Journey to the New World
By Neemers
April 1810
I've finally found my little boy. Lisa's been worried sick, and at this point I was sure I'd find nothing more than a corpse, yet somehow Hal's still alive, and not alone.
There's a woman on the ground in a long white dress. I get closer and see that she isn't breathing anymore. Next to her lies a squalling baby and a pack.
I load the woman and her pack onto my horse. I pick up the boys to carry them. What kind of mystery have I stumbled onto?
Back at the cabin Lisa takes charge at once. "Martin, we can handle one child in the wilderness, but not two. The Kents have been wanting a baby of their own for quite some time, and you said that when you reported back east you were going to stop by there. They'll take care of him for sure, and he'll be safer in Kansas than way out here."
"I leave in the morning. I think maybe that woman was the baby's
mother, meaning everything in the pack is now his."
"What was in there?"
"A blanket, a lantern, and a few books. She didn't even have a spare diaper."
May 1812
I'm the lighthouse keeper. I'm always alone, so it takes me a minute to identify the squalling of a baby.
"Now where did you come from?"
I look around. Nobody there. I know what would happen to him in an orphanage. I can't put him through that, so I return to the
lighthouse with my new son.
January 1815
Daddy and Mommy are so happy! Daddy finally found a job. We came
here from our hometown of Marz almost a year ago and have been
struggling ever since, but Daddy finally found a permanent job.
Mommy says that it isn't easy for immigrants to find work.
Mommy's celebrating by building up the fire big so that its actually warm inside and she even got a roast to cook. I don't remember ever having a roast before, but Jack says that rich people have them all the time.
There's a sudden pop from the fireplace, and I know that something's wrong. Sometimes the old gas stove Alfie keeps makes things act funny. Suddenly the whole room seems to explode in a fireball. The roof caves in, and I'm the only one who can get out, but I don't want to go. I want my mommy.
I stand and look for a chance to help. The neighbors are trying to get in, but there's debris blocking the hallway too. I watch as Mommy and Daddy start screaming as the fire catches them. I can't look away.
Five minutes later, the neighbors finally break through the debris and pull me out. Where will I go? Who would want a little boy with a strange green birthmark across half his face? Dad's taught me all about costumes and makeup so I can hide it, but how much longer will the powders last? I finally realize that I, Jonn Jonz, am totally alone. Who would want a freak like me?
A policeman hauls me out of the fire, and I am dimly aware of him asking those around him if I have any family. When they all deny it, he says he'll take me to live with him. Not alone? could it be?
He finally takes me up to his apartment, and his wife makes such a fuss over me. She takes a match to light her lamp with. At the flare of the match, I flinch.
November 1818
Mommy and Daddy took me to the theater for my birthday. I just
turned eight today. Everything is perfect until it happens.
A robber with a gun.
Daddy yelling.
Mommy's pearls falling to the ground in a cascade.
Mommy and Daddy falling, and not getting up.
And a silent, life-long vow.
____________________________________________________________________
Feedback, please.
By Neemers
April 1810
I've finally found my little boy. Lisa's been worried sick, and at this point I was sure I'd find nothing more than a corpse, yet somehow Hal's still alive, and not alone.
There's a woman on the ground in a long white dress. I get closer and see that she isn't breathing anymore. Next to her lies a squalling baby and a pack.
I load the woman and her pack onto my horse. I pick up the boys to carry them. What kind of mystery have I stumbled onto?
Back at the cabin Lisa takes charge at once. "Martin, we can handle one child in the wilderness, but not two. The Kents have been wanting a baby of their own for quite some time, and you said that when you reported back east you were going to stop by there. They'll take care of him for sure, and he'll be safer in Kansas than way out here."
"I leave in the morning. I think maybe that woman was the baby's
mother, meaning everything in the pack is now his."
"What was in there?"
"A blanket, a lantern, and a few books. She didn't even have a spare diaper."
May 1812
I'm the lighthouse keeper. I'm always alone, so it takes me a minute to identify the squalling of a baby.
"Now where did you come from?"
I look around. Nobody there. I know what would happen to him in an orphanage. I can't put him through that, so I return to the
lighthouse with my new son.
January 1815
Daddy and Mommy are so happy! Daddy finally found a job. We came
here from our hometown of Marz almost a year ago and have been
struggling ever since, but Daddy finally found a permanent job.
Mommy says that it isn't easy for immigrants to find work.
Mommy's celebrating by building up the fire big so that its actually warm inside and she even got a roast to cook. I don't remember ever having a roast before, but Jack says that rich people have them all the time.
There's a sudden pop from the fireplace, and I know that something's wrong. Sometimes the old gas stove Alfie keeps makes things act funny. Suddenly the whole room seems to explode in a fireball. The roof caves in, and I'm the only one who can get out, but I don't want to go. I want my mommy.
I stand and look for a chance to help. The neighbors are trying to get in, but there's debris blocking the hallway too. I watch as Mommy and Daddy start screaming as the fire catches them. I can't look away.
Five minutes later, the neighbors finally break through the debris and pull me out. Where will I go? Who would want a little boy with a strange green birthmark across half his face? Dad's taught me all about costumes and makeup so I can hide it, but how much longer will the powders last? I finally realize that I, Jonn Jonz, am totally alone. Who would want a freak like me?
A policeman hauls me out of the fire, and I am dimly aware of him asking those around him if I have any family. When they all deny it, he says he'll take me to live with him. Not alone? could it be?
He finally takes me up to his apartment, and his wife makes such a fuss over me. She takes a match to light her lamp with. At the flare of the match, I flinch.
November 1818
Mommy and Daddy took me to the theater for my birthday. I just
turned eight today. Everything is perfect until it happens.
A robber with a gun.
Daddy yelling.
Mommy's pearls falling to the ground in a cascade.
Mommy and Daddy falling, and not getting up.
And a silent, life-long vow.
____________________________________________________________________
Feedback, please.