Virginia and Company, Pt2
"Tobacco? Is that what you call it?" The boy asked. England noted the boy was more scruffy, but physically tougher than his sister. Considering their personalities, he found it strange.
"Yes," he replied, "But, where did you get it?"
"Don't tell anyone, 'kay?" The girl made him promise. England said he promised.
"Well, we stole it from this guy down south," She said. Spain, England thought. His servants grew that plant down there.
"We were having a hard winter and we both were sick a lot. We traveled south in search'a food. We heard from some kid down there that people across the sea go crazy for this stuff. So we were going to find some of these people to sell it to them."
England felt a scheme brewing in his head.
"I live across the sea," England smiled, "But, what if I told you that you could make more money off of that plant?"
"How?" Asked the boy. England explained that the climate they lived in was ideal for growing tobacco. If they were patient, they could wind up with a lot of tobacco plants, which he could take back to Europe in return for food and supplies. Even money.
"So… we can get food with money?" The boy questioned him. The little girl pulled an ear of corn from her pocket. England knew they couldn't live on corn alone. Her offered to stay with them a while to help. His supplies would be shared with them.
They were reluctant, but seeing as they were not doing well on their own, they agreed to it. England had a house built for them, which the three of them named Chesapeake.
The girl's spunkiness reminded him of his former boss, Queen Elizabeth the first. So, he bestowed of Virginia upon her (for the "virgin" queen). The little boy was her brother, so he was named West Virginia (being a child from "west" of Europe). However, he was often simply referred to as 'West', since he was afraid that others would make fun of him for sharing his sister's name.
West lived with Virginia and wouldn't be an independent State until after the United States of America separated from England almost 170 years later.
Back in Europe, Spain was peeved when he learned he needed to compete to sell his tobacco now. The Nordic States had gone to the New World to explore the land north of Virginia and her brother. France was also wandering the New World, trading for furs and other luxuries to take home.
England was smug in his new partnership, and even managed to get away with calling the two children his brother and sister.
Though West took to weaving simple artisan pants and a shirt, Virginia grew to be a well-dressed young lady with a taste for the finer things in life. Sadly, this desire would lead to less than good decisions later down the road.
In the meantime, England and France traveled north to where the Nordic States had settled. Because of tensions at home, both countries felt they needed to expand further into the continent.
To Be Continued