28 DAY CHALLENGE DAY 8 - THE BARGAIN (1791)

Hurrying through the passage way she ran into the Red Coat, waiting for her.

“Tell me about yourself, what’s your name?” he asked.

I don’t know what I expected, but it wasn’t quite this.

“Elizabeth Selwyn, Sir. I think I am about nineteen and I am being transported ‘oer the seas, for 7 years. I stole some clothes Sir. I’m scared Sir.”

Fidgeting where she stood Elizabeth’s thoughts wandered down paths she had never explored before. He is looking me over like a piece of meat for the Sunday roast. But he doesn’t look mean and he sure looks good!

“Well Elizabeth, I have a proposition for you. I am bored and need some company. I also need someone to look after my things on this journey. I will expect you to keep my cabin tidy, my clothes respectable and share my bed and my days when I desire. In return I will protect you for the rest of the journey and you will not have to go down below to the hulls again. I am a gentleman and will not harm you in any way. What say you, is it a bargain?”

Well blow me down! I hadn’t seen this coming and he wants me to answer him now. How do I pass this offer up? He could just take me, without any deals. 

She had seen other women taken upstairs at the whim of officers and seamen, who had coin to grease the guard’s palms. If I say no he will just find another, should I say no?

Looking him straight in the eye, her answer came before she could give herself more time to think.

“Yes, sir,” she said in a rush.

“Come, follow me and I will take you to my cabin,” turning he headed up the ladder. Hurrying after him, Elizabeth hoped that she had made the right decision, but what choice do I have?

Entering the cabin she noticed the two cots on the wall, a chair and a tiny table. But it was dry and it’s saving grace was a tiny window that could let in the air. Air, glorious air. I can endure anything with fresh air each day. I wonder why he has a cabin with two cots?

“Elizabeth, my name is Thomas Rowley, I am a Lieutenant of the British Army and I am also going to the new colony, where I will be joining the NSW Corps. My time is my own until we get there, apart from a few meetings with my superiors at different intervals. I hope we can rub along well together. But for now, put those things down and come over here.” Shortly after Elizabeth was left in the cabin to tidy up his possessions. 

Well, if that is a taste of my duties for the rest of my time on this stinking ship, I guess I can manage!

He had told her that when not with him she would be confined to the cabin.

That suits me just fine, at least I will be away from all them eyes and there is always me little window.

28 DAY WRITING CHALLENGE DAY 7 - ONBOARD ENCOUNTERS (1791)

Sharing a hammock with three others wasn’t quite what I had in mind! But tis better than the floor with creepy crawlies running over me. How did these creatures get on board anyhows?

Elizabeth spent most of her time below decks in the hull of the boat. The convicts were supposed to be allowed up on deck for a short period each day, but it usually depended on their guard's mood.

It is the same today as all the other days. I can feel his eyes following me wherever I go. Who is he? He has a red coat, he must be an officer. He is a bit handsome.

“Get yourselves below decks, time’s up. Enough air for today,” yelled one of the guards, accompanied by a swift kick to one of the other convicts. Elizabeth hurried past him to avoid the same fate. 

I couldn’t ever get too much air, she thought, oh, I wish I didn’t have to go back down. Taking a big gulp of the sea air and filling her lungs, it was almost as if she hoped to breathe freshness into the dark, stale and musty space where she spent so much of her time.

How can this ship stay upright with so many of us on it? The Captain said there was 402 of us, let alone the crew and their wives. Why would anyone board one of these ships voluntarily? I guess they have their reasons, not like the rest of us, with no choice.
————

Lieutenant Thomas Rowley had a fair bit of time on his hands. Being part of the NSW Corps bound for Australia, left him with few duties while onboard. He was restless and in need of diversion. The last two months onboard were taking their toll on his nerves.

Taking his daily exercise around the deck he found himself watching the female convicts again.  It helped with the endless monotony of the ship board life.

That slip of a girl shows promise. After all, my cabin will surely be a step up from the hulls so to speak! I will speak to her tomorrow, how hard can it be?

