A Revolutionary Moment (Chapter Six)

by Aimee in ...I don't know. HOLY CROW, I'M LOST!!!!!!!!!

 A/N I was thinking about chagning the name of Aimee. Does anybody have any ideas?

Chapter Six:

Aimee was awakened again by the unmistakable crow of a rooster.  Rays of morning sunlight filtered through her lace curtains with small dust motes illuminating the beauty.  She slowly got out of her bed and stumbled to the closet, pulling out another floor length dress. This one was ice-blue, with small white spades decorating the cloth. A the end of the sleeved were button up cuffs. Aimee began to pull out the corset, but remembered that another person had to tie it, so she waited for Mary to come and assist her, as she had yesterday.

Sitting at her table she began to brush her hair absentmindedly. She kept remembering that she had found two of her friends already. But it kept nagging at her. Could everything really be this simple? She hadn’t done anything to find Abby and Claire. But would the same constitute apply for Trevor? Should she just wait and see if they happen upon each other? Or should she do some serious research? And how do people research in this century? Can you do research in this century? All this was very disturbing to her, mostly because she couldn’t think of any answers.

Her mindless questioning was interrupted when Mary opened the door and automatically pulled the corset into her hands, gesturing for Aimee to stand up. Aimee obeyed and Mary began lacing the corset up her back, asking her the same pointless questions as yesterday. Aimee was only vainly aware of the questions, and answered automatically, for her mind had, once again, drifted.  

She dressed automatically that morning, not having to really think about it.  Mary directed her chores, and Aimee complied, not seeing an outlet. She had a feeling that this was what all teenage girls did until they were married. The day passed without much excitement. She did the dished, washed the basin in which they did the dishes, scrubbed the bricks of the steps outside, cooked the dinner, and helped Mary cook a special surprise sweet bread loaf for Randall. All the while Mary repaired some torn clothes and made some new cloths and dresses for the family.

The weeks passed without much excitement. Mary and Aimee did the chores whiles Randall worked, and on Sundays they would go to church for the day where she could see Abby and catch up, sharing what they had done that week. Occasionally, the Arnolds would go to visit the Johnsons, where Aimee could talk to Claire.

But as the weeks droned on and on, Aimee saw no sign of Trevor. As weeks turned into months, Aimee was getting so frightened that she thought they might never see him again. The weeks seemed duller when Aimee would look back at them and realized, they had yet to find Trevor.

But, some excitement did come one day, when Aimee was sent out to fetch some apples from the market. She had just paid the man and was walking back in the direction of her home when she overheard some women gossiping rapidly.

“Did you hear about those ships they sent over to the Americas?” one said. “I heard they settled well and have already sent several more shipped of people to start inhabiting the area.”

“Me, too.” replied the other. “But I think my husband was telling me that they have began to rebel. King George sent over some taxes on simple things like tea, and postage stamps and the people began to get angry. They call themselves the ‘Americans’.”

“How ungrateful of them! We send them over to a new land and they thank us by rebelling. That is ridiculous.”

“My husband said that they wrote some kind of ‘Declaration of Independence’, proclaiming that they are no longer part of Britain!”

“This whole thing is ridiculous.”

Aimee had heard enough. She turned the other way, stunned. She had never really paid much attention in History class, but she knew that, just from what the women had said, this wasn’t right. The British should not be taxing them. She remembered enough to know that the British had done absolutely nothing to help them settle, and then they started demanding that they continue to pay the taxes that they had in Britain.

This wasn’t right, and now Aimee, Claire, and Abby were stuck in the middle of this injustice. Aimee could only guess that Trevor was, too, though she had no idea where he was.  

“Oomph.” Aimee said as she accidentally ran into another person. “Oh, I’m sorry.” she apologized. “I didn’t see…” she trailed off as she finally realized who she had run into.

“Aimee.” He breathed.

“Trevor. Oh, my gosh. I finally found you. I was so scared.”

“Me, too. I wasn’t sure where you had gone.” He said as he pulled her into a tight hug.

“What are you doing in town square?” she asked, tearing up slightly.  

“I was picking up something for my apprentice. Did you hear about the revolution?”

“Yes, I actually just overheard some women talking. Trevor, the war has begun. We can’t just sit here and watch it happen. We need to help the Americans.”

“I know. But how, is the question.” He answered, looking up at the sun. “I need to go.”

“But what if I can’t see you again? It took this long to finally find each other.”

“My apprentice always sends me to pick up some apples on Saturday, so meet me there. I think I have a way to escape to America.”

“Okay…But how?”

“Let’s just say my father had some friends and I think I can find the next ship to America, and we can sneak into it.”

“Ok, I’ll tell Abby and Claire.”

“I have to go,” he said, looking at the sun again. “I’ll talk to you soon.”

“Okay,” Aimee whispered and he gave her one last hug and a long look before leaning in suddenly to kiss her. He pulled away quickly and strode off in the other direction.

Aimee stumbled back into her house, blushing deeply, and handed Mary the apples. Mercifully, Mary said that she thought all the chores were done for the day and that Aimee could take the day off. She immediately headed off in towards her room.