Beginnings

“Suki, we’re going to be late again!” Yoshe called around a mouthful of rice as she continued stuffing her cheeks with her breakfast. She stepped into the room the two shared only to sigh at the bundle still wrapped in a blanket. She walked over to her sister’s mat and dropped to her knees, sitting down her bowl and chopsticks next to Suki’s pillow. “You know what Okasan will do if we’re late to classes.” Yoshe said, placing a hand on what she had thought was Suki’s shoulder. Her eyes widened in surprise before she ripped back the blanket only to stare at a sleeping bundle of blankets.

Yoshe jumped to her feet, rushing to the garden. She forced the wooden door open harder then she should, startling her sister who quickly hid her bamboo practice sword behind her back with a smile on her face.

“Do you have any idea what time it is?” Yoshe asked, crossing her arms over her chest.

“Past breakfast.” Suki laughed as she laid her practice sword among the decorative plants. She pushed back her long black hair behind her ear as she walked close to her sister. She smiled at Yoshe’s confused face and pointed to the corner of her own mouth before walking back inside, pushing past Yoshe.

Yoshe quickly rubbed her thumb across the spot on her face only to embarrassingly notice she had rice stuck to her face. She turned on her heals, not letting her sister get the better of her, and closed the door behind herself as she rushed back inside. She got back to their room and saw her sister was changing into the school robe they were required to wear.

“I saved you a slice of salmon and the rest of my rice.” Yoshe said, knowing she needed to say something to her sister.

“Thanks.” Suki said, her voice muffled as she held her hair ribbon in her teeth with her hands gathering her hair.

Yoshe sighed as she leaned against the wall. “Suki, what if Okasan had seen you out there this morning?”

“She won’t find out.” Suki said, tying her hair at the base of her neck. She leaned down and grabbed the bowl, almost throwing the food into her mouth.

“Suki, she already thinks you’re not going to become a good geisha, much less one to keep this okia running.”

“Don’t wanna be.” Suki said through the rice. She swallowed and turned to look at her sister. “I know I’m too square faced to be beautiful, the only thing I’m good at is dancing-“

“Oh, not this again.” Yoshe shook her head, covering her eyes with a hand.

“Girls, shouldn’t you be on your way to class?” Cook’s voice asked as the door slid open. The big woman filled up the doorway as she peered in.

“Thank you.” Yoshe said, taking the unfinished breakfast from her sister and handed the bowl and chopsticks to Cook.

Cook stepped to the side, letting the twins rush out, shaking her head at the two.

With Yoshe leading the way, the two grabbed their bags holding their shamisen and slipped on their shoes before running out into the orange morning light.

“Suki, when will you learn?” Yoshe started as the two rushed to school. “You’re the oldest daughter of the okia. One day Okimonon will become your big sister, then you’ll inherit the okia once Okasan decides to give it to you.”

“But I don’t want it.” Suki admitted under her breath as she watched her feet under her as she ran. She looked back up only to grab Yoshe’s arm and pull her sister into an alleyway, pushing her against the wall with a hand covering her mouth.

Yoshe glared at her sister, but found herself unable to fight against Suki’s arm holding her chest to the outside wall. She managed to pry her mouth free to ask, “What is it?” in a whisper, surprised more about Suki’s face of scared determination.

Suki didn’t answer, instead she slowly released her grip on her sister to peak out into the street.

“Thief! Thief!” a female voice cried just before a man ripped through the rice paper screens of the tea house across the street from their hiding place.

Suki rushed after the man, grabbing a broom left on the front porch of an opening store. “Stop!” she ordered, surprised she was catching up with the man twice her age.

The man glanced over his shoulder only for a smile to peek out from under his mustache. He turned back to watching his pathway with very little to get in his way so early in the morning.

Suki pushed forward just enough to push the broom’s bristles into the thief’s feet, tripping him up and letting his bag of coins fly from his hands as he fell to the ground. She twirled the broom around and dropped the handle down so that it sat in the base of his neck.

Suki pressed as much weight on the man as she dared, not wanting to cause damage, before leaning closer to the man’s ear. “Why do you need this money?” she asked, flicking away a coin too close to the man’s hand.

“It’s money, what do you think?” the man growled around the dirt in his mouth.

“Truthful,” Suki said, standing up so she could release the pressure on the man’s neck. She smiled as she placed a foot on his back before admitting, “but not good enough. You know what, I’ll give you a fighting chance. Get to your feet.” She forcefully pushed her foot down before freeing the man.

The thief looked at her as he pushed himself to his feet. He glanced down at his loot still scattered on the street, untouched by the morning crowd too busy setting up for the day to notice them. He glanced around before looking at Suki. “Where’s the Samurai?”

“On their way, knowing the woman you stole this from.” Suki said, praying what she said was true.

The man turned around, planning on running only to find himself falling, dazed to his left. “I gave you a chance.” Suki admitted.

“Bravo, young geisha student,” a male voice said, surprising Suki to look at who she had at first thought to be a normal street vender to see a man in his thirties handing back a cloak to the real vender. He re-tied his katana to his side before walking over to admire Suki’s victory. “I didn’t know those geisha were teaching you fighting now.”

“They’re not, samurai-san.” Suki said, bowing out of politeness.

“What’s your name?”

“Nitta Suki, daughter of-“

“Of Nitta Masami?” the samurai asked, his face surprised. He bent down to pull the thief up to his feet to cover his surprise before smiling at the girl. “Well thank you, Nitta Suki. You just helped capture someone I’ve been hunting down all year. Can I trust you to bring all this money to the tea house he stole from?”

