Chapter 8
Come, said my soul, Such verses for my body let us write, (for we are one,) That should I after death invisibly return, Or, long, long hence in other spheres, There to some group of mates the chants resuming, (Tallying Earth's soil, trees, winds, tumultuous waves,) Ever with please'd smile I may keep on, Ever and ever yet the verses owning – us, first, I here and now Signing for soul and body, set to them my name
"You're hired," said the woman, her ruddy round face beaming at me. She was a seamstress and nanny. She needed the extra help, she said, on both jobs. Apparently my coming was a blessing for I was perfect for the job. "You'll start tomorrow. And wear whatever ya like, darlin'." Her name was Sarah Archon, a middle class woman who was paid well by her employers. The fact that she wasn't bothered by my clothing habits was a comfort. I had shown her some of my clothing, since I made many of my clothes at home. Today I wore an 18th century man's shirt, with long sleeves, and a pair of jeans with my boots, hair drawn up into a French braid. "Thank you, ma'am," I said. Stepping out onto the street, I began to search for lodgings. It was the sixth day of my stay in Port Royal, counting the two I had been unconscious in bed, and I now that I had a mission, I planned on staying awhile longer. Naturally I didn't want to impede on the Governor's hospitality any longer, so I had found a job and now wanted to reserve lodgings until I had enough money to pay the rent. I found a small apartment in the better side of town, and the renter was willing to wait a few days since business was slow. Heading back towards the Governor's mansion, I wondered if I ever would find a way back to Virginia should I look for it and choose to return. This brought questions as to how I had gotten to Port Royal in the first place. For the first time since Swann and Elizabeth had questioned me about my parents, I thought about them and what they might be doing right now.
Someone touched my shoulder and I jerked around in surprise. I hadn't been paying attention, too intent on my own thoughts. Norrington stood behind me, the same impassivity still plastered on his face.
"Captain," I said with a mild air of surprise. "What....?"
"I wanted to apologize for not allowing you to see the docks yesterday. Bad bit of organization on my part, I apologize."
"Quite all right, I assure you. I didn't mind. I had gotten a preview the day before, so I got a pretty good idea from that." There was an awkward silence, and I folded my arms across my chest. He eyed me, obviously not pleased with my sense of clothing.
"I...." I started, pointing up towards the mansion.
"Yes, as was I," Norrington nodded. I half-smiled, nervous, and continued walking.
"Do you like her?" I asked suddenly.
"Who? Elizabeth?" I nodded, deciding not to be sarcastic with him. "Yes, I do." He cleared his throat, shoes clicking on the cobblestones. "Do you?"
"Ask me in a couple of days and I might have an answer."
"You've been here for six already. Do you not know if you like her?"
"I am not so quick to judge as some, Captain," I snapped. "I do have first impressions, but I have to give people some time before making any sort of judgment on them. You, on the other hand, seem to know exactly what you think of people before evening meeting them!" He took in a sharp breath. I mentally kicked myself for a second time. "Sorry, I shouldn't have said that. I barely know you and I'm contradicting myself." What was I trying to say?
"I assume you are referring to pirates." I didn't reply to his statement, which was stiff. "Pirates, when you get down to it, are all the same. They may seem to be good, but they are rotten, dirty, foul men. It is my job as one of the top officers in the port to protect the inhabitants and deal justly with all pirates."
"There are evil people in the world besides pirates, Captain," I said softly, digging my nails into the strap of the bag I was carrying. I quickened my pace, moving beyond him. I rushed through the mansion's front doors, dashed upstairs, and slammed the bedroom door behind me. Throwing myself on the bed, I tried to quell my anger. Why did he have to be so damn patriotically stiff?
"Fiona?" Elizabeth came in quietly, shutting the door behind her. "What's wrong?"
"Nothing."
"I saw you come in with Norrington. Neither of you looked pleased."
"He holds too many pre-conceived judgments." I sighed heavily. "I understand that he is only trying to do his job, but if he were to hold the same attitude about pirates when considering others he might catch more criminals. Pirates aren't the only ones who commit crimes." She touched my head.
"Your parents." I stuffed my face into the pillow with a nod. "You know, it is the law here that pirates are hung, no matter what they've done right."
"I got a job, and have lodgings lined up for when I raise enough rent money," I told her. "I won't be staying here much longer." There was a small gasp, then footsteps going across the floor and one door slamming after another.
"What on earth?" came Swann's voice. "Elizabeth, what's going on?" I stepped out into the hallway that looked down upon the front room. Leaning on the railing, I said,
"I wouldn't bother her, sir." Norrington and Swann looked up at me. "And I will be moving out shortly. I have a job and shortly will have lodgings." I gave a tight-lipped, angry smile before shutting the door behind me.
