The sunlight from outside shun through the windows of the Dutchman's house, awakening the small girl in one of the guest rooms. Well, it had been a guest room; now, with all the stuffed animals, arts and crafts, and collection of picture books, it was the room of the young New Amsterdam. Jumping out of her bed, she made her way to the bathroom to freshen up for the day ahead with the Netherlands.
"Good Morning, New Amsterdam," the Netherlands said putting down the pipe he was smoking.
"Good Morning," she replied running up to hug him. She felt so warm against his body that when he pulled away from him that he placed on her forehead.
She giggled at his small act of affection before asking, "So what's for breakfast, Mr. Netherlands?"
The Dutchman frowned at the name. They have been living together at his house for a while now and yet she still referred to him as the same thing she did when they first met. He let out small sigh knowing that she was simply trying to be polite but he wished she wouldn't be so formal all the time.
"What did I tell you before," he said fiddling with his pipe, "call me Hendrick, not Mr. Netherlands."
"Oh," she said slightly embarrassed that she forgot, "well then… can you call me Karen?"
Hendrick's eyes widen at the thought. He thought about calling her by her human name and how lovely that would be or how it would make her start calling him by his name.
"Would you like that?"
"Yes," she said smiling, "very much."
He chuckled at her adorable smile. "Alright then Karen, help yourself to some bread and cheese. I've got a surprise for you today."
The girl nodded while placing a piece of cheese to her mouth.
The two of them found themselves at one of the ports of the Hudson River [1]. Karen knew this as the place where Hendrick work; he would count things that they had to be shipped across the sea and he sometimes let her join to see what merchants brought back from his home land.
"What's the surprise, Hendrick?" Karen asked shuffling impatiently by the edge of the dock.
"Be patient, you'll find out soon enough."
As the blonde girl stood there impatiently playing with her hair, she did not see a merchant heading the direction she and Hendrick were in. She also didn't realize that he was holding a wooden crate or that the merchant was giving the crate to Hendrick until she heard the Dutchman say, "Pleasure doing business with you," signifying that her beloved caretaker had closed a deal.
Looking up at the Dutchman she asked, "What's in the crate?"
"The surprise," he answered smirking.
"Let me see! Let me see!" she exclaimed with delight.
The blonde man simply chuckled at her cute childlike behavior and lowered the crate to the ground so she could view its contents. The young girl's eyes widen in amazement as she saw a rainbow of bright colors in front of her eyes. In the crate were flowers that she had never seen before in every color she could think of: red, pink, purple, blue, yellow, orange, white, peach, magenta, and so many others she lost track.
Karen gently picked up a flower that matched the color of her hair and inspected it. "These are beautiful," she said in awe, "What are they?"
"Tulips," Hendrick replied enjoying the expression on the girl's face, "they're really popular from where I'm from."
"Awww," Karen sighed, "I wish they would grow here."
"That's the other part of the surprise," Hendrick said taking out something from the bottom of the crate and held it out in front of her. Karen simply gave a weird look to the onion looking thing Hendrick was holding. "They're tulip bulbs," he said, "If you plant them now, they will grow into tulips for spring."
"Can we plant them please?" Karen pleaded.
With one look at her innocent face, the Dutchman quickly agreed to her request.
"Hendrick, how long until the bulbs turn into flowers?" Karen asked while yawning in her bed. The long afternoon spent planting the bulbs was fun but tiring and all she desired was sleep.
"I already told you that you have to wait until spring, Karen," he said laughing and tucking her into bed, "now go to sleep."
"Alright," she yawned slowly closing her eyes.
"Good night, Karen," Hendrick said pressing his lips on her cheek giving her a goodnight kiss before leaving her room.
"Good night," she replied before he could, "I'll see you in the morning."
Her last words seemed to stab him in his heart. "If only she knew," he thought. After making his way to his room, Hendrick closed the door before him. On his bed were a suit that was half full and his coat. The Dutchman sighed in pain as he looked for the rest of his belongings to put in his suit case. He didn't want to leave her, his little angle, the girl that he cared for so deeply and loved so much. He knew that if he would say goodbye to her face that he wouldn't be able to bear her tears caused by their departure, but he had to. He was needed in Holland so he planned to leave at the dark of the night.
When all his belongings were packed and the cost looked clear, Hendrick made his way to the front door. Just as he was about to leave, a small voice behind him stopped him in his tracks.
"Hendrick?" Karen asked behind him; her hair fell freely and her long white night gown made her look like an angel, "where are you going? It's nighttime."
Her innocent voice made it harder to
Carry out with his plans. "I'm going away for a bit," he said trying to hide his guilt.
"What?" the young girl asked in horror, "Why?"
"I have some things I have to take care of in my homeland."
The young girl ran up to him and grabbed his leg, grabbing on for dear life. "But I don't want to leave," she cried into his leg not making the situation any easier.
"Listen," he said crouching down to her height, "I don't want to leave either but I have to. No one else can do my job so I need you to be strong till I come back, okay."
Holding back tears, the young girl nodded. The Dutchman sighed and wrapped his arms around her. Karen buried her head in his chest, letting out small weeps.
"You be a good girl, okay," he said into her neck.
"I will," she mumbled into her chest.
When he pulled away, he gave her one last kiss on her cheek and uttered a final goodbye.
As he disappeared into the horizon, tears flowed from the young girl's eyes as she whispered "goodnight" into the dark empty house.
