la la la
La la la la la la la la
This song will begin once again to a baby's cry
And it goes la la la la la la la la la
La la la la la la la la
La la la la la la la la
Peace and goodwill to all mean,
and love for the child."
By the time I was finished singing, Oliver was asleep, probably dreaming of spacemen and angels. I kissed his forehead and walked back to my room, cold in my night dress. I buried myself under the covers and fell asleep, dreaming of snow and ice and Jack.
Hey hey hey it's the first chapter. Yayyyy. I included two songs in this chapter: Shule Aroon (an Irish Gaelic song) and A Spaceman Came Travelling. Check them out on youtube! Please, review. And favorite if you like. And hey you read this far good for you. Have a butterfly }|{