Impressment, Page 2

  Chapter Two

  President George Washington slumped over his desk overlooking tons of papers. He put his hands over his face, “God how am I supposed to control the British.” Then his wife, Martha, came in through the door; “George dear, there is a messenger wanting to speak with you.” George removed his hands from his face and rose out of his chair, “Show him in Martha.” She peeked out of the door and gestured the young man to the President’s office. The man must have run nonstop because he was almost breathless when he entered the office. “Sir, the the…” he said panting. “Calm down boy, here have a seat”, the president said gesturing to the chair in front of his desk. “Sir, I think you should read this.” The man handed him the message and the president read it. The young man watched the presidents face change expression as he read. The message read that British troops had raided American trade ships, and have taken the men still alive afterwards prisoner. “Darn the British!” said the president with rage. “Where did you get this information boy?” asked the president. “One of the ships had a survivor and he was rescued from the sea and he told, Sir.” The president looked sternly at the boy, “We must not let anymore ships go out, you understand and pass that on to every major harbor.” The boy responded, “Yes sir Mr. President.”

  Zachary laid lazily on his hammock thinking. He did not eat much that night; every time he held a piece of dried bread to his mouth his stomach became queasy. The ship rocked and creaked which kept him from sleeping. He felt confused about why his father didn’t congratulate him for wanting to be a trader like him. He knows that there are better jobs for him to look into, but this certain job is special to him. Zachary got up from his hammock and into his father’s quarters. Zachary knocked at the door before entering, his father’s voice sounded, “You may enter.” Zachary stepped in and closed the door behind him. The room was illuminated by a lantern on his father’s desk. His father was checking things off of a list of goods that were needed in Massachusetts. “Why did you not give me a response about my choice of living?” “Zachary we will discuss this later I’m too busy right now.” Zachary gave his father an annoyed look, “No, we will discuss it now!” His father looked up at him with anger, “How dare you talk back to me! Go back to your room!” “Father please explain why you don’t want me to be a trader.” His father rose from his chair and paced around the room. “Son you don’t understand, it’s just that there are many things to do for yourself. Being out on a ship is dangerous; you could get captured by enemies, now no more talk about it”, Zachary stared at his father and felt sorry for him. Zachary left the room and went back to his room where the other men were. The other men were sound asleep and some were snoring very loudly. The room also wreaked a foul smell; “These men ought to wash themselves before boarding the ship,” Zachary thought.

  Sarah Siketon was working in the bakery when all of a sudden her friend Laura came in. “Sarah I have something very important to tell you!” “Well what is it,” Sarah said worried. “There has been a man passing on a message to all of the ship docks. He said that the British have been capturing ships and taking the crew as prisoners.” Sarah began panicking and running all around the bakery, “What am I going to do? Zachary and John are out there probably in danger!” “Don’t worry Sarah maybe they won’t get captured,” Laura said assuring her friend. Sarah then clasped her hands together and closed her eyes, “Please God bring my husband and son home to safety.”

  Zachary was still asleep when a fat, smelly man appeared over him and shook him like a soda bottle, “Wake up little man rise and shine!” Zachary awoke with a surprised look on his face. Zachary, still half asleep, stumbled out of his hammock and onto the deck. He saw his father at the wheel looking out of a telescope. “What’s wrong father?” Zachary asked rubbing his eyes. “There is a British ship coming toward us.” Zachary retorted, “Is that bad father?” He stared at his son and replied, “I honestly don’t know son, but there is nothing to be alarmed about yet.” Then at that moment without knowing a huge, black ball became visible in the sky and landed in front of the ship.