Two weeks later…
Two whole weeks went by. My cuts and bruises had successfully healed except for some of my ribs; they were still a bit sore.
My relationship with the crew developed, especially Kid Kit, I learned about how they first came to be a crew member, and they all started off with:
"When Thelma sprung me out of prison..."
She truly was a wonderful woman.
Jonnie and Thelma explained more to me about there home, how it seem as if there aren't any roads but there are roads, but mostly the sight of fresh green grass. They said there home is not where there are tall buildings are; where there are hundreds of people making there way around it, they lived in a village called Arthur Barstool only a mile from all the busyness. They lived in stone brick cottages, with a beautiful garden surrounding them. It all sounded like a dream someone like me would have. I laughed at the thought. Truthfully I would rather be in a village with cottages and small lakes then in a busy place where anything could happen.
As a warning they told me to be prepared, because usually there family will put on this big welcome home party. More people .are all I need right now.
Thelma and I started to get along quite well. Every now and then I would see a look of desire or some sort of need in her eyes when she looks at me, but then it would disappear, as if it wasn't there at all. It confused me, but as always I ignored it.
I must admit, the first few days on this ship was a bit sickening, but slowly I've learned to get used to it. Thank God. I was lucky to know the fact that I don't get seasick.
Early this mourning I was sitting on deck drawing the ocean, it was hard since there was a thick blanket of mist, but I would do anything just keep my mind on what was about to come, Land…
A strong wind came and I quickly tightened the black coat Thelma had given me, I felt more comfortable in my cloak but this would have to do. The burly wind continued it blew through my light brown hair making it messy as ever. I held on tight to the drawing I was making. Then suddenly a voice from above came.
I looked up over my head as I heard Kid Kit screaming out for Thelma.
"Captain! Land! Land! Where home Captain!"
Jonnie quickly rushed on deck and ran from the broadside to the starboard side. Thelma walked out and laughed at Jonnie's silliness.
Land came in through the mist. I did expect a dock but there was none, just a vast green forest. We stopped only about three hundred yards away. Men began to run around deck getting ready to lower the boat on the side of the boat.
"Erik! Jonnie! Hurry up!" She yelled motioning us to get on the boat with her. I dropped what I was doing and slowly made my way to the small boat that float below.
Jonnie was excited as ever, I have never seen him like this, well I haven't seen him like a lot of things, but within these past few weeks with a man who keeps saying he can't wait to get home I have never seen him this excited.
I climbed down the ladder and settled my self in the small boat, Jonnie practically jumped in the boat! Thelma grabbed a paddle and so did Jonnie. We rowed the rest of the way.
Jonnie could not keep still; he kept paddling faster and faster almost making us go the other way. The more closer we got Jonnie would start demanding Thelma to row faster. Thelma was not the sort of person to follow demands.
"Tell me to do something one more time Jonnie and see what will happen!" she said giving him her famous glare.
As we came closer to shore we suddenly spotted a young girl no older then nine I believe. She saw us and quickly ran away.
This is when Jonnie went crazy; he quickly jumped out of the boat tipping the whole thing over.
We all fell in. The water was surprisingly not freezing but still it was unexpected. As soon as my head reached the water I moved my hair out of my eyes and saw Jonnie swimming toward shore as fast as his legs would let him.
I looked around for Thelma; she was behind me with her long black hair that was once nicely tied back was now soaking wet all on her face, She was cursing like crazy at Jonnie.
As soon as she calmed she began to swim her way to shore, I followed. As I looked ahead I noticed Jonnie was half way there, then as I looked further ahead I saw people running this way, one girl in a white dress was running faster then all the others.
Jonnie finally reached shore; he began to run toward the young girl who was running toward him. Then I knew who it was; it was his love, and Thelma's younger sister, Jennie.
They reached each other rather quickly; Jennie jumped on Jonnie and kissed him passionately.
I finally reached the shore and just had to take a rest, that's only until when Thelma came along and said,
"That's all the strength you have?" I quickly stood and began to follow Thelma.
Thelma and I have been doing these silent battles of seeing who will quite first, no one would really win because we seem to give up at the same time.
Thelma quickly began to run toward the crowd, I kept my distance and stopped. I watched as Thelma reached the crowd and saw how people embraced her tightly. I smiled from all the happiness that was in front of me. Those happy faces won't be happy any more once they see me. My heart was beating faster and faster.
Soon the torment will start all over again, the beating, the shouting, it will all come back. I did not want to die in Paris, and I did not because of Jonnie and Thelma. They cared nothing of my face; it was like they did not see deformity at all. They came from the same place, except Jonnie who's Irish. But just maybe they won't care.
I looked up and saw Thelma staring at me with wonder; she had carried no fear what so ever, and I admire her for that, I admire Jonnie and the crew for it.
I stood there. Thelma began to walk toward me; others were still clinging on to Jonnie as if he was being taken away and to never return. Some made a few glances at me then stopped and really looked, their eyes widen. I shut my eyes and snapped my head away. As always, I was wrong to think that for once I would be able to belong.
My eyes shut, I tried to think of anything that would somehow make me disappear, but the gentle touch on my shoulder took me away from the thinking. I opened my eyes and saw Thelma looking at me. Her eyes told me she was concerned.
"Erik…you are no outcast here, I will not allow it." She said suddenly giving me a comforting smile.
