All rights to the characters belong to DIC Entertainment and PBS. I was merely inspired by them to write an adventure, which does belong to moí :)
"Are you sure this is the right place?"
James Hiller's skepticism is not unfounded. His young friend had bragged of knowing a shortcut to the destination of their latest assignment, and the blond sixteen year old hadn't hesitated to escape the slow moving coach. Granted, their hasty retreat had left the third member of their party alone to deal with an angry coachman, but he was certain that Sarah Phillips could charm her way out of an Indian war party if need be. James was not to be deterred by the cluttered Philadelphia streets. He has a story to write, and what a story to boot! History was going to be made at this second continental congress, and his employer was counting on him to document it. Therefore, it was paramount that Henrí hadn't gotten them lost, or led the ace reporter to the wrong entrance. Their employer had specified the location of a side entrance to the hall, only to be used by approved members of the convention. However, Henrí did not appreciate his older friend's lack of faith and proceeded to pointedly roll his brown eyes and stick his tongue out after they were escorted to the correct entrance. Which, in turn causes the scruffy self-proclaimed patriot to squint and respond, "No need to get testy Henrí, you know how important it is for me to report everything that happens at this convention for the Pennsylvania Gazette. Or, do you want to disappoint Dr. Franklin, and risk being thrown back out on the street where he found us?"
Not that this scenario would ever cross the good humored doctor's mind, but James enjoyed teasing Henrí and then waiting for a thoroughly dramatic reaction. Sarah would have called him immature, but Sarah wasn't here right now, and it was dreadfully boring waiting for her while all the action was going on inside the chapel!
"Dr. Franklin would never do that! He is too honorable, and wouldn't let us go without Moses' dinner first! With biscuits of course, always the délicieux biscuits."
The dark featured Frenchman was not older than eleven years old, but had an appetite to rival the older strapping newspaper printer, Moses. It was the blonde's turn to roll his eyes and chuckle at his friend that was predictably distracted by food. Again. In the distance, a voice with an unmistakably British accent cries out, "Oh James… Henrí? Where are you?" In response, the French boy bounds back to the front of Christ's Church, and wades through the crowd of people attempting to rush through the gates that lead to the church yard. His eyes light up once seeing the brilliant red hair that belongs to a beautiful English girl of seventeen.
"Over here, Sarah! No, down here," he cries.
"Thank heavens-I was a frightful mess after you abandoned the coach when our horses reared. It was a right miracle the coachman didn't throw me out for all the ruckus you caused on the street," she says.
"That was not my idea. I was just following James,"
"Dear me, when will that boy learn proper manners? At sixteen, one would think he'd be old enough to have a sense of decorum!"
Henri shrugs, but continues to guide her toward the lesser used entrance at the east side of the towering building, topped with a threatening steeple. Several passersby were being instructed to leave the premises after attempting to push their way through the front doors. However, two burly delegates from North Carolina were selected as door keeps for such a scenario. "Oh James, at last, you mustn't drag your feet now. General Washington cannot be left waiting. Dr. Franklin is counting on us to find the congressmen posthaste." Sarah said while taking the lead through the slightly ajar side door. The blond furrows his eyebrows in annoyance as he whispers, "Uh, we were waiting on you—your highness! If you were in such a hurry, why didn't you follow us?"
The redhead chooses to ignore him as they proceed down the long hallway toward a set of double doors marking the entrance of the sanctuary.
She hastily turns around to whisper back, "It is the height of rudeness to abandon a lady while escorting her—"
"And yet you're always reminding me you don't need an escort, given that you're a year my senior,"
"Ugh, such a child, interrupting your elders who are trying to rebuild your corrupted manners—"
"Um… mon ami?" The French boy interjects, while cowering behind his friends.
"Not you too Henrí! Do you see the frightful example you're setting, James?" She said before a booming voice rises above the current of discussions flooding the room to declare, "Boys!" The three temporary wards of Benjamin Franklin quickly turn around and expect to face a harsh accuser, but instead, find a jovial John Adams beckoning them into the hallowed halls of Christ's church. A makeshift meeting place, where pews have been pushed aside, and several tables are set up in accordance with each different colonies' delegation.
Mr. Adams exclaims, "It's so good to see you James! Yes, even you little Henrí."
At the knowledge there were no hard feelings after the frying pan incident at Mr. Adam's home, the gentle distinction eases the young boy's tense shoulders. The Philadelphian delegate continues by saying, "Come, I'm sure Ben has sent you on an assignment, and we'll be ready to start the convention once Maryland gets here—why that little colony takes the longest to arrive at each convening I'll never know! Of course, you'll be asked to wait outside during the proceedings to keep everything off the record, but as Ben's agents, you understand the delicate nature of our business."
