Chapter 5
“Mrs. Peabody what brings you to Africa?” asked Clara, sipping her evening tea.
“Oh, my dear, so many things. Do you want the long or short story?”
“The long story please.”
“Remember you asked. I was always the wild one in our family. Had I been born a male, I would have been considered outgoing and ambitious, but as a female I was wild. I was constantly getting in trouble with my mother. I would hear ‘Jane that is not proper for a young lady in your station.’ Then you just need to fill in the misdeed I had done: climbing a tree to study a beetle, debating local politics. I was just too smart for my own good.”
“Really? So you were quite the troublemaker,” replied Clara leaning forward on her sitting pillow.
“You might say that. Being a proper young lady got down right boring at times. But I did have a family reputation to maintain. My father was well respected. He had a good heart and always thought of others well being. He was the Lord of the Manor. We were responsible for the prosperity of the nearby town, due to the support it gave to the estate.”
“Wow, not many people can say that,” Clara said, impressed.
“My father was supportive of my vivaciousness and spirit, but he didn’t want me to live life alone. I made every effort to tone down my unlady-like behavior, though I didn’t do a good job of it,” said Mrs. Peabody fanning away a fly.
“So what happened?”
“My family held a ball every year in the spring on our estate. At one of these affairs I met Edmond Peabody. He was handsome and a good dancer. He was also well educated, and I could talk to him about a great many things. He liked my outgoing spirit and wasn’t intimidated by my outspokenness.”
“So, it all worked out? You found a man you could live your life with and still be outgoing,” said Clara putting down her empty teacup.
“It mostly worked out. As much as Edmond approved of my spirit and conversation, he did not approve of my adventurous side. I had to take what I could. I married Edmond and moved to his estate in Kent. We had five beautiful children, but I was still confined to the proper lifestyle of the Lady of the Manor. I had to make an adventure out of whatever I could. Our children loved it. We had a tree house where they could be pirates, or defend the fort from the lake monster, but I never left England,” said Mrs. Peabody fanning herself.
“That’s totally unfair. You were so close but so far away from your dream.”
“But, my dear, that is how life is for us.”
“I still think it’s completely unfair,” replied Clara, “But you’re in Africa now. How did you manage it?
Mrs. Peabody looked down at her teacup, as she swirled the remainder of its contents, “Edmond died two years ago and our children are away at school. Last year when I came out of mourning, I had a decision to make. Was I going to continue my life as Lady of the Manor, or was I going to grab life and take the adventures I had only dreamed about. I made my plans and now I am in Africa having the best time of my life.”
“Good for you. Is it everything you hoped it would be?”
“And more, I was afraid I wouldn’t have anyone with which to share the adventure. I am glad I met you and the Captain,” replied Mrs. Peabody, patting Clara on the cheek.
“I’m glad we met, too.”
“Are you ladies enjoying the evening?” asked the Captain, placing Clara’s shawl across her shoulders.
“Very much so,” replied Mrs. Peabody depositing her empty teacup on a near by tray.
“Clara, are you all right my dear?” asked the Captain.
“Yeah, I’m fine, just a slight headache, nothing major,” she replied rubbing her temples.
Mrs. Peabody smiled at Clara, shaking her head said, “You say some of the most peculiar things.
“I have a treat, if you will grant me the honor of your company,” the Captain said, giving a slight bow.
“Oh my, I hadn’t noticed it had gotten so dark,” remarked Mrs. Peabody, getting out of her chair and looking around.
“Yes, night falls quickly here on the Savannah. But the darkness holds the most magnificent treasure,” said the Captain “Look up.”
Clara and Mrs. Peabody both looked up and stared in awe at the velvet black sky strewn with millions of stars winking and twinkling in the night.
“I would have never imagined there were that many stars in the sky. I wonder how many there are, Captain?” asked Mrs. Peabody.
“I am not an astronomer. I would not humble that profession by giving an amateur answer, but the majesty and grandeur of the display would make anyone lose ones self in its brilliance.”
“Captain, that was beautiful. I couldn’t have described it better,” said Mrs. Peabody.
Tipping his head back, the Captain asked, “Do either of you know the constellations?”
Getting up from her sitting pillow, Clara responded, “I know the Big Dipper and Little Dipper, but that is about it.”
“That is such a small percentage of the pictures that the gods paint for us nightly, and they are ever changing with the movement of the planets.”
“For a man who professes to not be an astronomer you know more than your fair share about the sky,” commented Mrs. Peabody.
Standing up straight and adjusting his coat, he replied, “Madam, I am a sea captain. I live and die by the movement of the stars.”
“I did not mean to offend, Captain.”
“Not at all Mrs. Peabody, I only wanted to give you the proper context for our discussion. Do either of you know what star is a never changing mark in the sky?”
“Oh, I know this one! We learned it in school. It’s the North Star,” answered Clara.
“You are correct, my dear. The North Star, also called Polaris, is a never wavering light in the sky. It is a comfort to a sailor to find her. With the North Star as your guide you can always find your way.”
“What else can we see?” asked Clara, looking up.
“We can see other constellations depending on the time of the year. There is the Bear, Scorpio, Crab, Aquarius, and many more. There are also comets and meteors that fly through the sky.”
“What are meteors?” inquired Mrs. Peabody.
“A meteor is a space rock entering the earth’s atmosphere and burning up. Some of them are completely destroyed as they plunge from the heavens, but others are reduced in size and you can find them on the ground.”
“You are a fascinating man, Captain. A variable cornucopia of information.”
“Why, thank you, Mrs. Peabody. I am always looking to educate myself. When I hear of new theories or learnings, I attempt to go to the source and root out all the information I can. I am quite determined.”
“Certainly sounds that way.”
The trio gazed at the extraterrestrial pictures as crickets filled the air with their music. The other animals of the night harmonized to the song. The cool night air drifted between them bringing the sweet smell of far away flowers to the stargazers.
“What brought you to Africa, Captain?” asked Mrs. Peabody.
“Miss Clara said that she must come to Africa and see as many animals as possible. She would not take no for an answer, and I was not about to argue with her, so here we are,” replied the Captain.
“She has you wrapped around her little finger, does she not, Captain?”
“There is nowhere else I would rather be.”
“Interesting,” said Mrs. Peabody looking back up to the sky, “Clara you have the Captain under quite a nice spell.”
Clara smiled, “You have no idea.”