TEMPORARY UPDATE: Chapter Two has been fixed!
"Brothers in Arms"
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, May, 1870
In a quiet room, a young 15 year old Dutch van der Linde sits on his bed. His curly black hair slicked back. His face clean, and he wears a tan shirt with a grey vest and tan dress pants. Dutch puts on his brown boots, tucking the pants over them. As he is ready, he stands and looks out his window into the afternoon. He smiles.
His mother, Greta van der Linde, enters the room.
"Where are you off too?" She asks her son.
"To meet with James," Dutch says while looking out the window and loosing his smile. "Just as I told you last night that I would."
"Well be back in at least three hours," Greta tells Dutch. Dutch turns around, and looks at his mother. Annoyed.
"The sun will not even be down yet," Dutch tells his mother. "Are you actually gonna do this again?"
"I have rules Dutch," Greta responds firmly. "I expect you to follow them."
"Rules?" Dutch says while chuckling. " Your rules are based on your overprotectiveness. You are too sacred to send me to school, wasting away most of our money on a tutor."
"He is a fine tutor. He has taught you many things, reading, history, skills in how to do things."
"Sure, but what about only being allowed to have a small number of friends, only three or two hours to spend time with them? Never allowed to invite one here, or even allowed to pay visits to their own homes."
"I am just trying to protect you."
"You are just trying to control me," Dutch says as he grows more angry. "You have always been controlling. No matter the compromise, no matter the attempts I made in good faith to ease your worry. You still are afraid of the world. You control me and shelter me."
Greta looks down from her angry son. She sighs and looks back at Dutch with a sadden expression.
"I tried warning your father to stay away from the war," Greta tells Dutch calmly. "But he didn't listen. His persistent nature ended with him going, then getting killed. I fear the brutal world taking you victim. Just as it did him. I cannot afford to lose you after him."
Dutch looks at his mother, annoyed. He sighs angrily before walking past her to leave. Greta looks at her son, before looking away in sadness. Holding her hand as she looks down.
Amongst the streets of Philadelphia, many people on horses or wagons passby. Some workers are outside their shops, cleaning or sorting supplies. Many citizens simply walk the busy streets. Dutch walks amongst the sidewalk, along with the citizens. He looks about at the busy streets, only to suddenly start getting shoved pass by those walking faster. He simply continues walking, trying to ignore it.
Dutch soon crosses the street towards a building. As he finds himself there, he looks at it. It is the library. Dutch see's the building is closed, and a sign on the window. A sign that reads "Closed. Building now current property and to be renovated into Spalder Clothing Office."
"Dammit," Dutch says under his breath.
"A shame," a voice says behind Dutch. Dutch turns around to see who it is. He sees it is his friend.
"James Miller," Dutch says happily. "Always good to see you my friend."
Dutch and James shake hands. James, a seventeen year old with darkish brown hair. He wears a white button up shirt with the sleeves rolled up. Dark jeans tucked into his black and silver boots. James and Dutch look at the library, examining its closed down sign.
"Gregory Spalder bought this place," James says. "His many business are starting to take over this city."
"I loved getting books from this place," Dutch says with a sort of fondness in his voice. As if he is thinking of his memories with the library. "I got that one book my tutor first showed me. The one about the values of which America was founded on."
"I remember that," James says. "I think I read that one before you. You were so obsessed with the ideas presented in that one. Values of liberty and fighting for it."
"It was an interesting set of concepts. One I wish I had more time to explore. My controlling mother however, and my tutor, have had other plans though with stuff they have me doing as of recently."
"How are you and your mother by the way?"
James and Dutch look at eachother. Silence passes as Dutch slowly looks away to think and gather his words.
"I don't know how to politely put it," Dutch says firmly.
"Well, don't say it politely," James says as he shrugs and smiles. "You can just say how you feel. I ain't gonna judge you. You know that."
Dutch smiles and nods. He proceeds, "Well….you love your mother, don't you?"
"I do," James responds.
"Well, I mean sure, you got a father, a mother, a younger brother. You have good relationships with them as far as I can tell. And as far as you say."
"Of course," James says as he chuckles. "I mean me and my little brother Edward can get into fights at times, but he's only fourteen. A year younger than you. He doesn't know no better. My mother and father can get on my nerves sometimes, but it's never serious."