“Of course.” Suki said, bowing as the samurai left, towing the thief who seemed only to have half a brain left.

-.-.-.-

“I hope word of this morning hadn’t gotten to Okasan.” Yoshe mumbled, finally willing to talk about the incident as they walked home after school.

“Maybe she’ll take me out of school so I don’t have to fight this stupid thing.” Suki held up her shamisen bag to motion towards it. They walked into their okia only to find Cook at the door, waiting for them.

“Nitta-san wants to talk to you, Suki.” Cook said, watching the two place their shoes just inside before stepping onto the wooden floors.

“Good luck, Suki.” Yoshe said, watching her sister rush towards Okasan’s room.

Suki dropped her shamisen in her room before finding her mother’s door open. She peeked inside, surprised to see the samurai from this morning sitting across from Okasan at her business table.

“Suki, there you are. Come in girl.” Okasan ordered, “Sit down.”

Suki did as asked, keeping her head down as she took the cushion closest to the door on the edge of the table.

“Amano-san would like to spar with you.” Okasan said, surprising the girl into looking at the older woman. “Don’t look at me like that! I know you practice before school. I had Cook bring up your bamboo sword. You can use the back garden.”

“Thank you, Nitta-san.” Amano said, bowing to the woman before standing up. He looked at Suki and prompted, “Well?”

“Oh, yes.” Suki jumped to her feet and grabbed her wooden stick she now noticed sitting next to her mother. She turned to the samurai and bowed before saying, “Follow me, please.” She led the man through the house, avoiding Yakumo-san as he was heading to the only working geisha in the okia, and out to the back garden.

Author's Note: This story is rather old, and the idea got ended when I learned about Miss Congeniality, which has a similar plot. It still lives on the back burner, having potentail, but has a niche audience.

Plot: the year is 1715, the story of the 47 Ronin now a great legend already and the Ninja class is just about to become exstint. One Ninja in particular has made himself a target by threating the life of Tokugawa Iestugu. The shogun calls apon his elite team of samuria to fish him out. The big surprise, a woman is among these, and only second to ranking samuria in her group of fifty-four. She's really the princess of the group, even with the five that do not like her. One hates her guts for the fact that they have to take orders from a woman. Suki has to go undercover as a geisha as they learn from one of the shogun's informants that the ninja has been known to go to a local teahouse, the very one that Suki's sister, Yumemono Nitta, reagually is called to. Suki then is forced to go back towards her past to capture this man. Slowly gaining his trust before striking when they are alone. Only for him to realize and attack back, making it seven verses one as his followers appear out of the shadows to show his remaning numbers. Unknown to Suki as she fought, and started to lose, Yumemono called apon the rest of her sisters team, telling her closest friends of the damger she was in.

“In the ruling of funding Nathaniel Bacon, we oppose.”

Arthur Allen the Second felt his stomach flip at hearing those words. He threw a look at Governor William Berkeley, the man writing something down on the parchment before him, before running a hand down the front of his collar to check his kerchief. He knew William’s side on the mater, Arthur believed it was best. They already had enough problems with the Indians. Why make it worst? But Arthur felt many outside this room opposed that idea.

“Are you trying to grow roots?”

Arthur looked up to see Lawrence Baker standing beside him. Arthur gave his father-in-law a polite smile as he rose to his feet, noticing the rest in the room were already mingling as was normal for the end of any meeting. “Too much on my mind, I suppose,” Arthur threw off. “Sorry Sunday we didn’t come over for lunch.”

“I talked to Catherine on the way here, she explained Elizabeth had fallen ill?” Lawrence asked to confirm.

“Something of the lungs,” Arthur offered. “She should be back to her work tomorrow.”

“That’s good to hear.”

Arthur noticed William get to his feet, folding up the piece of paper he had been writing on to place inside his inside coat pocket. Arthur turned his eyes back to his father-in-law and said, “If you’ll excuse me, maybe next Sunday we’ll be able to keep our lunch.”

Lawrence gave the man a nod, dismissing him before he turned to take in who was left in the room.

Arthur made his way over to William, his stomach flipping once more at his inner worry being mirrored on the much older man’s face. He opened his mouth to voice his worry only to be cut off.

“Arthur, good,” William said, reaching back into his pocket to pull the paper back out. He handed it to Arthur and added, “I’d recommend you do this quickly. Return home before you open this. I fear this is all just beginning.”

Arthur took the folded parchment and placed it in his own waist coat pocket, curiosity nagging at him to find out what the older man wished to keep secret. “You think Mr. Bacon will siege war on the Indians?” Arthur asked, voicing some of his concerns.

“That and more, if I understand my wife’s cousin,” William admitted. He let out a sigh in a moments pause before ordering, “Go now, we have a lot to do and, I fear, very little time to do it in.”

Arthur gave the man a nod before turning on his heel to leave the room. Wearing a mask of polite contentment, he left the building and made a beeline for his horse. He gave a polite smile to Nicholas Meriwetter, the old clerk retrieving his horse from the same post as Arthur took the reins of his own. He placed a foot in the stirrup and swung himself up into the saddle, quickly pulling back to order his horse back out of the crowded parking. He made short time of the trip back to his family’s large home. Riding to the front door, his stable boy came running out to greet him. Without acknowledging the young worker, Arthur walked into his home and went straight for his study. Pulling out the letter, he sat at his desk and unfolded the paper only to stare in surprise.

William’s normal composed handwriting was almost lacking, the first he noticed. If Arthur hadn’t seen the man pen this with his own eyes he would have reason to question if it was William’s letter at all. After getting over the shock of William’s penmanship, Arthur finally read the words on the page.