I swallowed the growing lump in my throat I took a deep breath. I took another glance at the crowd, Jonnie and the light brown head were still holding each other tightly, but the others, all there eyes were on me, some were whispering into the others ears, and it caused me to sigh in disappointment.
I cannot do it. But Thelma grabbed my hand and slowly guided me to the others. I kept my face down and stared at the grace below my boots. Then we came to a stop.
"Everyone, I know you're a bit confused by this man here. But he is a friend, he means us no harm, and he wishes to stay here. If anyone has a problem, speak up." She said in a standing up voice.
Then I suddenly hear the Irish voice.
"Oy, he's our friend, treat him with respect now." Jonnie said.
"Well then who ever is a friend of you and Thelma, is a friend of ours. Welcome home!" said a man with a country accent; I guess I'm going to hear a lot of that. Wait a minute. Did he just say I was a friend?
"Come on, there still are more people to meet." Thelma said patting me on the back.
"Now, you've already met the town's people, you don't need to know there names until your talking to one." Jonnie said grabbing my arm and pulling me forward, I tried to resist without hurting him but that didn't seem to work since Thelma was pushing me.
I kept my head down to prevent panic but I heard nothing but talk of joy. I slowly looked up and saw that some of the crowd was following us, and the rest must have left to tell others that Jonnie was back from…just don't even think about it…
We walked down the grassy green hill toward more cottages and more people who were working on clothes and food for their families. But what caught my attention were the gardens surrounding the small yet tall cottages, they were filled with beautiful, colorful flowers. I almost gasped at first sight, never had I seen anything like this in Paris, well truthfully I probably would have if I left that cursed lair in the first place.
I carefully looked all around me studding every garden but then the voice of Jonnie came.
"Oy silly of me, Erik I want you to meet my beautiful future wife, Jennie." I slowly looked up and saw Jennie hit Jonnie in the arm while Thelma quickly spoke out.
"Hold your tongue Jonnie, our parents don't know about this yet and if they find out you asked her before you asked them, you'll have the worst of it!" she hissed loud enough for only us to hear.
"I'm sorry I can't help it." Jonnie said giving another kiss to his lover.
"Well you better try! You're lucky I did not tell them myself when I found out!"
"Well I'll tell them tonight at dinner."
"No! We have to have dinner introducing Erik, having a new comer living with us is a big enough surprise for them, just tell them after the ceremony." She said. I my eyes snapped up as I remembered that they warned me that they would put up a welcome home party.
"Alright it's a done deal, but now to finish first meetings, Jennie my love this is my good friend Erik, I met him back at the fair." Jonnie said rubbing his nose against Jennie's. I glared through the corner of my eye.
"You talk to much Jonnie." I said in a tired voice.
"On the contrary Sir." Came in a heavenly country voice. "Jonnie has already told me what you hide, we have all seen some sort of deformity, why should yours be any different?" she said in a kind voice.
I looked back from the corner of my eye and saw her small hand out waiting for mine as we walked. I did nothing but breath in and out the fresh air. I closed my eyes and breathed out a please.
I took her hand and looked up at her. I slowly took in her image. Her figure was slim, you could see it even without her corset and white dress, she had soft light skin, and her lips were soft looking and full, her beautiful blue eyes sparkled with elegance. And her dark brown hair went wild around her circle shaped face.
I then focused on her expression. She was not smiling and her eyes looked like she was a bit startled, apparently she had not seen this sort of deformity. Then her startled eyes turned soft, and she gave a smile.
"Jennie Tamber, of course you already know that from Jonnie." She said giving a divine laugh. "I need your permission to call you Erik if you don't want me to call you Sir the whole time."
Her accent made her say my name a bit odd and if I were in the mood I would have laughed. Usually in an English accent the E would be heard most, the r would come second, how she said made it sound like the R would be heard most.
"Then you have my permission Mademoiselle Tamber." I said slowly pulling her hand to my lips. I kissed the top of her hand the gently let go. She did not shun away which some how made me feel like I was not some cursed disease. But Jonnie seemed to feel uncomfortable.
"Alright I understand that being a gentlemen you have to do the whole hand kiss thing but not with MY future wife." He said in a bit of a warning tone, but his laughter meant he didn't mean any harm
"Goddamn it Jonnie you and your mouth." Thelma said an angry and annoyed tone.
We made our way down hill, I suddenly after that moment of meeting Mademoiselle Jennie Tamber had the courage to lift my head and face forward. I looked around and saw many people working, talking and many children playing. This place is filled with life, joy and love. Everything I wanted since my mother first shunned me, but will this place accept me? That is all I want. Thelma suddenly interrupted my thoughts.
"You are going to love it here Erik. Just wait till you meet the family. If you sing and play like Jonnie said you can then they will love you."
I was a bit shocked; Jonnie did mention that the Tamber family could sing it must have slipped my mind. Sing and play like Jonnie said you can…
Jonnie was at the there that night when I took Christine yes I know that, Thelma did know about me. But did he have to tell her I could sing?
I know now that I must keep all personal things away from Jonnie.
I looked ahead as I realized we have made a stop, it was the Tamber's cottage.
Hello, I know this one is a bit rushed, I tried not to make it rushed I really did. I know the description is off, and it may be confusing, and um well yea, I hope I described Jennie well, new character always is exciting, I'm really excited about the next chapter where you meet the rest of the family, the party won't start until like the 8th or 9th chapter so yea. So I hope you enjoyed pretty please pretty please read and review!
Crystal A.