"Exactly," Dutch says. "But place yourself in my shoes. My father died when I was eight years old. Killed by wretched, racist, no good southern confederates. It has ruined my mother.
James is silent. Dutch continues. "My mother is so protective of me now. She fears losing me, just as she lost my beloved father. I have tried for years to get her to relax and all it does is anger her. Creating much more undesired rules from her. She won't even let me go to school. The only reason we met was because we ended up both trying to get the same book here two years ago."
"And we have been unable to stay apart ever since," James says. "But, well, I understand some of the rules your mother has set are some of the more intense ones I ever seen or heard of. Can't visit you, can't visit me, strict time limit to be away from home. Hell I get it. No freedom. I wouldn't complain about the school though. You are lucky with a tutor. He is smart ain't he? Got you hooked into reading all sorts of philosophical books and tales."
"I agree, but it ain't about the school fully," Dutch tells James. "Like you said earlier, no freedom. I just wish to be able to have some true independence. Enjoy the spoils of liberty that was blessed unto man."
"You can," James says while smiling at Dutch. "You just need it from your mother's point of view for the time being."
"What point of view?"
"She is worried of losing the only thing she has left from your father. Afraid to lose her son. Her only son. You gotta be precious to her. Considering the brutal lost she faced with your father, it might've just hit her hard."
"You know," Dutch says before stopping. He hesitates before continuing. "You know she had the unbelievable nerve to bring my father up while she spatted nonsense out to me again."
Dutch sighs.
"I hardly got to know him," Dutch says calmly. "And she wants to talk about his persistence getting him killed. It is not what I want to hear. I just wanna be free to live without such strict control over my life from her."
James sighs and pats Dutch's shoulder.
"Do you love her?" James asks.
"Of course," Dutch says.
"Then just understand her," James says. "She lost...your father...in such a sudden and tragic way. It affected her hard and she can't really let the pain go. It manifests itself in fear of that happening again with you. While hopefully you can make progress with her on something, be patient with her."
James and Dutch look at each other. Dutch nods.
"Thank you for always being there to have my back James," Dutch says while smiling.
James nods. Him and Dutch look at each other and smile. They then look back at the closed down library.
"Damn shame Spalder had this place bought," James say.
"Unfair," Dutch replies. "The memories, the hundreds of books to choose from here. Literally. I feel like this man has enough businesses in town, why does he want another one?"
"Sadly," James responds before stopping to think. "Sadly it just, seems that he and people like him are interested in money only. Any golden opportunity to acquire more money is gonna be pursued by them. He wants to buy every shop in town so he can produce more money, that'll be what he does."
"That is wrong," Dutch says while looking forward in thought. "It seems the goal is so wrong. The purpose. To just get rich? No, there needs to be a good goal and standing moral ground amongst the world. People shouldn't be corrupt or money hungry."
Dutch looks at James.
"It just destroys good pleasures of decent people who are not as powerful. Like us not having this library. Not being able to enjoy it as we always did."
Dutch and James look around.
"Well," James says. "That is just the way it is."
The two stand in silence.
"We still got that one eatery down the road," James says to Dutch as he smiles. Dutch smiles in return and responds, "I suppose you are right. Why not take ourselves there."
At an eatery, sometime later,
James and Dutch sit at a table, eating a meal together.
"Tastes pretty good," James says. "I wish my mother could cook this well."
James and Dutch laugh.
"Don't ever let her hear you say that," Dutch replies. "You'd break her little heart. And your mother, miss Emily, is too pure a heart to see broken."
"My mother is a decent enough cook I'll admit," James says chuckling.
A young, female, worker coming over to James and Dutch. She sees their empty plates from what they've already finished.
"Are finished with these?" She asks, nervousness in her voice.
"Uh, yeah," James says as the worker begins grabbing the plates. Long, beautiful blonde hair, and a cute face are just the many features about her that stand out about this girl who is about nineteen.
"I ain't seen you here before," Dutch mentions.
"No I started last week," the girl replies. "My names Lydia."
"Well get used to seeing us more often Lydia," James says chuckling.
"We like to come around here often," Dutch buds in. Lydia smiles as she leaves with the plates. James and Dutch look at each other, while still observing Lydia from a distance.