In three days’ time I ask you to join me up to Jamestown. I recommend you to hide away any valuables. Pack up the family and bring them up with you. Send word if you will join me along with a few others who oppose Bacon and his men.

Arthur reread the scribbled note. He knew things had gotten bad up in Jamestown, but he was unsure what good he could do. He knew William had been fighting with Bacon almost the whole year now, Arthur had stood beside the older man in both support as well as physically.

“Ah, Arthur, I didn’t hear you return,” a male voice said from the doorway.

Arthur sat down the letter on his desk and turned to see John Finley, the property overseer and Arthur’s friend, standing just in the room. “John, just the person I needed to see,” Arthur said as he looked the man over. “The family and I are going up to Jamestown for some time. We’ll be leaving Thursday.”

“I’ll have everything ready for your departure,” John said with a nod of his head.

“Good, also I need you to collect all of the silver in this house,” Arthur added.

“Sir?”

“Just a precaution,” Arthur dismissed.

“Very well,” John said, keeping any questions he had unsaid.

“Can you send me Stephen?” Arthur asked as he turned back to his desk. He heard the man’s footsteps leave his study as he reached for a piece of parchment. Laying it down in front of himself, he grabbed both quill and inkwell and dipped the nib of his pen in the dark liquid.

The family and I will accompany yours up to Jamestown on the 13th. I wonder if it might be safer to send the women and children to your friend, the loyal John Curtis the Second, on the Eastern Shore?

“Sir, you sent for me?” Stephen’s voice asked.

Arthur looked over his shoulder to see the eleven year old standing just outside the doorway. “Yes, come in Stephen.” Arthur hastily dipped his quill once more before scribbling down the date and his signature onto the letter before resting the quill in its stand. He held up the parchment, hoping to let the air under it help it dry faster, as he asked, “Do you know where Mr. Berkeley’s staying?”

“Yes sir, he’s at Mr. Bridger’s home,” the boy said with a nod.

“Good.” Arthur gave the letter a quick blow before folding it up. Holding it out to the boy he ordered, “Deliver that to him for me.”

“Yes sir,” Stephen said, smiling as he took the letter.

Arthur watched the boy leave the study before he let his guard down once again. It wasn’t often the Governor of Virginia personally asked you to join him as well as warn you to hide your valuables. Rising to his feet, he fixed his waistcoat as he left the room to look for his wife. Finding her in the back yard, he walked over to the grouping of lawn chairs to find his mother and daughter as well. As he got closer he saw they seemed to be working on their needle point.

“He already wants to start a list of names, starting with his father’s,” Elizabeth said with a laugh.

“What names do you want to add to it?” Catherine asked, smiling at her daughter.

“Well, I’ve always liked the name Martha,” Elizabeth admitted.

“Martha’s a wonderful name,” Alice offered with a nod. Arthur stepped over to stand beside his mother and planted a kiss on her head. “Oh Arthur, you’ve come to join us in talking about your future grandchildren?”

“I’m afraid not,” Arthur offered, stepping over to his wife to deliver a similar kiss to her cheek. “I need to go up to Jamestown for a while. I’m asking if you three can stay with Mr. Curtis.”

“I wouldn’t say no to spending a few days by the beach,” Catharine said, concern on her face. She gave her husband a look as if she wanted to ask him something but kept it to herself.

“Well I won’t be joining you,” Alice informed, resting her back against the chair to get more conferrable.

“Mother?” Arthur asked, worried for the aging woman.

“Think reasonably, Mother,” Catharine offered. “If there’s a reason-“

“I’m sorry Catharine,” Alice interrupted the woman. “I left this house once, I’m not going to do it again.”

Arthur held his tongue momentarily, knowing he wouldn’t be able to change her mind and knew better than to order her to leave. Letting out a silent sigh he said, “Alright.”

“Arthur!” Catharine interjected.

Ignoring his wife Arthur continued, “John will be keeping an eyes on the place so he’ll be with you in case anything happens.”

-.-.-.-

“Just found another copy of Bacon’s ‘Declaration of the People’,” John Finley said as the man walking into what had become command central in Thomas Swann’s home in Jamestown. He threw down a pamphlet in front of his boss and the governor.

“I thought he wasn’t making more of these.” Berkeley picked up the parchment to look it over before tossing it behind himself and into the fireplace. He looked at John and offered, “Thank you for getting this copy off the streets.”

“Did you hear anything while you were in town?” Arthur asked, eyeing the man.

“Mr. Kemp and Mr. Murray both wish to let you know they will no longer be able to contact you by normal means,” John informed with a smile. “Mr. Kemp has been made in charge of one of Bacon’s regiments, tomorrow he will send word of what the next few days plan will be. Mr. Murray couldn’t talk long but he reassures that no one suspects they’re spies.”

“Thank you, Mr. Finley,” Berkeley said, looking down at the map of Jamestown laid out on the dining room table.

“Well done, John,” Arthur offered, placing a strong hand on the man’s shoulder.

“Thank you, sir,” John said with a smile at the praise.

“You should return home now,” Arthur suggested, removing his hand. He looked at the map and added, “If he really does have supporters in the surrounding cities, I’d feel better if you were home with my mother.”

“How is the old bird?” Berkeley asked, overhearing the men’s conversation.

“As feisty as ever,” John admitted with a smile.

“If we have need of you again, we’ll send word,” Berkeley said, holding out his hand to the man. John took the handshake as the older man added, “We wouldn’t be this far along without your help.”