______

Whatever is happening? Rubbing the sleep from her eyes, Elizabeth peered over the sleeping figure beside her.

From the chink of daylight coming through the opening to the hull she noticed a commotion near the doorway. The guards were coming in with someone else.

It’s him!  Her Red Coat Officer.  She gave herself a shake, her red coat indeed! Holding her breath as they approached  she felt stirring beside her in the hammock.

“You there, get your things and come with us,” sniggered the guard, while the officer with him, held a kerchief over his nose.

Scrambling out of the hammock, she found herself the object of much speculation. It didn’t take long to gather her possessions, she only had a shawl and boots.

As she followed with her heart beating fit to burst, she wondered what's in store for you now, Elizabeth?

Writing the Family Saga - Flash Story 5

Bang, bang, bang! It’s still dark! Who could be at the door? Rubbing her eyes Louisa grabbed her housecoat, rushing to open the front door. A policeman stood on the verandah.

Dear God no! It can’t be John, can it? Grabbing hold of the door frame her legs began to shake uncontrollably.

“Mrs Engstrom, there has been an accident, John is in hospital, you need to come quickly.”

“I won’t be more than two minutes, Officer,” turning on her heel, she rushed down the hall to throw on her dress and coat.

Listening to the policeman on the journey into town, Louisa’s gave up trying to keep her tears in check. John had been clearing the building site. While carrying wood he had slipped in the mud, crashing down the incline, with the roughly hewn wood going everywhere. By the time his employer had reached him, he was screaming in pain with a large piece of wood sticking out the side of his face. He thankfully, lost consciousness, before being taken to the hospital. [1]

Not mincing his words the officer explained the piece of wood had torn his jaw and cheek, causing him to lose a lot of blood.

Four days later, in great agony, John gave up his battle.[2] Louisa never left her son’s side.

I should never have let him take that job. I should protect my children! He was only fourteen years old.

Tears streaming down her face, she clung to his hand. Oh my dear Johnny. Now I have to bury you too, beside your father and step-father!

Reflective Statement

I tried to write this story with Louisa’s voice at the forefront. I am not sure that I have succeeded.

I still find that I struggle with tenses and I must admit that I changed words ending in “ing” to ending with “ed” many times.

I found an article on the Trove website reporting on this tragic accident, in 1890. I wove my story from this information. My great Uncle was the fourth eldest of eight children to a twice widowed mother.


[1] Gunnedah. (1890, March 1). Australian Town and Country Journal (Sydney, NSW : 1870 - 1907), p. 15. Retrieved May 27, 2017, from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article71108542

[2] Australia, Death Index, 1787-1985 for John Brandt (Provo, UT, USA, Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2010), http://www.ancestry.com.au.

Writing the Family Saga - Flash Story 4

Surely the boat would be better than this hell hole. We have been crammed in here for so long, I have forgotten what month it is!

Elizabeth’s nostrils twitched with the stale smell of tobacco and rum emanating from the gaoler coming down the passageway.

“Wake up you scraggily wenches, it’s time to go. Your next ‘ome will be on HMS The Pitt. Yer, got first rate digs,” he said, spitting on the floor as he entered, “now ‘urry up, you’ll be marching to the harbour.”

Shivering in her skimpy rags, with water running ankle deep in the gutters, she sighed as the eery silence of the early morning fog engulfed her. I have never been on a boat before, I ‘ope our lodgings are better than the gaol.

Her hopes were soon dashed on arriving at the wharf.

Climbing down the ladder, I gagged as the overwhelming stench and damp hit me. At least we have hammocks, even if I have to share, it’s better than the floor. Her chains clinked in time to all the others. So much for our first rate digs! This is going to be a long voyage!

Lieutenant Rowley walked up the gangplank. I hope I have a decent cabin.

“Boy, where’re you taking my things?” calling after his batman.

“Lieutenant, your cabin is this way please.”

Hmmp, cramped but better than I expected. Where is that wailing and smell coming from? Holding his kerchief to his nose and rubbing his hand over the mattress, he sighed, this is going to be a long voyage!

