Home on Leave

Here he was, first time he'd been home in nearly a year. His eyes scanned the dock as he picked up his duffle, slung it over his shoulder, and made his way over to disembark with the rest of the midshipmen going ashore. He stepped over on the dock and once more looked for any familiar face that might be there to meet him. He had written and told his family he would be home on leave, but couldn't say it really surprised him no one was there waiting for him. He briefly tried to justify it by telling himself they might not have gotten his letter what with the unreliability of the post, but he really wasn't fooling himself. Repositioning the bag more comfortably on his shoulder he headed off on the two mile or so walk toward home. As he passed down the main street of town several of the shopkeepers recognized him and shouted greetings as he passed, one offering him a mug of water, which he gladly accepted, the day had turned quite warm and the walk and his uniform were doing nothing to make him the least bit comfortable. Finally he reached the gate that opened on the stone path to the front door. He stood there a moment looking up at the white three story structure in front of him that had served as his home until he'd joined the Navy almost a year ago. He snorted to himself, he'd thought he'd grown into a man in those months, but standing here preparing himself to enter most of his insecurities and self-doubt came rushing back. He gave a huff, squared his shoulders, gave his uniform a tug, repositioned his duffle once more, then unlatched the gate and headed up the walk.

He had no more mounted the last step of the wide front porch when the door was opened rather quickly and Mrs. Walker, the cook, was there to greet him.

"Oh my Master Jamie is that you?" Mrs. Walker said as she peered into James' face, "I heard through the gossip that goes on in this house ya was comin but I hardly recognize ya lad. Why you must a growd a foot, though it don't appear by that skinny frame of yers that Navy's been feedin ya anything of substance. But no never mind, you just come with old Annie and she'll fix ya right up." She turned and started to step back across the entry way, turned and patting him on the cheek, smiled, and said, "It sure is good ta have ya home again Master Jamie."

James paused a moment before following her into the house and toward the kitchen and thought to himself, 'If only I were to receive such a warm welcome from my family.'

Annie had succeeded in stuffing him so full he could hardly move. Two heaping platefuls of veal pot-pasty and three large pieces of caraway cake washed down with two large mugs of cocoa. He managed to push himself away from the table, holding his hands up to ward off the treacle tart she was headed to the table with, "Really Mrs. Walker, I couldn't possibly eat another bite."

"Are ya sure Master Jamie, there's plenty here."

"Absolutely sure, thank you." James answered forcing himself to rise to his feet and make his way toward the door, "Besides I really should let Mother and Father know I've arrived."

"Well you be sure n come back if ya get ta feelin the least little bit hungry. Plenty o food here, n I'm seeing no need for ya ta return back ta the Navy as scranny as they sent ya here." Annie said with a wink as James exited the kitchen.

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James was standing in front of his Father's study building up the courage to knock when his Mother and Sister came out of the parlor down the hall.

"Oh Mummy, I just have to have that scarlet sash to go with my dress. We must go first thing tomorrow and buy it from Mr. Sweeney, before that stupid Victoria Stemple gets it. Please Mummy, can we? Please? And we must go to the seamstress and make sure she has made those alterations to my dress I told her about, I'm so afraid she's not going to have it done in time for the party, and while we are in town we can find a fine hat for me to wear. "

"Yes Sarah, we shall go do all that tomor …." She stopped mid sentence, having looked away from Sarah and seen James standing there. "James?" she said as her steps quickened toward him. "James?"

"Mother, I just now arrived." James said as he turned to face her.

She reached him and gave him a hug, then pulled back, and with tears welling in her eyes, and a gentle smile on her face, she put her hand softly to his cheek. "You've grown son. Navy live must agree with you."

"So it would seem." James replied with a smile of his own.

"I've missed you James."

"I've missed you too Mother."

"Hello James." Sarah said.

"Hello Sarah." James replied.

"Mummy and I were just talking about the beautiful dress I'm to have for the party next week."

"So I garnered, and I'm sure you will look lovely Sarah." James replied.

"Of course I will, I always do." Sarah replied a bit arrogantly.

The door to the study opened and James' Father was suddenly standing there speaking in a loud tone, "By gods Katherine, what is all the commotion out here? How am I to get any work done with all this blathering going on?"

"Edward, see who's here. James, James has come home." Katherine said.

"Katherine, you and the girl take your inconsequential little female discussions elsewhere if you please." Edward said, then gruffly to James, "I suppose you are waiting to see me then? Well step in boy, don't stand around out in here in the hallway like you've got no sense. I'm a busy man you know."

"Yes Father." James said somewhat abashed.

Katherine, with a weak smile at James allowed Sarah to pull her off down the hall, "Come Mummy, we can talk some more about my dress, and my hat, and I shall need some new shoes as well."

James straightened his posture, squared his shoulders, straightened his uniform, and stepped into the lion's den.

To Be Continued

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