John still felt the warmth of the Governor’s praise as he rode the path home. To think, he was able to do something good for his country against a terrorist such as Bacon. He glanced down the road as he rounded a hill and took in the estate he was in charge of. Peace filled the last remaining part of his body not already glowing as all seemed normal. “Just a little farther, Sally,” John offered to his horse.

“Stop! You’re under arrest!”

John turned to the sound of the voice to see a man a little older than himself galloping on horseback towards him, through the wheat field. John pulled back on the reins, ordering Sally to a stop, and waited until the man was within earshot. Once close enough, John’s stomach dropped as he recognized who it was.

“On what charges, Mr. Rogers?” John asked, inwardly growling at the man slowing to a stop beside him.

“Where were you last night?” Joseph Rogers asked, pulling on his horse’s reins to stop the creature from moving under him.

“Out in the Eastern Shore,” John said, thankful Arthur had asked him to check on Mrs. Allen and Elizabeth before going to Jamestown. “What is this about?”

“You weren’t in Surry or Jamestown?” Joseph asked, eyeing the man.

“No, I told you that,” John said, losing his patience. “Now, if you have nothing to arrest me on, I’d like to get back home.”

“Go on, sorry ’bout that,” Joseph said, pulling his horse back as he gave the man a large smile.

Unnerved but unwilling to show it, John whipped the reins harder than he intended to get Sally moving back towards the Allen House. He kept his eyes forward, listening for Joseph’s hoof steps to take a direction behind him. He gulped down the solid fear that had appeared in his throat, realizing he was coming from the wrong direction to have only been on the Eastern Shores.

“Hey! Stop!” Joseph called out.

John turned to look over his shoulder only to see the man whipping the reins to order his horse after him. “Crap,” John cursed under his breath.

“I’m arresting you for lying to me!” Joseph said, his face red behind his beard. He pulled out a pistol and took aim. “Stop or I’ll shoot.”

John pulled back on the reins to order Sally to a stop once more as Joseph rode up to block his path.

“You were in Jamestown last night!” Joseph said, furious.

“No, only this morning,” John said, surprising himself at how he was handling being under gun point.

“Don’t be smart with me,” Joseph ordered. “Give me your guns.”

“Or you’ll shoot me?” John asked, wondering how he was going to get out of this mess.

“See, you can be smart,” Joseph said, sneering at the man.

John upholstered the pistol he carried on his saddle bag and held it by the barrel to the man.

Joseph swiped it with his free hand, stashing it into his saddle bag, before ordering, “Alright, nice and slowly you’re going to ride back to the castle.”

“You mean Allen House?” John asked.

“Whatever you wanna call it,” Joseph said, flicking the pistol towards the house. “Get going. And if your horse puts one hoof off the path, I’ll shoot.”

John followed the trail he had ridden so many times before as the sound of two horse’s hooves filled the air. Figuring he couldn’t have any worst luck he asked, “So is it a crime now to go to Jamestown?”

“No, but it is to be a spy,” Joseph said. “I’ll send word to Mr. Bacon and inform him I’ve caught the governor’s spy.”

“Wait, you think I’m a spy?”

“We know you are. Now shut up and keep moving.”

John let out a snort, keeping his eyes forward. He watched as the large brick home came into view, also revealing a number of men and horses on the front lawn.

“What’cha have here?” a man younger than John asked as they got closer.

“A spy against Mr. Bacon. Simmons, tie him up and keep an eye on him,” Joseph ordered.

“Yes sir,” the young man said with a smile. He pulled off some rope from his horse and stepped beside John’s horse. “If you know what’s good for ya, you’ll do as we tell you. It’s either that or a bullet in you.”

“The old woman’s blocked all the ways in!” a voice called out as two men appeared around the side of the house.

“It’s just a woman, she can’t have blocked all the windows too!” William Rookings pointed out. “Try them all, get a ladder out of the barn if you have to.”

John was pulled sharply off his horse now that his hands were tied together. Landing on his shoulder, he stifled the scream he wanted to let out as he glared up at Simmons.

“Arthur Long, is that you down there!?”

Everyone in the front lawn looked up to see Alice Allen’s head poking out of the top most window above the doorway.

“Does family mean nothing to you, Arthur Long!?”

“Not when it’s our homes, our families, and our farms at stake!” Arthur Long called up to the woman. “Cousin or not, your son is on the wrong side! Now get out of the house before we’re forced to kick you out!”

“Never!” Alice pulled her head inside and slammed the window shut.

“There’s a window that moves on the east side!” a man called out. “Lee, help me with it.”

John managed to get to his feet only to watch helplessly as the men broke into the house, quickly storming through the front door now that it was open.

William Rookings kicked the front door fully open and pushed the aged woman out of the house. “And with that taken care of, I dub this Bacon’s Castle!”

“You’ll never get away with this!” Alice cried out as she pushed herself up by her hands. She looked over her shoulder as John knelt down beside her. “Head my words, you’ll get hanged for this!”

“Go take your prophecies somewhere else, old woman,” Rookings laughed. “Simmons, put the spy in jail.”

“What’cha want me to do to the wimman?” Simmons asked.

“I don’t care, just get her off of Bacon’s property,” Rookings said before turning around in the doorway. Before he disappeared within, the man added, ”Thank you, Mrs. Allen, for your wonderful hospitality.”

As John and Alice were taken away from the house, they would later find those men had ransacked the place in the few weeks they stayed. Nathaniel Bacon never set foot in the home though the name would stay for generations. John spent almost three months in the Charles City jail before being released and going back to Allen House, as they called the home. Alice returned to the house shortly after it was regained in the Allen name and lived there until 1675 when she passed away. As for Bacon, a little ditty became popular after his death that October.

