Virginia and Company, Pt 1

In 1607, England traveled to the New World in search of the rumored riches of the land. He had made a previous attempt 21 years earlier when he heard of Spain's exploits over there. (He was very jealous of Spain.) The journey was very tiresome, but he managed to arrive many miles north of where Spain had made his fortune.

When he stepped off the ship, he was dismayed to find a sickly little girl running in the fields by herself. He constructed a house for her and returned home to bring her medicine and supplies. Before he left, he named the little girl Roanoke. It suited her very well, for she was fair and lovely and her hair was shaded like an oak tree. Her eyes were green like leaves.

England had become fond of the little girl. But, while he was away, Roanoke's illness grew worse. She was far away from her siblings (of whom she informed England there were many) and the island she lived on was isolated from the mainland. The little girl cried from loneliness and wished England would come back.

When England returned, it was too late. Roanoke had vanished. He searched for answers and wondered if Spain had taken her. But she was never found.

Some native people said she disappeared to join a tribe who could care for her. Rumors of her death and burial were also common.

England returned home, grieving.

When Spain brought Florida for that fateful visit, he learned there were indeed children like Roanoke in the New World. Children in the wilderness... alone. How vowed to make sure they were provided for, and that he would take care of any he found, no matter what.

He was unsure of himself making the trip a second time. As he moved inland, he saw a pair of children playing on the beach. One was a boy, the other a girl older than him. Because of their wheat blonde hair and blue eyes, England wondered if they were siblings.

He walked onto the beach and approached the children with caution. At first, they were nervous. Then, the girl approached him and dusted off her white smock.

"Who'er you, mister?" She demanded.

"England." He replied calmly.

"Never heard'a you. What'a ya want?"

From out of nowhere, she drew a bow and arrow, aiming it as his forehead. England was slightly intimidated, but mostly surprised that she would carry such a weapon with her. These children were more resourceful than Roanoke. Nor were they sickly. But things for them could still be difficult, he supposed.

"I've come to search for gold. I was told there is a lot of it here,"' England explained. The girl set down her bow.

"Gold? What's that?" The little boy asked. England handed him a gold coin. The boy felt it in his hands.

But, to England's unpleasant surprise, the boy proceeded to stick the coin in his mouth. He grabbed the coin from him.

"You can't eat this, you twit! It's not food!"

"I dunno...it tasted kinda good to me." The little boy smacked his lips. The girl rolled her eyes.

"You just love to mess with people, don't you?"

Just then, England noticed a leaf sticking out of the boy's pocket.

"Is that a...tobacco leaf?"

To Be Continued