Young Benjamin Davidson

Written By: Commander Cody CC-2224

CHAPTER 11

Ben began his first day at the Merriman General Store. Mr. Merriman busied himself with teaching him the basics of the mercantile business as Ben assisted his master with the various tasks imbued upon him. Felicity would on occasion drop by the store to get some spices for cooking, or just an occasional piece of rock candy.

It was during the later part of the day sometime in the afternoon that Felicity came back to the store to ask more questions about Ben's personal history.

"You promised you'd tell me more about your family, Ben," said Felicity.

"So I did, Felicity Merriman," said Ben a little wryly.

"Father mentioned that you had a father and a sister who died," said Felicity. "Can you tell me more about them?"

Ben gulped a bit as he was stacking jars. "My father…was a merchant, just like your father," said Ben. "He went off to join the Virginia Militia. He died when I was only four years old, while fighting off a Cherokee Indian attack against the Roanoke settlement."

Felicity's face was now in earnest seriousness. "I'm…I'm sorry to hear about that," she said as tactfully as she could.

"Then I grew up without a father. And then by the time I was ten, my only sister Hannah died of consumption when she was six."

"Oh, dear," said Felicity. Her younger sister Nan was just the same age, and she kind of feared that the same thing might happen to her, though she prayed in her mind that it would not be the case. "She's as old as my younger sister Nan, then," she said.

"Aye," replied Ben. "She was more than just a sister, she was a friend. We played together, we did things together, we went to school together…"

"School?" asked Felicity.

"Well, briefly there was a school that Mother sent us to because we were trying to make ends meet. Occasionally the schoolmaster would chew us out now and then, and I would occasionally get bullied by some of the schoolboys." He reminisced on the scene. "Funny…how my sister managed to get them off me by her defiance."

Felicity chuckled to herself. "I dare say, that sounds an awful lot like me," she admitted.

"Then when poor Hannah got seriously whipped on the palms of her hands, we…we decided to school at home."

"That must be nice," said Felicity thoughtfully. She was pretty lucky for that, too. She looked at Ben thoughtfully as he continued while making sure the jars were neatly stacked.

"Then…later on, we started taking notice of Hannah's serious coughs. Doctor said 'twas the consumption. My Mother and I were with her during her last moments."

"That was sad," said Felicity thoughtfully. She looked at Ben. "Did you cry?"

Ben chuckled. "I'm…I'm afraid I did" he admitted wryly. "Then I felt so alone. But at least there was Mother."

Felicity decided to change the subject. "You mentioned that at one time you got in trouble for trespassing on a plantation. How did that happen?"

Ben chuckled again as he leaned over the counter. "You won't like to hear it, Felicity Merriman. 'Twill make you so ashamed to make any relations with me."

"That's not true!" cried Felicity. "I occasionally got myself into trouble, when I carelessly rolled my hoop into Mrs. Burnie's nice clean laundry."

"Well, compared to that, my end result was being caught by two officers of the law, which can put a permanent mark on a man's reputation," said Ben.

Felicity began to feel rather thoughtful about Ben's previous predicament. "So how did you get yourself into trouble?" she pressed further.

"Well," began Ben a little hesitantly. "I…um…I was riding one of Mr. Copley's horses into the woods almost away from the outskirts of my hometown until I came across Middling Plantation. Then when I turned back to reach home two British dragoons were upon me. They shot the horse."

"Goodness!" exclaimed Felicity. "Pray, where?"

"Oh, on the leg," replied Ben. "'Twas enough to tumble me off. Then I was hauled away, horse and all, back to our house, where the officers blamed me for the damage of the horse when it was they who shot it."

Felicity could not help laughing.

"What?" asked Ben, feeling a little miffed over the idea of someone laughing over his embarrassing moment.

"The story…is somewhat funny," admitted Felicity. "And downright embarrassing." She looked at him with childlike admiration. "You really did have a lot of interesting adventures, didn't you, Ben."

"Well…most of my childhood was just as insignificant as yours," said Ben.

"Ben," said Felicity a little crossly, feeling miffed over the idea of her life being insignificant. Ben started chuckling, too.

"You really do know how to insult a lady, do you, Benjamin Davidson," said Felicity.

"Do I?" asked Ben, almost laughing to himself.

"'Tis very ungentlemanly of you, Benjamin Davidson," said Felicity.

"You still haven't gotten used to me yet, me with my reserved personality," said Ben. "I don't usually talk a lot."

Felicity nodded and smiled. "Sometimes I like someone who can talk a lot," she said.

"Like someone who can speak their mind confidently?"

"Perhaps," said Felicity. "I've got to head back. I fear Mother will be most angry with me if I don't come back for the sewing. I just detest it. 'Tis most boring." She made face.

"I can see that," said Ben.

Felicity nodded again and flashed her spunky and sprightly smile. "Good day, Mr. Davidson," she said, bobbing a curtsy.

"Good day…Miss Felicity," said Ben, as he resumed his work.

Seconds later after Felicity disappeared out of the shop Mr. Merriman emerged briskly from the counting room.

"I kind of overheard your conversation with you and Lissie," said Mr. Merriman. "Still getting acquainted with her?"

"I…I think so," replied Ben.

Mr. Merriman chuckled. "Don't get distracted too much, lad," he said. "You've got a trade to learn."

Ben gulped. "Aye, sir," he replied.

Mr. Merriman slapped his apprentice on the shoulder. "But 'tis good to make friends," he said understandingly. "It gives people a level of humanity in the midst of the mundane world."

That evening of the same day, Ben was seated on his bed in the stable loft, musing over his thoughts about his hometown, his father, his mother, and his sister. During his period of pensiveness, Felicity emerged from the ladder, which kind of startled Ben.

"I…I didn't expect to see you," he said, looking pretty startled.

Felicity chuckled. "Oh. Did I startle you?" she asked.

"I…I think you did," replied Ben.

"Hmm…" said Felicity. She got herself up to the loft and took her seat on Ben's loft bed on his right side.

"My younger sister told me 'twas rude to stare at you during your first day," said Felicity a little seriously until her mood changed to her usual chatty self. "But I couldn't really help it. You didn't mind, did you?"

Ben shook his head no. Felicity then flashed her sweet smile.

"I think I'll grow to like you, Benjamin Davidson," said Felicity.

"I'm thinking the same, too, Felicity Merriman," said Ben.

Felicity nodded her head a little seriously. "Good night, Ben," she said.

Ben was a little hesitant before he said, "Good night…Lissie."

Smiling warmly again, Felicity climbed down the ladder and headed back to the house, leaving Ben alone with his thoughts. For him it would take time to establish a friendship with the lively girl, as with any of the Merriman family members.

THE END

A/N: The part where Felicity briefly talks about her incident with Mrs. Burnie came from the book Felicity Discovers a Secret.

Yup, here we go. Please R&R (Review & Rate). Since not much is talked about Benjamin Davidson's childhood, (especially in the Felicity Mystery Novels written by Elizabeth McDavid Jones), I had to make some stuff up a bit, but more importantly, I attempted to have the events of his childhood logically coincide with the events of the Felicity Series Books. (Much of my inspiration was kind of derived from the new Star Trek 2009 movie, especially the parts concerning the birth of James T. Kirk, as well as the part where Christopher Pike encourages Kirk to join Starfleet.) Feedback is always appreciated.