Bacon is dead, I am sorry at my heart that lice and flux should take the hangman’s part.

A girl with brown hair reaching down her back took a tentative step down the stairs of her final bus, clutching her lone suitcase in her left hand. She dropped out of the bus, hearing the doors close behind her, as she took a look towards her new home.

Home, what a weird word to her now.

She looked around as the bus left her, able to put names to the buildings around her from the map she had studied on the long trip there. The bus had dropped her off in front of the library that also held the offices she was to go to.

Nervously she ran her free hand down her black and white plaid dress. She felt her petticoats pushing the skirt outward and glanced down to make sure her black tie was in its bow just under her collar. She looked back up at the building and pushed her glasses up before taking the first step to the building.

Pushing open the glass door, she easily found the front desk and gave a polite smile at the woman sitting here. “Josephina Hunter to see the principal, please.”

“Sit over there, dearie. He’ll be ready to see you in a bit,” the woman said, nodding her head to behind Josephina.

Josephina turned her head and saw four brightly colored chairs sitting along the wall. She went over and sat her suitcase on the floor next to the ending chair before sitting down.

As she waited she found herself fidgeting with one of the eight buttons that ran parallel down her dress. She found herself missing her library of books but knew she would never see them again. She hoped the library that looked to start just pass the offices she was waiting in would have something good.

“Miss Hunter?”

Josephina jumped in her seat, taking out of her mind by the strange male voice. She looked up to see a man in his mid-forties standing in front of her in a gray suit. His hair was black with slightly graying streaks appearing along the temples. She could see he was wearing a school tie, the green and blue plaid fitting in with the rest of the school’s uniform colors. She stood up and grabbed her suitcase so she could follow him into his office. She was motioned to a chair just on the opposite side of the desk and sat down.

On the desk sat the normal pieces of office life, a computer, utensils to write with, and a photo pointed to the man as he sat down in his chair. She noticed a plaque facing her that read Timothy Baker.

“I hope your trip here was enjoyable,” Mr. Baker tried.

Not sure what to say, Josephine just nodded her head.

“Of course your grandmother gave me a rundown of what happened,” Mr. Baker started with. “If there is anything I or any of the staff here can do to help, don’t hesitate to ask.”

“I don’t mean to sound rude, sir, but I’ll be fine,” Josephina offered a smile to the man to hope he would drop the subject.

“Well then,” Mr. Baker looked down at a paper on his desk and picked it up. He handed it across the table to the girl. “Here’s your schedule. Do you want someone to give you a tour of the campus?”

“No, I studied the map you sent on the way here,” Josephina said, looking down her class list for the third term of school. She looked up, remembering the difference between American schools and Australian ones. “There isn’t any problems with me coming in in the middle of the school year?”

“Of course not, just think about it as continuing your last grade a few months longer,” Mr. Baker offered. He picked up a coin envelope and handed it to her. “Here’s your room key. You’ll be in Baudin Hall inside the Eclipse Boarding house. Breakfast is at seven A.M., Dinner’s at seven P.M., unless your hall wishes to cook their own using the kitchen in the house. School will start back up this coming Monday so not everyone will be back yet. Speaking of, have you gotten your uniforms yet?”

“I plan to go to the school store tomorrow,” Josephina nodded her head.

“And you have gone through the school’s guild book?”

Josephina nodded her head once again.

“Is there anything else I could help you with?”

“No, thank you,” Josephina said, standing up as the man did the same. “Thank you for your time.” She shook the man’s hand before grabbing her suitcase. She made her way back to the receptionist, giving the woman a polite smile again, and left the building.

She looked around as a chill ran through-out her, reminding her it was winter in the land down under. Ignoring the cold weather, she turned towards her right and followed the path passed three other dormitories to the last one. The closest to a real smile appeared on her face as she noticed it was the closest one to the water way that was at the edge of campus.

She opened the door to Eclipse Boarding House and stepped inside, shutting the door behind her. A small sitting area greater her with empty seats. She looked at the envelope holding her key and saw her room to be number 211.

After walking around a little, and finding the small kitchen in the process, Josephina found the stairs. She walked up the circling steps and made her way onto the second floor.

She found herself in another lobby of chairs and a few tables with a TV mounted on the wall. A game controller of some kind sat on a coffee table in front of the TV but, as downstairs, no one was seen.

After taking a quick look at door numbers, she found the set she was looking for was along the left hall that faced the waterway. She quickly found room 211 and unlocked the door. She pushed open the door and saw what would be her room for the next four years. Inside was a lone, naked bed straight from the door and a simple table with a matching wooden chair underneath a window closed by blinds. She walked into the room, dropping her suitcase on the bed, and pulled open the blinds to see the water way just outside. She leaned her hands on the table and looked out, missing the ocean that she used to see outside her bedroom window.

Her bedroom… this was her bedroom now.

Signing, she turned around, noticing a dresser along the opposite wall and a closet on the wall along the hallway that held a full length mirror on its closed door. She noticed her bangs were starting to come out of her barrette and pushed them back upwards. She went ahead and untied the tie under her collar as she leaned against the table.

“Oh hey, you’re the American, right?” a female voice asked as a girl with blonde curly hair appeared in the doorway. Her hair was pulled back by a hairband that held a metal decoration with an engraving of a leaf. “Name’s Alisha.”

“Josephina.”

“Cool name.” Alisha walked in and noticed the lone suitcase on the bed. “You want some help unpacking?”

“No,” Josephina stated, staying leaned against the desk.

