Meeting Jim Hawkins
I had just turned sixteen and came home one day to Momma who was smiling as she sat at the kitchen table reading something off of a cream- colored piece of paper. She looked up, glided across the room to me, and embraced me. I had come back from navigating a solar galleon to Rerra and had missed her too, but she had never been silent like this. I knew nothing was wrong: she was smiling. She handed me the piece of paper.
Miss Laura A. Williamson:
You have been accepted into the prestigious Interstellar Academy. With a remarkable résumé and exceedingly high test scores, you are qualified to become one of our students. Within the next month, you are required to come to Academy headquarters for uniform fitting. A packet of additional requirements will be mailed to you within the next week. We very much look forward to working with you and will see you in three months.
Headmaster Albert McKinley
"I knew you'd make it," Momma said gently with tears in her eyes.
I was speechless. This had been one of my dreams for years (besides becoming a navigator, but that was already accomplished). My navigating would have to be put on hold for a while.
Those days, I had been visiting Cescentia more often using some of the money I'd earned from navigating. I still had enough for my necessities when I went to the Academy. Usually, Momma came with me, but migraine headaches bothered her. I asked her if she needed me to stay home with her, but she claimed that all she needed was some time alone to rest. After all, at the end of the day she usually felt much better.
At the Spaceport, I often browsed around shops and went to a pub or two. Of course, I never ordered alcohol like rum and never planned to do so. I felt so carefree. That clique wouldn't banter on about my clothes anymore. I mean, who cares about that. Honestly!
One day, I was looking around a shop that sold spare parts for machinery. I had no technical ingenuity, but I must say it was interesting to gaze at the pieces.
I looked up at some giant metal gears and backed up a tad. I should have watched where I was going because I bumped right into someone. There was a gasp and a shattering sound. I looked down and saw a boy picking up pieces of metal and gears. I must have apologized twenty times, and I helped him gather the pieces back into his arms. He was quite a nice- looking young man with dark brown hair and deep blue eyes. We both ended up chuckling about my wrong step, and when I offered to pay for any of his purchase, he told me not to worry about it.
I was about to turn and say goodbye when I noticed the few coins the boy had given the cashier turned to a jelly-like substance. The pieces that were once coins joined together to become an adorable pink creature made of gel. I would hold my questions until later because the young man had no money. Near shouting, he tried to grab the blob, but it just kept flying around him making teasing trill noises. I couldn't help but stifle a laugh. I told the young man to calm down and that I would gladly pay for his purchase. I guess he was pretty desperate because I only had to convince him twice that it was okay. When we got outside, he asked if he could take me to lunch sometime to pay me back. I let him know that wasn't necessary, but I really wanted to get to know him more. He seemed nice enough, and I couldn't help but think that he might be asking me on a date. Of course I was only toying with the notion but finally said that I'd go with him.
He suddenly remembered that he had no money. That instant, the blob came out of his pocket once more and threw the money on the ground, laughing in hysterics. I laughed as well. The boy was obviously worn out by the creature's antics, so his anger didn't fire up.
We went to a nearby tavern, and I found that his name was Jim Hawkins, and he was almost seventeen. His pet was named Morph. It rang a bell. I had heard of the creatures from Proteus One but never actually saw one. When I introduced myself, he recognized my last name immediately. He wanted to get on a long conversation about the navigating Williamsons, and I answered a few questions, but I tried to steer to a different subject. I found out that Jim would also be attending the Academy, and I think my heart skipped a beat. I wasn't sure why. He brought up the fact that he had to get rid of the earring in his left ear, and they'd cut his hair which he wasn't looking forward to. I hadn't even noticed the earring or ponytail until he mentioned them. I had to giggle quietly. I asked about the gears and metal parts, and he said he liked building things like solar surfers. I had never been much of a thrill ride person, but it sounded interesting, and Jim sounded like a true technical genius.
When twilight hit the Spaceport, we went our separate ways, but I knew I'd see him and that adorable Morph again...soon.