All that I did was walk over
Start off by shaking your hands
That's how it went
I had a smile on my face
and I sat up straight
Disclaimer: poem by Walt Whitman's Leaves of Grass, lyrics by Avril Lavigne, "Unwanted"
Come, said my soul, Such verses for my body let us write, (for we are one,) That should I after death invisibly return, Or, long, long hence in other spheres, There to some group of mates the chants resuming, (Tallying Earth's soil, trees, winds, tumultuous waves,) Ever with please'd smile I may keep on, Ever and ever yet the verses owning – us, first, I here and now Signing for soul and body, set to them my name
"You're hired," said the woman, her ruddy round face beaming at me. She was a seamstress and nanny. She needed the extra help, she said, on both jobs. Apparently my coming was a blessing for I was perfect for the job. "You'll start tomorrow. And wear whatever ya like, darlin'." Her name was Sarah Archon, a middle class woman who was paid well by her employers. The fact that she wasn't bothered by my clothing habits was a comfort. I had shown her some of my clothing, since I made many of my clothes at home. Today I wore an 18th century man's shirt, with long sleeves, and a pair of jeans with my boots, hair drawn up into a French braid. "Thank you, ma'am," I said. Stepping out onto the street, I began to search for lodgings. It was the sixth day of my stay in Port Royal, counting the two I had been unconscious in bed, and I now that I had a mission, I planned on staying awhile longer. Naturally I didn't want to impede on the Governor's hospitality any longer, so I had found a job and now wanted to reserve lodgings until I had enough money to pay the rent. I found a small apartment in the better side of town, and the renter was willing to wait a few days since business was slow. Heading back towards the Governor's mansion, I wondered if I ever would find a way back to Virginia should I look for it and choose to return. This brought questions as to how I had gotten to Port Royal in the first place. For the first time since Swann and Elizabeth had questioned me about my parents, I thought about them and what they might be doing right now.
Someone touched my shoulder and I jerked around in surprise. I hadn't been paying attention, too intent on my own thoughts. Norrington stood behind me, the same impassivity still plastered on his face.
"Captain," I said with a mild air of surprise. "What....?"
"I wanted to apologize for not allowing you to see the docks yesterday. Bad bit of organization on my part, I apologize."
"Quite all right, I assure you. I didn't mind. I had gotten a preview the day before, so I got a pretty good idea from that." There was an awkward silence, and I folded my arms across my chest. He eyed me, obviously not pleased with my sense of clothing.
"I...." I started, pointing up towards the mansion.
"Yes, as was I," Norrington nodded. I half-smiled, nervous, and continued walking.
"Do you like her?" I asked suddenly.
"Who? Elizabeth?" I nodded, deciding not to be sarcastic with him. "Yes, I do." He cleared his throat, shoes clicking on the cobblestones. "Do you?"
"Ask me in a couple of days and I might have an answer."
"You've been here for six already. Do you not know if you like her?"
"I am not so quick to judge as some, Captain," I snapped. "I do have first impressions, but I have to give people some time before making any sort of judgment on them. You, on the other hand, seem to know exactly what you think of people before evening meeting them!" He took in a sharp breath. I mentally kicked myself for a second time. "Sorry, I shouldn't have said that. I barely know you and I'm contradicting myself." What was I trying to say?
"I assume you are referring to pirates." I didn't reply to his statement, which was stiff. "Pirates, when you get down to it, are all the same. They may seem to be good, but they are rotten, dirty, foul men. It is my job as one of the top officers in the port to protect the inhabitants and deal justly with all pirates."
"There are evil people in the world besides pirates, Captain," I said softly, digging my nails into the strap of the bag I was carrying. I quickened my pace, moving beyond him. I rushed through the mansion's front doors, dashed upstairs, and slammed the bedroom door behind me. Throwing myself on the bed, I tried to quell my anger. Why did he have to be so damn patriotically stiff?
"Fiona?" Elizabeth came in quietly, shutting the door behind her. "What's wrong?"
"Nothing."
"I saw you come in with Norrington. Neither of you looked pleased."
"He holds too many pre-conceived judgments." I sighed heavily. "I understand that he is only trying to do his job, but if he were to hold the same attitude about pirates when considering others he might catch more criminals. Pirates aren't the only ones who commit crimes." She touched my head.
"Your parents." I stuffed my face into the pillow with a nod. "You know, it is the law here that pirates are hung, no matter what they've done right."
"I got a job, and have lodgings lined up for when I raise enough rent money," I told her. "I won't be staying here much longer." There was a small gasp, then footsteps going across the floor and one door slamming after another.
"What on earth?" came Swann's voice. "Elizabeth, what's going on?" I stepped out into the hallway that looked down upon the front room. Leaning on the railing, I said,
"I wouldn't bother her, sir." Norrington and Swann looked up at me. "And I will be moving out shortly. I have a job and shortly will have lodgings." I gave a tight-lipped, angry smile before shutting the door behind me.
All that I did was walk over
Start off by shaking your hands
That's how it went
I had a smile on my face
and I sat up straight
Disclaimer: poem by Walt Whitman's Leaves of Grass, lyrics by Avril Lavigne, "Unwanted"