Alisha opened the closet and pulled out a few hangers. “If you need anymore the bus’ll take us out to town. It’s cheaper there then the school store.” Looking at what was in her hand she exclaimed, “Shoot! He only left you eight! That stupid Kirby.”

“Kirby?”

“His nickname. The only game he ever played, “Alisha sat down the hangers on the bed next to the suitcase. “George, our house Dad, should be here tomorrow, until till then it’s just you and me here. If you want I could show you around.”

“No thanks, I just wanna get unpacked,” Josephina shook her head. “When did you say the bus would take us to town? I need to get a few things.”

“Uh, the bus should be passing in about twenty minutes,” Alisha offered. “Have you been given your bus card?”

“Yeah.”

“Then come on. I’ve gotta go to Woolworths too.” The girl turned around to leave the room.

“Woolworths?”

Alisha turned around in the doorway and nodded her head. “You were expecting a Walmart or something, huh?”

Josephina nodded her head.

“Closest one’s in Hawaii,” Alisha gave her a smile. “Just gave me a second to grab my purse and I’ll be ready.”

Josephina watched the strange girl walk out of sight. She never asked for the girl to come along, nor did she feel the need for company. She pushed off the table and walked over to the closet, closing the closet door to see herself. She quickly re-tied the tie under her collar, deciding to just deal with Alisha. She quickly opened her suitcase and pulled out her purple purse strap, bring out the head of a monster attached. Opening the monster’s mouth, she checked to make sure her wallet and dropped her room key into the mouth. She let the magnet click the purse shut and put the strap on her shoulder. She left her room, shutting the door behind her. Not sure as to which room belonged to Alisha, nor really giving too much thought to it, Josephina turned to the stairs and headed down to the lobby.

“You think you need a windbreaker?” Alisha asked, announcing her presence.

Josephina saw her rushing down the stairs as she zipped her jacket.

“On my list of things to get,” Josephina admitted.

“So you don’t have any other bags,” Alisha said, more to herself as she stopped next to Josephina. She looked Josephina in the eye as she grew a smile. “Well, let’s go. The bus should be here any minute now.”

Josephina found herself following the curly blonde haired girl out of the dorm and down the pathway back to the center of campus. The two walked in silence for a bit as Alisha lead them down the campus to the main road.

“So what’s with the fifties dress style?” Alisha asked as the two stood waiting at the end of the drive.

“Cause I like it,” Josephina offered bluntly. She kept her eyes straight ahead to avoid the girl.

“Can’t say anything against that,” Alisha nodded her head. “I think it’s cool. It’s something not seen all the time, I like it.”

Josephina turned her head to look at the girl, not sure what to expect now. “Uh, thank you.”

“So are you a no-pants type of girl than?” Alisha asked.

Josephina looked back at the road. “Only when I feel like it.” A lone care drove by, leaving them a chilly breeze as Josephina held her elbows and shivered.

“The bus should be here soon,” Alisha tried. “I know you’re used to this time being summer but why don’t you have a jacket? You were told school’s year around here, right?”

“I knew, I just didn’t have one to pack,” Josephina said.

“You wanna borrow mine?”

Josephina looked at the girl in surprise. “No thanks.”

“What part of the states are you from?” Alisha tried.

“North Carolina.”

“Oh, ok. I made it to the states last year during break. I stayed with a family in Georgia. Maybe a bit farther south but still, same side of the country,” Alisha offered. “Have you ever traveled before this?”

“No, my family… wasn’t one for trips inside the state, much less outside,” Josephina admitted. The sound of air breaks turned the two’s attention to their right as a bus slowed down.

“Finally, this bus is never late,” Alisha said as the bus came to a stop in front of them.

The two girls quickly jumped onto the bus and found themselves in a group of four passengers. They grabbed a seat close to the front as the doors closed and the bus pulled forward.

“Am I the only foreigner at Great South?” Josephina asked.

“This year you are. Most of the time we normally have a Japanese exchange student but really most of the students come from Kalgan or the surrounding towns. Actually a few of them that live around Woolworths actually house at school.” Alisha turned her head to look at Josephina and asked, “Why did your family decide to send you half a world away?”

“My grandma knows the principal, er, you call him the headmaster, huh?” Without waiting for a response she continued. “So with everything that had happened, she thought this would be better.”

“Everything that had happened?” Alisha echoed.

Josephina turned to see country side turn into housing as she avoided looking at the girl. “My parents died in a fire at the end of my last school year,” she stated.

“Oh, I’m sorry,” Alisha offered, placing a hand on Josephina’s shoulder.

“Don’t be,” Josephina shrugged off the girl’s hand. “But that’s why I don’t have more than one suitcase.”

“Is there anything I could help with?”

“I’ll be fine.”

“Ok,” Alisha threw off.

“How far away is this wooly place?”

“Just on the other side of the lake.”

“Lake?”

“The body of water just outside our housing,” Alisha explained. “It’s part of the Frenchman Bay, but no one calls it that.”

“Oh, ok.”

“So did you live close to water back in North Carolina?”

“The ocean, I lived in the Outer Banks,” Josephina admitted. “My mom had a restaurant that looked over the street to the Atlantic.”

“Oh so this is a big down grade, huh?” Alisha let out a laugh. “Does you grandma live in the same area?”

“Yeah.”

“Then I’d like to visit one day.”

“That’d be… cool,” Josephina offered, giving the girl a half smile. Hoping to change the subject away from herself, she said, “So why are you going to a boarding school?”

“Well I’m from New Zealand and my Mum wanted me to be like a cousin, living in a different country, but Dad didn’t want me to go too far,” Alisha admitted. “This was as far as he’d let me go.”

