"Is this the monument of Leonato?"
Much Ado About Nothing, Act 5, Scene 2.
It was the year 1714, under a bridge in London lay a box, inside which lay 13 children. The oldest Leonato had dug out from the bridge's foundation to create a large space for their living quarters. At this time all were asleep except three, Leonato, his brother, James, the second oldest, and the oldest girl, Sara who was 16 alike James. On the ground lay a candle and a map of the Atlantic Ocean. Leonato pulled out from behind him a stack of letters.
"I stole these from my mother," explained Leonato, "These were written to
her from my father, about his travels to Boston,"
"That's good, we'll need all the help we can get," agreed James
"Give me those," ordered Sara, grabbing the letters from Leonato's grip, "You guys are useless, its talk, talk, planning, planning, no work," She opened the first letter and skimmed for coordinates and marked them on the map with pebbles. She did this for all the letters while the boys silently watched and James fell asleep. "Here, this is our route," she then reached under her thread-bare wool hat and pulled out a small red pencil and connected the coordinates.
"Well, that's great," exclaimed Leonato, hiding his excitement. "Sara look at the bottom letter the only one that you haven't opened. Inside is a list of the things my father packed with him when he went and the description of the monument put on the shore to let sailors know that they have reached the Colonies,". She obeyed.
"It says here that the monument is a tall white tower with a red stripe and a black top, and here is the list"
"Ok, I know where we can get all of this for free,"
"Really? That's great! Let's go!" She ran to the entrance of the 'hole in the bridge' and came out form under the box to find that it was night time and raining in London. They ran until they came to a large mansion. Inside was an old woman in the image of Leonato. "Leo, is that your mother?"
"Yes, here down here" he pulled up the door to the basement. They went inside and there were hundreds of wooden crates marked 'Voyage'.
Eighteen months later, they had stolen a ship from port and set sail all 13 of them to the New World. All had died except James and Sara. They sailed in silence, as they have since Leonato died. James left the wheel in Sara's command as to go fix dinner. He was looking through the remaining crates looking for some not spoiled food.
"James, come here quick, and bring Leonato's letters!" That was the first time either had said his name. James ran to Leonato's old living chamber and grabbed the letters off the nightstand, the room hadn't been changed since the death. He then ran up to meet Sara. There was fog but they could both see quite a far distance. "Is that it? Is that the monument?". James tore open a letter and read the description.
"Yes! Yes it is!"