Hey everyone! I finally have this done! I hope you enjoy, and tell me what you think. :)
(note: I only changed a few details, so nothing huge.) ;)
1620
As
Katie Cross stood alongside her family and friends on the deck of the
Mayflower, on the shore of Plymouth, England, she looked back at her
homeland, and she wandered if they would ever see it again. She
looked around at the rolling mountains of fall, and over at the pier
where her father had taught she and Jacob how to swim, and at the
loving home where their parents had reared them up to fear and love
the Lord. No matter how many times she tried to reassure herself that
they would travel back to their home again, she now knew that it
wasn't possible. They were traveling to the New World for religious
freedom and a new life. She was both scared and exited all at the
same time... all of them were.... for they had no idea what to
expect. Her twin brother Jacob came to stand beside her as she looked
over the railing of the ship, trying to hide the tears that
threatened to spill over. He seemed to feel the same tension that she
felt, and he looked at her and whispered quietly, “Everything is
going to be alright, Katie.” Jacob gave her a little smile. She
smiled back at him, and said, “I know, Jacob... as long as we are
all together!”
She
and her brother had been close ever sense they were little children,
but especially when their father passed away almost 3 years ago, they
became even closer. Their mother, Sarah, holding the small hand of
two and a half year old Abigail, came to stand beside them, she put
her free arm around them both and asked, “Are you ready, Children?
The Captain just announced that we will be leaving in about five
minutes,” she smiled at them with an almost sad look in her eyes.
Abigail
looked up at her older brother with her big, innocent, blue eyes and
asked, "Where are we going, Jacob?," Jacob smiled at her,
bent down and picked her up answering, " We are traveling to a
new home called America, so we can worship Jesus freely, without
anyone telling us in what manner we are allowed do it in. Do you
understand, dear?" When the little girl nodded her head, Jacob
gently set her on the wooden floor of the ship. Then Katie
suggested, “Why don't we all pray together, Mother,” their mother
smiled at her and exclaimed, “What a great idea, Katie! Jacob? Why
don't you go get Charles's family over here, and we'll pray."
“Yes,
Mother.”
When
they were all together, Charles's mother, Helen, said, “Will you
please say the blessing, Charles?”
“Of
course, Mother,” He winked at Abigail who took his large hand into
her small one and bowed his head, “Dear Gracious and Heavenly
Father, we come here before you on this beautiful morning, to ask for
protection. Protection for us and the other families on this ship,
while seeking religious freedom, and for our friends and family here
at home. That they will be strong enough to withhold this
persecution, in which they might look to you for strength. And give
us strength as we go on to the New World without some of our loved
ones, living and deceased. In Your Name we pray, Amen.” She felt
someone squeeze her hand. Katie suddenly had tears in her eyes, and
as everyone started to drop hands, she noticed Charles had not yet
let hers go. He was looking at her with the same sadness she was
feeling. Charles never said anything, but she could almost read his
expression, which said,
“I
know what you're feeling, Katie, and we can make it through
together,” Katie gave him a slight smile and whispered; “Thank
you, Charles.”
He
squeezed her hand again, and then went to be with his family. As she
stood there holding her little sister, she realized that the boat was
moving. She started to wave at everyone on shore, and silently
prayed, ‘Lord, we are all in your hands now! Keep us all safe, I
trust that you will.’ But even as she said it, she had this
awful feeling that not all of the people on the Mayflower would make
it to see freedom, and it made her uneasy. But what she didn't know
was that this voyage would change her life forever!
~
1618
A
year and a half earlier....
Fourteen
and a half year old Katie Cross sat looking out the window in her bed
room. Since her father died two years ago, she often sat there and
talked to him about her days at school or how she wished she could
see his face. She was deep in thought when she heard her mother’s
voice,
“Katie,
we need to speak with you!’’
“Coming!
’’ she answered.
When
she got to the kitchen see saw, her mother holding one-year old
Abigail on her lap, and her twin brother, Jacob were sitting at the
table.
“Sit
down, Katie.” Mother said.
“All
right “Katie said curiously.
When
she sat at the kitchen table, Mother took her hand.
“What
is it, Mother?”
“As
you know, your aunt and uncle are going to the New World.” Mother
stated as Katie nodded
“
Well…
I’ve decided that we will be going along.”
“No!”
Katie explained as she quickly stood up; she heard her chair crashing
to the floor.
“Katie
dear, your father’s been gone for almost two years now, and I can’t
care for you children on my own” Mother said gently.
“I
am not going with you!” Katie shouted loudly as she ran up the
stairs.
~
Katie
was sobbing on her cot when, she heard Jacob’s gentle voice behind
her.
“Katie,
are you all right?”
“Go
away!” she yelled as she sat up.
She
instantly felt ashamed about speaking to her brother so
disrespectfully.
“What’s
wrong?” Jacob questioned her gently.
She
answered. “I just want to be alone!”
“Nothing!
Nothing’s the matter, Katie? If there’s nothing wrong, then why
did you yell at Mother? You’ve never yelled at her before, Katie.”
he stated more sternly.
“You’d
be frustrated with her too if she made you leave the only home you’ve
ever
known!” Katie sobbed.
“Don’t
be so dramatic, Katie. Do you think I want to leave our home either?
Mother is doing what she thinks Father would want for us if he were
here!”
“You
don’t seem too upset about it.” she answered as she folded her
arms.
“Katie,
you’re acting like a child!” Jacob almost yelled.
Katie
gasped in surprise. They had never fought like that before, and Jacob
had always been the quiet, peace maker of the family; never raising
his voice at anyone. Katie looked up at him with a sad, tear stained
face and whispered,
“Oh
Jacob, I'm so scared! I don’t want to leave Father.”
Then
she started sobbing again and threw herself on a pillow. Jacob’s
face softened as he sat next to her on the cot. Knowing how hard
Katie took their father’s death, he tried to calm her by softly
rubbing her back.
“Katie,
don’t cry.” he soothed her gently. “Father wouldn’t want you
to be frightened, now would he? He would want us to be happy, Katie.
And God will provide for us.” Katie sat there as if she were
pondering his words. Then she sat up and gave him a little smile.
“No
… I suppose he wouldn’t. Go tell Mother I’ll be down to help
with supper and to get Abigail down for her nap, ok?"
Jacob
nodded and smiled as he went to leave the room.
“Jacob?”
Katie said.
“Yes?”
She
sat there for a second then said to him,
“Thank
you.” she whispered.
Jacob
nodded and then left the room.