“So why aren’t you home for break?”

“I still had school work to complete,” Alisha glanced out the front window, seeing houses turn into a gas station and a shopping center with a main store taking up most of the space. “Here’s our stop.”

“What’s it called again, woolswith?”

“Woolworths. I think it was some guy’s last name.”

The bus took the round-a-bout and slowed to a stop. The two girls got up and Josephina found herself leading them off. She dropped down and stepped away to wait for the strange girl to follow.

“I’ve gotta get some food, do you want any help with your list?” Alisha asked as they stepped away from the bus stop as a lady took their place.

“I’ll be fine,” Josephina said.

“Ok, I’ll guess I’ll find you when I’m done,” Alisha gave her a smile as they walked through the doors.

“Uh, sure,” Josephina looked down to her purse as the blonde walked away. She pulled out her list and realized she would need a cart.

-.-.-.-

Josephina found herself lost among the isle of shampoos and conditioners. Her basket was already piling up with cloths, school supplies, and two reading books. She plucked a bottle off the shelf and turned it over to read for what type of hair it was for.

“Having any luck?” Alisha asked, finding the girl as she carried a hand basket of food off her elbow.

“No,” Josephina mumbled, placing the bottle back on the shelf.

“First time buying stuff like this?”

“No, my brand’s just not here,” Josephina admitted, looking for the next promising bottle. Picking it up she went ahead and found the matching conditioner and just threw them in her basket.

“Anything else on your list?”

“Teeth stuff, you can go ahead and check out. I won’t be too much longer,” Josephina said, grabbing her cart to pull it around to the next isle.

“Naw, I probably should grab some more tooth paste,” Alisha said, tagging along. “So do you play any games?”

“I’m more of a card person than a board game person.”

“Oh, I meant video games.”

Josephina looked through the tooth brushes and picked out one to toss into the cart. “I’ve never played any.”

“Then I’m gonna teach you,” Alisha smiled, handing the girl a box of tooth paste similar to the one in her basket.

“Thanks but I don’t see myself liking video games,” Josephina admitted, taking the box to look it over. She placed it in her cart as she said, “I’m a book person.”

“Well, do you watch the tele?”

The two girls left the isle and headed to the checkout counter. “Not really,” Josephina admitted. “None of the shows I’ve seen catch my attention.”

“What? You’re nothing like the American stereotype,” Alisha said. Josephina gave her a look of confusion as Alisha quickly added, “I mean in a good way.”

“Thanks… I think.” Josephina glanced back at her cart in front of her as they stopped behind a couple and their basket.

“So what type of books do you like?” Alisha asked, picking up the two books out of Josephina’s cart. “Harley Davis: Teenage Superhero and James Patterson Cross.”

“Harley’s what the title says and Cross’ a mystery series,” Josephina explained. She felt a little miffed about the girl going through her cart but didn’t say anything about it as the couple in front of them started to get checked out.

“Cool, I love a good mystery,” Alisha said as she put the books back in the cart.

Josephina turned her attention back to the couple in front of them, watching them checking out. She didn’t understand the strange girl standing beside her. They had nothing in common, so why was she being so persistent to try to be friends? Josephina just wanted to be left alone. She didn’t go to school to make friends.

“Oh hey, Alex’s coming to school tomorrow,” Alisha stated. “I think you’d like him. He’s got the room next to you.”

“Who else’s in our dorm?” Josephina asked, adding to herself, so I know how to avoid them.

“Well George and Alex should be there tomorrow,” Alisha started as the couple paid and left so Josephina could give her stuff to the cashier. “On your floor, there’s Ulrich, Max, Sophia, and James. Those last two are twins in year eight. Max is in year three, being the youngest in our house, and Ulrich’s in year nine. Don’t play any sport against him, he’s good at everything.”

“And your floor?” Josephina prompted, keeping an eye on the prices of everything being rung up.

“It gets confusing. Next to my room is the girl Sam and across the hall from her is the boy Sam, they’re both in year five. Then there’s Danni, she’s good at Smash so if you try out that game, don’t play against her. And then there’s Andrew in year eleven and Adam in year eight.”

Josephina thought for a second as she handed over her credit card. “A bit diverse in age.”

“Well Max is a bit young, I think she’s the youngest out of everyone housing,” Alisha offered.

Josephina took her bags and put them in the cart to get out of Alisha’s way. Alisha put her basket on the counter and turned to Josephina.

“I heard her brother died last year so she moved in so she wouldn’t be reminded of him, but that’s all rumors, I’m sure.”

“I don’t listen to rumors,” Josephina retorted.

“That’s for the best,” Alisha smiled. “Who knows who starts them.”

-.-.-.-

“Thanks for helping me,” Josephina said as she opened the door to her room.

“’Course,” Alisha said, following the girl in to the still barren room. She sat the bags that didn’t belong to her on the mattress and asked, “You sure you don’t want some help?”

“I’ll be fine,” Josephina said, sitting her bags on the desk. She started pulling stuff out of her bags as she said, “Thanks for your help.”

“Then I guess I’ll see you at dinner. You know where the dining hall is, right?”

“Yeah,” Josephina pulled out a stack of hangers and went to work at taking them apart.

“Ok, see ya.”

Josephina looked up and watched the blond hair disappear out of the doorway. Letting out a sigh, Josephina let the trash fall to the ground and put the hangers in the closet to await the rest of her unpacking. Taking a moment, she sat down in the chair and unbuckled her shoes. Kicking them off, she looked around at the empty room, not sure if this would ever feel like home. Her home had been destroyed by her mother. Her father had been killed in the same destructive fire.