James was ready to fire back that they, well he anyways, was a reporter; however, Sarah cut him off by stepping in front of the boys to curtsy and give a charming reply.
"We completely understand the need for discretion Mr. Adams, and wouldn't dream of interfering. James and myself were sent only to gather statements from General Washington regarding his commission, and would appreciate a few words from yourself, when convenient, of course."
The man in question bowed his head and apologized, "Forgive me, I did not realize I was in the presence of a lady, Miss...?"
"Sarah Philips at your service, good sir,"
"Allow me to escort you to the General, Miss Phillips."
Before taking his arm, she pointedly raises her eyebrows at James. He proceeds to huff at her silent rebuke, and drags Henrí with him to the front of the room where a desk stood in place of an altar. The windows were boarded up to discourage prying eyes. An imposing figure at the helm was clad in fine dark breeches paired with a gold buttoned vest that hid a sensible white shirt; however, due to the increasing heat of a Philadelphian afternoon, the matching dark overcoat had been abandoned to a nearby chair. Of course, with his fashionable powdered wig in place, the fifty-five year old has a well-earned aura surrounding him. Despite the monumental effort required to get one's point across in the crowded hall, an inordinate amount of patience, to rival that of Job's, has proven necessary. Unsurprisingly, this image of the French and Indian war hero can strike an equal amount of awe and fear from friend or foe. Sarah knew if she was to be introduced first, the nervous frog in her throat would surely spring out. As General Washington saw their group approach, he rose to properly greet John Adam's guests, and gave a sweeping bow to the lady accompanying the young lads.
The general asks, "My good lady, to what do we owe the pleasure of your company on this fine afternoon of official proceedings?"
However, at Sarah's look of pure horror at being unable to speak a word, James intervenes and takes a step forward to shake the general's hand.
"Good afternoon sir, we're reporters for Dr. Franklin's Pennsylvania Gazette, and are publishing a story regarding your official posting as general of the first continental army of the United States. May we get a statement and quote you at your first meeting with Congress since accepting the commission?"
"By all means, ask of me what you will. I only ask what the little one will be doing in the meantime?"
The wizened Washington gestures to an Henrí sitting on the general's chair and teetering on its back legs. With wide eyes from embarrassment, the apprentice slams a hand on the chair to put it back down on all fours. He responds to Washington with a terse, "Hopefully, Henrí will be staying out of trouble!"
Meanwhile, Mr. Adams is pleasantly surprised to learn that Sarah is acquainted with his wife.
"You say you have met my Abigail already?"
"Indeed sir, on my expedition to help deliver pamphlets of Thomas Paine's 'Common Sense' to Boston,"
"But that was a dangerous mission during the blockade of Boston harbor with the king's troops barricading the city. However did you manage to smuggle them in? Anyone caught was facing charges of treason. I heard something preposterous about the use of pigs—"
"It was sheep, actually. With saddlebags full of pamphlets traveling under the cover of darkness. Which proved rather useful, when a British patrol searched our wagon and I was able to swear as an Englishwoman, that we were not carrying any treasonous pamphlets… at that time," she bashfully added.
"My, what nerves of steel you possess Miss Philips. Your family must be incredibly proud of their quick thinking daughter?"
All at once, her emerald eyes shot upward while furiously blinking in an attempt to hide unshed tears.
"Alas, I could not tell you Mr. Adams. My father has been exploring the Ohio territory, and we have not received word of his whereabouts for several years. I came to find him, and a place to settle our family in this new land. We will send for my mother, but in the meantime, she is tying up our affairs in England."
"Truly remarkable! Your mother had no qualms, sending her only daughter across the channel? I cannot say I would do the same, given those circumstances,"
"Of course, I did not give my mother much choice in the matter. I was resolved, and she is as desperate as I am, to reunite our family." Sarah said with a hint of pride at succeeding after it had taken months of persuasion.
The matter became resolved once Dr. Franklin joined her efforts, after he had crossed an ocean back to the epicenter of Europe, London. He was happy to escape the bustle and accept the invitation to be their house guest at the Phillip's estate. Not long after, the charter for Sarah's long voyage across the Atlantic was secured, and she was narrowly escaping a life of drudgery as a debutante, in want of a husband. Waving to her darling mother with a smile proved challenging. It was a comfort that Dr. Franklin was there, offering Mrs. Phillips his handkerchief, and assurance that Sarah's safety was not to be questioned once she reached the shores of New York. His man from the Pennsylvania Gazette, apprentice and young French ward, would keep the Phillips' only child out of harm's way. Even from the Potomac's deck, Sarah called out her own assurance that she would write to her mother everyday.
However, nothing could have prepared the English young lady for the harrowing adventures and momentous occasions she would witness. With James and Henrí by her side, Sarah felt a boldness to face these changing times. She would strive to carve out a place in this New World for her family, both new and old, whatever the costs.