Reflective Statement

I struggled big time this week to choose my e-tivity. After much deliberation, I realised that I was thinking too broadly and trying to cover too much.

When I remembered to focus on just one incident, I was able to tackle this e-tivity, with a bit more confidence.

I still had to 'kill some darlings' in my efforts to describe two different accounts of my great, great, great grandparents arrival on the ship that would bring them to Australia.

Writing the Family Saga - Flash Story 3

Dry retching again, she held her hair away from the bush. She couldn’t have anything else to bring up, she thought! When does this stop? How would she tell him? 

“Elizabeth, where are you, where is my breakfast?” bellowed the Lieutenant coming toward the kitchen.

Wiping her mouth on her sleeve, she scurried through the back door, just before he entered the kitchen.

“It won’t be long Sir, I just stepped out to get the eggs,” she replied, swallowing bile again. Just breathe, she thought, I’m not ready to let him know, I don’t want to leave ’ere.

Placing his plate on the table she found herself remembering the day The Pitt sailed into Sydney Cove.

Seven years transportation, was a long time, she would never see her family again. She felt him watching her as soon as she came on the deck with the others. It sent a shiver of fear down her spine. Names were being read out by a scrawny soldier standing near the gangplank. Fate had been kind to her that day, she hadn’t expected to leave the boat as housekeeper to Lieutenant Thomas Rowley!

“Elizabeth, what is wrong with you?” asked the Lieutenant. “You are miles away, it’s not like you to be wool gathering.”

She should have been more careful, she thought, he didn’t want a babe! Could she get rid of it? How could a convict bring up a baby without a father? Now he would send her to the barracks, as she deserved.

“I’m with child!” she blurted out as she burst into tears, running out the door to her favourite bush!

Reflective Statement

I chose to write this story as it is the beginning of my Family Saga in Australia.

I can only imagine what it must have been like for Elizabeth, to find herself pregnant to Thomas only a month after being assigned to him and arriving in Australia.

I am finding that I like writing dialogue as I think, it is an outlet for my overactive imagination! I am also finding that although I want to stay true to facts that I have found, I am definitely enjoying the Creative Non- fiction genre!

Week Six Flash Story

My Photo 

The boys and I are ready. Mr Kent will be here to take our photograph soon. I will finally have a record of my success. Something to hand down to my children and hopefully their children. I have never had my photograph taken before.

The three trucks sparkled in the sunlight. They had been washed and polished until they shone with the combined effort of Samuel and his team.

SS Briggs Contractor - Roselle was painted on the side of each of the three trucks.

Just think, it was only last week that I had been running the business with horses and drays. Now here I am the owner of these fine new trucks.

This type of advertising is the future . My business will prosper with this advertising promotion. 

****

Now approximately ninety five years later, I ponder this professionally taken photo in my possession, taken in circa 1920 by Milton C Kent.

My research and University courses have shown me the importance of this photo. I need to release it from the cluttered drawer and get it in a frame on my wall.

Obviously it meant a great deal to my Grandfather, although I don't remember my mum ever talking about it.

I wonder if the Great Depression proved the downfall of his business. History was to prove that things didn't go well for Samuel.

Week Five Flash Story

THE MAN WITH THE CHILD IN HIS EYES

JOHN 

As he arrived at work covered in mud from the walk in the rain, he couldn't remember a day of his fourteen years, when he hadn’t been working.

He wondered what it would be like to go to school, to have holidays, to play footy with mates.

At least he got a pay packet each week, which was better than working for Mother at the Inn for nothing. Instead of giving all he earned to Mother, he longed to buy little Ethel something special. A little sweetie from the General Store would put a smile on her face.

John loved to see that smile. But there hadn't been much to smile about, after Father died seven years ago. Then the death of Step Father two years later.

But work he must and if he must, he might as well get on with it.

When returning from lugging another load of wood inside for the cook, he slipped in the mud and came crashing down with the roughly cut wood going everywhere. He heard screaming and realised it was coming from him. That couldn't be a piece of wood sticking out of the side of his face could it? 

He lost consciousness.

Four days later John gave up his battle with pain. Another life ended too soon.