Quickly she wiped her eyes, determined not to cry even in solitude. She took a deep breath and stood up. She walked over to her suitcase and, with both thumbs, unclipped it. She pushed it up and pulled out what was left of her possessions. A lamb was the first out, the stuffed animal in patchwork pajamas and lamb slippers. She carefully sat it on the naked mattress and pulled out an extra petticoat, four more dresses, and a night gown. She pulled out a couple of tights and a pair of tennis shoes, empting out the suitcase. Closing the suitcase, she slid it under the bed and went to putting her cloths in the closet.

“Hey Jo!” Alisha called out as she appeared in Josephina’s doorway.

“Who?”

“A parcel came in for you just now,” Alisha continued, ignoring the question. “Haven’t even been here a day and you’re already getting mail.”

Josephina took the package, curious as to who’d send her something. She looked where the return address was only to see an Australian address she didn’t recognize. She ripped into the box and found a leather bound book with a purple rock on the cover. Unclasping the small metal latch, she opened the book to find it full of empty home-made papers. Looking back in the box she found a small piece of paper. She pulled it out, her brows furling in confusion.

“What does it say?” Alisha asked, walking over to stand next to her.

“Just ‘use this well’,” Josephina said, turning the page so the girl could see the computer printed words. “I don’t even know who’d send this. The address isn’t one I know.”

“This is so cool, a real life mystery,” Alisha smiled, looking the girl in the face.

“Not a hard one. I could Google the address and probably found out the who,” Josephina said, flipping through the empty pages. “Oh wow.”

“What?”

“It’s all handmade,” Josephina flipped the pages before getting to the end to see the inside of the back cover.

“Cool, you don’t see that every day,” Alisha smiled. “Do you need my laptop to look up the address?”

“No, mine should be here tomorrow or Wednesday,” Josephina admitted. She closed the book and used the small metal clasp to shut it tight. “Thanks though.”

“I’ll leave you to unpack then,” Alisha said. “I’ll be cooking some dinner in a couple of hours. You can join me in the kitchen if you want.”

Josephina looked up at Alisha, surprise on her face before a smile took over her features. “Uh, thanks. I’ll be there. Around seven, right?”

“Yeah,” Alisha gave her a smile before turning to leave the room.

“Oh, hey, one moment,” Josephina called out, stopping the girl. She put down the notebook and went over to the pile of bags to pull out a boxed alarm clock. “What time is it?”

“5:47.”

Josephina quickly unboxed the small blue box and plugged it in under the desk. The sounds of clicking filled the air as she quickly punched in the numbers. She sat it on the desk to show it to be a minute ahead. “Thanks.”

In no time Josephina was closing the top dresser drawer and turned around to take in her new room. Lamb sat against the lone pillow on the black comforter with matching pillow cases. On the desk sat the clock, now reading 6:39, and her new school supplies sitting at the ready with a small tear-off calendar reading the date.

“We’ll find out why one day,” Robert promised, placing a comforting hand on the teen’s shoulder.

“Thank you,” Jeremie said, smiling up at the man. He blinked and the man was gone. The buildings around him showed extreme age and deterioration. He looked around, surprised to see the town almost devoid of life. Longing to find his only friend in this life that he had been given, he turned around and took in more of the desolate town.

“Jeremie, over here!” Robert called out.

Jeremie turned back and found his friend crossing the street, giving it a look though nothing seemed to have used it for a long while. He was shocked to find Robert’s attire to have completely changed to a blue jumpsuit and his brown hair free to the wind blowing. As he came closer he admitted, “I was starting to think I’d missed you through the wars.”

“Wars?” Jeremie echoed in shock.

“Come on and get a bite to eat. It’s been a while, hasn’t it?” Robert asked, leading the way to a shop doorway. He opened the door as a bell rang out to announce their presence. “Hopefully you’ll be here longer this time, though we’re gonna have to move. This town’s turned into a ghost town.”

“Give me a history lesson first,” Jeremie said as the two stepped over to a grimy yellow table.

“Well, its 1974, so you missed, what, 64 years this time,” Robert explained. “That’s the biggest jump yet, isn’t it?”

“64 years, esh,” Jeremie mumbled.

“What can I get you two?” a gruff older woman’s voice asked.

“Oh, two Pepsis, please,” Robert said, giving the purple haired woman a polite smile.

The woman gave a smack of her lips and turned around to leave them.

“You said wars?” Jeremie asked, worry plain on his face.

“Yeah, I even served in the first World War,” Robert started with as he picked up a paper menu from its holder behind the napkins. “Was worried the whole time I’d miss you so I managed to get out through a section eight. Made them believe I was too crazy to serve. Through the second World War the factory was building plane parts so I did that up until the factory shut down. Not enough people here to work anymore.”

“You know what you wanna eat?” the purple haired lady asked, sitting down two glass bottles.

Robert took another glance at the menu in his hands and said, “Yeah, I’ll get a burger and fries. Jeremie?” He looked over the paper only to see an empty seat across the table from himself.

“Where’d your son disappear to?” the woman asked, shock on her face. “Wasn’t he just here?”

“He probably just went to the bathroom. I’m sorry,” Robert quickly said, giving the woman a smile. “Just give him the same.”

“Alright,” the woman said, sounding unsure. She gave the seat a second look before leaving to make their food.

Robert let out a sigh as he put back the menu. He knew he had to get out of this town before someone noticed he hadn’t aged, but he wouldn’t leave without Jeremie. He just hoped the leap wouldn’t take as long as the last.