I had just turned sixteen and came home one day to Momma who was smiling as she sat at the kitchen table reading something off of a cream- colored piece of paper. She looked up, glided across the room to me, and embraced me. I had come back from navigating a solar galleon to Rerra and had missed her too, but she had never been silent like this. I knew nothing was wrong: she was smiling. She handed me the piece of paper.
Miss Laura A. Williamson:
You have been accepted into the prestigious Interstellar Academy. With a remarkable résumé and exceedingly high test scores, you are qualified to become one of our students. Within the next month, you are required to come to Academy headquarters for uniform fitting. A packet of additional requirements will be mailed to you within the next week. We very much look forward to working with you and will see you in three months.
Headmaster Albert McKinley
"I knew you'd make it," Momma said gently with tears in her eyes.
I was speechless. This had been one of my dreams for years (besides becoming a navigator, but that was already accomplished). My navigating would have to be put on hold for a while.
Those days, I had been visiting Cescentia more often using some of the money I'd earned from navigating. I still had enough for my necessities when I went to the Academy. Usually, Momma came with me, but migraine headaches bothered her. I asked her if she needed me to stay home with her, but she claimed that all she needed was some time alone to rest. After all, at the end of the day she usually felt much better.
At the Spaceport, I often browsed around shops and went to a pub or two. Of course, I never ordered alcohol like rum and never planned to do so. I felt so carefree. That clique wouldn't banter on about my clothes anymore. I mean, who cares about that. Honestly!
One day, I was looking around a shop that sold spare parts for machinery. I had no technical ingenuity, but I must say it was interesting to gaze at the pieces.
I looked up at some giant metal gears and backed up a tad. I should have watched where I was going because I bumped right into someone. There was a gasp and a shattering sound. I looked down and saw a boy picking up pieces of metal and gears. I must have apologized twenty times, and I helped him gather the pieces back into his arms. He was quite a nice- looking young man with dark brown hair and deep blue eyes. We both ended up chuckling about my wrong step, and when I offered to pay for any of his purchase, he told me not to worry about it.
I was about to turn and say goodbye when I noticed the few coins the boy had given the cashier turned to a jelly-like substance. The pieces that were once coins joined together to become an adorable pink creature made of gel. I would hold my questions until later because the young man had no money. Near shouting, he tried to grab the blob, but it just kept flying around him making teasing trill noises. I couldn't help but stifle a laugh. I told the young man to calm down and that I would gladly pay for his purchase. I guess he was pretty desperate because I only had to convince him twice that it was okay. When we got outside, he asked if he could take me to lunch sometime to pay me back. I let him know that wasn't necessary, but I really wanted to get to know him more. He seemed nice enough, and I couldn't help but think that he might be asking me on a date. Of course I was only toying with the notion but finally said that I'd go with him.
He suddenly remembered that he had no money. That instant, the blob came out of his pocket once more and threw the money on the ground, laughing in hysterics. I laughed as well. The boy was obviously worn out by the creature's antics, so his anger didn't fire up.
We went to a nearby tavern, and I found that his name was Jim Hawkins, and he was almost seventeen. His pet was named Morph. It rang a bell. I had heard of the creatures from Proteus One but never actually saw one. When I introduced myself, he recognized my last name immediately. He wanted to get on a long conversation about the navigating Williamsons, and I answered a few questions, but I tried to steer to a different subject. I found out that Jim would also be attending the Academy, and I think my heart skipped a beat. I wasn't sure why. He brought up the fact that he had to get rid of the earring in his left ear, and they'd cut his hair which he wasn't looking forward to. I hadn't even noticed the earring or ponytail until he mentioned them. I had to giggle quietly. I asked about the gears and metal parts, and he said he liked building things like solar surfers. I had never been much of a thrill ride person, but it sounded interesting, and Jim sounded like a true technical genius.
When twilight hit the Spaceport, we went our separate ways, but I knew I'd see him and that adorable Morph again...soon.