"I see your eyes James," Dutch says smiling at James.
"Excuse me," James responds. Clearly caught off guard.
"She's pretty cute," Dutch says. "She fits your tastes."
"Oh come on Dutch," James responds. "You know I ain't really got with a nice girl for some time."
"Why not?"
"Well, after Daisy ended up not working out last year, I just want to start taking my life a little slower."
"Since when have you ever taken things slow," Dutch says chuckling. James chuckles.
"Well Dutch, I don't think you have much room to talk. You ain't date no one since around the time we met."
Dutch takes a sip from his drink as he responds. "You know I just have no idea why but I never see girls nowadays I have an interest in to try and get."
"Too busy reading philosophy books Mr. Aristotle," James says jokingly.
"Piss off," Dutch says as him and James laugh. They look back at Lydia who cleans another table down the way.
"You know," Dutch says. "Just go up to her, introduce yourself. She looks only a tad bit older then you."
"Didn't I say I'd rather take things slow with my life now," James replies while looking at Dutch.
"You could take things slow with her," says Dutch.
"Yeah, whatever you say."
James sips from his drink. He puts down his empty glass.
"I don't know, how will I approach her?" James asks.
"So you do wanna speak with her?" Dutch responds.
"Just tell me what I should say," James jokingly demands.
Dutch laughs as he responds. "Well your glass is empty. Pretend she forgot it, and you can take it up to her. That is a reason to go up to her and start talking. Once you let her know you just wanted to help her out, figure out what she is doing starting a job here. SHe wants to to stay? Or is she planning for something bigger?"
"Ain't that creepy?" asks James. "To just go up and start asking lots of questions like that."
"It ain't creepy James," Dutch affirms. "We are local customers here. You know some of the other workers. You just wanna get to know her now too."
James and Dutch look at Lydia. Suddenly, they see three boys around there age enter the eatery. Dressed with expensive outfits and looking around. One of the boys spots and points at Lydia. Him and the other two boys head over to her. James and Dutch watch from their table.
"Dammit," James says. "It's the Spalder brothers."
"Really?" asks Dutch.
"That's right," James says. "Ken, Mark, and Tom. God I hate them boys."
"There father Gregory being so rich," Dutch begins. "Makes em think they are entitled. Better then everyone else."
"Hey look, their talking to that girl from earlier," James points out.
Lydia stands there, facing Ken, Mark, and Tom. Ken slowly lifts her chin up to look her in the eyes.
"I don't understand," Ken says. "We were so good with each other. I gave you everything."
"You didn't give me anything," Lydia nervously responds. "You never let me hang around with anyone. Made me stay with you, wear clothes I didn't like. Was mean to me."
"Those clothes were some of the finest from my fathers stores," Ken protests. "People like you and your poor mother would beg to even see something like them."
"It ain't about the clothes," Lydia says. Her voice shaking more. "I felt controlled by you. I thought you were nice but it turned out you were nothing like that. No leave me alone."
"What did you just say to him," asks Mark.
Lydia looks at Ken and his brothers. They stare her down. She begins to tremble
"You broke my heart Lydia," Ken proclaims. "You were with me for those sweet five months, suddenly you decide you don't love me. What? Found another boy? Who is he?"
"Ken," Lydia begins to say, but Ken interrupts, "Why did you leave me like that!"
James and Dutch watch as the rest of the eatery begin to also see the drama. James angrily sighs and gets up.
"Where you going?" Dutch asks.
"I ain't just gonna sit back and let these entitled bastards mess with her," James says as he proceeds foreword. Dutch sighs and follows after him. As the Spalder brothers confront Lydia, they see James and Dutch approach. They look at each other.
"What boys?" Tom says. "This don't concern you."
"Actually it does," James says. "I am gonna ask you leave this girl alone."
Lydia looks at James. Ken lets her go and walks up to James.
"Sorry, but who are you?" Ken asks.
"Names James. James Miller," James says.
"James Miller," Ken says as he thinks. His brother Mark buds in. "I heard that name before, ain't your father an officer in the city? Hugh Miller right?
"Yes," James responds firmly.
"Ah yes," Ken says. "I think he has harassed my father a few times."
"It ain't harassing if your father Gregory has been involved in some shady business."
