Chapter 7
Clara awoke suddenly in her room at her grandma’s house, shooting straight up in bed.
Grabbing her head, she muttered, “Oh, it hurts. Where is everyone?” She looked around her dimly lit room.
After rolling over to get out of bed she found a package wrapped in brown paper and twine, with a note. She tore the package open. Brown shreds of paper littered the floor. It was her field guide, glasses, and a journal.
The note read,
‘Don’t take too long to summon me again. A day trip is what I recommend.’
“Grammie! Oh no, how long have I been gone? I’d better hide all of this so no one finds it. Grammie will be very upset that I went on an adventure.”
Clara shoved the package under her pillow, swept the paper tatters under her bed and ran downstairs. Grammie and Mrs. Treadworth were finishing their daily tea.
“Well, hello there. Where are you going in such a rush?” asked Grammie.
“I was just coming down to get some tea with the two of you. I have a little bit of a headache and you always say a cup of tea heals everything.”
“I didn’t think you were paying attention when I said that. Did you hear that Mrs. Treadworth? Clara actually listened one time when I spoke.”
“Miracles do happen, Persephone,” said Mrs. Treadworth, sipping the last of her tea.
“What did you call Grammie?
“Your grandmother told me you found the journal. It’s all right Clara I know all about it.”
“You do?”
“Your grandmother and I go way back. Where did we meet again?” said Mrs. Treadworth slyly.
Smiling, Grammie said, “I believe it was at the signing of the Declaration of Independence.”
“What? I think my headache just got worse,” Clara said, plopping down in a chair.
“Yes, I believe you’re right. Those were some good times,” said Grammie, pouring Clara some tea.
“Those Founding Fathers sure did know how to live it up. And that Ben Franklin partied till dawn,” said Mrs. Treadworth.
Grammie replied, shaking her head, “They weren’t all fun and games. Some of them were pretty straight-laced.”
“But do you remember the ball that night? It was grand. General Washington in his new uniform, and we mustn’t forget how handsome the good Captain was that evening,” Mrs. Treadworth said, reflecting.
“That was a magical event. I never wanted it to end. The dancing, cheering, fireworks, and the Captain was so attentive. I was the most important person there,” said Grammie, wiping the tears that welled in her eyes.
Clara raised her hand, “Excuse me. I don’t want to interrupt the walk down memory lane, but how is that possible? Did you both travel to 1776, or are you from then?” she asked turning to Mrs. Treadworth.
“Oh dear, how to explain,” said Mrs. Treadsworth, “I was born in 1757. I was 19 when I met Persephone and the Captain. It was the days leading up to the signing of the Declaration. Those were exciting times in Philadelphia. My father was an officer in the newly formed Colonial Army. We had much to lose if England didn’t grant us our independence and we went to war. We had a large estate on the Potomac River and I had become accustomed to the finer things in life. But we all believed in the creation of the United States of America. We were willing to sacrifice everything to make a better life for ourselves rather than being ruled by a King a world away.”
“Wow,” said Clara, “but that still doesn’t answer the question on how you got here.”
Grammie reached for the teapot, “We’ll get to that. There is more to this tale. Have some more tea.”
“Of course, my family and I were at the signing to support my father and the Continental Congress. That is when I met your grandmother. I was taking a walk in the square outside Independence Hall when I ran in to her, literally. We were both so busy looking around at all the people and activities that we knocked into each other. Due to our same age, and with the excitement of the event, we became thick as thieves right away. Your grandmother came and visited me with the Captain during the course of the war. I had no idea she was traveling through time for our visits.”
“It was hard to keep up the front that I was living in her time. I had to read up on what was happening every time I went, and since I wasn’t living through the war I didn’t have the same emotional connection. But I did have the optimism that we would win, since I had the inside track on that piece of information,” said Grammie, giving Clara a wink.
“My father loved Persephone. At dinner we would talk about the progress of the war when he was home and all she could say were positive, wonderful things about how life would be once we won the war. It was very up lifting and inspirational, I must say. At that one dinner General Washington was quite pleased with you.”
“You met George Washington?” interrupted Clara, looking at Grammie with her mouth hanging open.
“Yes”
“That is so cool. What was he like?”
Grammie replied, “Very nice, eloquent man, passionate about the freedoms he believed we should all have. He did have bad breath, on account of the wooden teeth.”
Clara crinkled up her nose, “Yuck.”
“It was unpleasant but they didn’t have the same dental care we have today. If we can get off the topic of General Washington’s breath, I would like to continue my story.’
“Sorry Grammie, go ahead.”
“It was on my last trip to see Mrs. Treadworth when it happened. We were in the carriage going to a function when artillery fire began and scared the horses. The Captain couldn’t always control when we would leave from one of our travels, and that was when we left. Somehow when we departed, Mrs. Treadworth was brought along to my present time.”
“I was scared at first but it was exciting to be in a world so different yet, be so familiar. This is where I grew up but in a completely different time.”
“Couldn’t the Captain take you back?”
“We tried, but it didn’t work,” said Mrs. Treadworth.
“I don’t understand. Why would you be stuck here?” asked Clara.
Putting her hand on Clara’s, Grammie said, “The Captain didn’t have complete control over the time travel process. Every time he tried to take Mrs. Treadworth home, she would stay and he would depart.”
“But doesn’t that change some historical time line; because you should have been dead a long time ago and you’re here? What about the life that you had in history before the Captain and Grammie? I’m sure it would have been much different.”
“Actually they saved me.”
“How’s that?”
“We looked back in the archives and found my family’s record book at a museum. It was recorded that myself, Persephone and the Captain were killed in an artillery exchange when our carriage overturned. I most likely would have been in the carriage alone with the coachman as my escort to the event to meet my family. If your grandmother and the Captain hadn’t been there, I would have died at twenty. Instead I have lived a very full and exciting life with your grandmother and family.”
“That’s amazing,” said Clara wide-eyed, clutching her tea cup, “Never in a million years would I have guessed it. It makes sense why you are so good at teaching Colonial history at the University.”
“Yes, my students are always amazed at my knowledge of every day in the Colonies,” said Mrs. Treadworth smiling.
“Does that clear everything up for you dear?” asked Grammie.
“Kind of, but it brings up so many other things. Does Dad know about all of this stuff?”
“Oh, heavens no, I haven’t told anyone. Your grandfather didn’t know about the Captain at all. I put everything in that chest upstairs. My adventures were for me. The only person I told about the Captain was Mrs. Treadworth. Sadly that was my last adventure with him.”
“Why’s that?” Clara asked surprised.
“I was getting older and I wanted to get married and start a
family. I couldn’t be gallivanting across time with a husband and babies at home. I had to choose between a life here in the present or in the past. It was the hardest decision I ever had to make. The loss of the Captain was difficult on us both, but I had Mrs. Treadworth to be my constant companion and confidant.”
Mrs. Treadworth broke in, “I think this is enough conversation about the past for one day. Don’t you agree Persephone?”
“Yes, and I do believe we have a bridge game to get to. Would you like to join us Clara?”
“No, I’m in information over load. I think I need to go lie down before my head explodes.”
###
About the Author
Laura K Marshall is a children’s author who loves having fun while learning which she incorporates into her writing. Her love for imagination and the make believe is what drives her to write. Laura also writes about writing. She is the Founder and Editor of The Starving Writer, an on-line writer’s resource.
You can find Laura at www.laurakmarshall.com or www.thestarvingwriter.com
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