"So," Tom begins. "You trying to stand up for justice like your daddy?"
"I just don't appreciate you being mean to her for no reason," James says.
"She is my girlfriend," Ken says.
"Sounds more like 'was'," Dutch chimes in.
The Spalder brothers face off with James and Dutch. Ken laughs as he looks at his brothers. Mark and Tom laugh in return. As Ken looks back at James, he swings his fist at him. James dodges, then punches Ken in the face. Ken falls.
"Hey!" Mark shouts. Mark grips James up and runs him back against the wall. Dutch sees and goes to help his friend, but gets punched in the stomach by Tom. Dutch returns a punch to Tom face, as the two begin fighting. Mark continues gripping Mark against the wall. James headbutts Mark, which knocks him back. Mark releases James and allows James to run after and tackle Mark. On the floor, James punches Mark in the face again and again. James gets up and grips Mark up. He takes him to the door and throws him outside.
Over by Dutch and Tom, Dutch dodges another punch from Tom, then slams his fist into Toms side. Dutch then kicks Tom back, and he falls into a table. Tom gets up and charges at Dutch. He knocks Dutch into a wall, and angrily punches his side. James suddenly runs up and pulls Tom back. He shoves him outside too. As Dutch catches his breath, James pats his back.
"You good?" James asks.
"I'm fine. Thank you," Dutch replies.
As Ken gets up, James and Dutch look at him. Ken feels his face in pain.
"Enjoy your nap there?' James asks.
"Ah you bastards," Ken says as he stumbles to the door. "You know who my father is? He'll not appreciate this."
"Yeah," James says. "Get the hell out of here."
Ken stumbles out. James and Dutch look at Lydia.
"You okay?" James asks.
"I...am fine," Lydia says while trying to calm down. "Are you sure you wanted to do that?"
"Shit James," Dutch says. "I mean we just fought the sons of the richest guy in town. Are we sure about what we just did?"
"It was worth it," James says. "Just cause your powerful, don't mean you can treat people as you wish. It ain't right, and people deserve better. To free from that crap."
An older man, who seems to run the place, comes out.
"Mister Smyth," Dutch says.
"The hell is going on out here?" Smyth asks, angry.
"Spalder came in to bother your fine employee," James explains. "I and Dutch fought and got em out of here."
"The hell!" Smyth says. "You got into a scuffle with Gregory Spalder's boys in my establishment?"
Smyth sighs, rubs his eyes, and continues. "He could buy this place off from me with a little price and get away with it. I ain't able to afford getting involved in this. Dammit."
"Hey,' James tries to explain.
"No," Smyth interrupts. "Just pay and get out of here for now boys. Go."
James and Dutch look at each other. They sigh and nod, and go back to the their table to prepare to leave.
"Hey," Lydia calls out to James. James stops walking, and turns back to look at Lydia.
"Thank you," she says while smiling. James smiles and nods at her.
James and Dutch walk down the street and stop out front Dutch's home. They look at each other, and Dutch breaths heavily.
"Time to return to the controlling women," Dutch says.
"Just try and understand her," James explains. "It'll be okay."
James and Dutch look up at the home, before he looks at James with worry.
"We gotten caught up in a few scraps before James," Dutch tells James. "But never with people like the Spalder boy's."
"The Spalder boy's," begins James. "They think they can just push people around. It ain't fair. People deserve fairness."
"But the risks with fighting those who are unfair," Dutch begins. "I mean it is sure controversy and drama to deal with. No doubt Gregory Spalder will be very upset about this."
"It doesn't matter, we shouldn't be held back from standing up for whats right, just cause we are scared of what will happen. Stand for whats right, no matter what will happen. You could inspire others to do the same.
It'll maybe help make the world a little better."
Dutch nods at James advice. He sighs as he looks around.
"Well," Dutch begins as he looks back at James and smiles. "Perhaps you impressed that girl."
James joking shoves Dutch. "Get out of here."
James begins to leave and says to Dutch, "Try to ease things with your mother. She loves you."
"Leaving love aside," Dutch starts to say.
"No," James interrupts. "Don't ever leave love aside Dutch. It's all we got."
James and Dutch smile and nod, before Dutch heads inside. James continues down the road to home. The sun begins to set.