George Woodpecker

Chapter 3: PREPARATION

   After so many years it was time for Parson Goldhat to talk to George about what he expected from him as a grown up man. Glaring through the window, Mr Goldhat looked significantly older in the faint light of the early morning sun that was just rising. He was trying to come up with a good way to explain to George what purpose should drive him. He remembered when he met George's mother on the streets. 

   It was a cold, rainy evening. Mr Goldhat was in his coach when a woman drenched in rain and mud appeared at his window, begging for a small amount of money to feed her family. Those rough, wet winters and constant, crippling colds were probably what led to her heavy illness, which eventually killed the whole household. Gideon had a deep regret about the fact that he couldn't help much then. To him, it seemed very unfair that some people had to live under such conditions, and so he wanted to make a change. Unfortunately after he gave this whole situation a deeper thought, he knew he wasn't ready to invest into such a difficult but also noble cause just yet. He wasn't always rich, and the process of gaining wealth was fragile. Only after George's family perished, he gained enough wealth to start his business. By then, only George was left. Looking into the distance Gideon remembered telling the whole story of how he got to meet his family. George wasn't even born then.  The tears and emotions he shed when hearing it all were tremendous. There was truly no way to explain the amount of regret Gideon felt for George's fate. With a small tear running down his cheek, Gideon reminisced how sad and angry he was at his own failure. Time was against him when he was younger. It refused to allow him to help George's family on time. Now it was destroyed. None of that had passed easily at all, however, now it was time for George, the stableman of the Goldhat farm, to learn the most important lessons Gideon had to offer.

   The parson's life was not about getting as much money as possible. For him, saving up just to die wealthy and rich was senseless. Instead, Gideon's goal was to give as much as he could. Give money, give forgiveness, and give care and commodities that some people perhaps never even had access to. It was on cold early mornings like these that he and his wife would wake up to bake as much bread as possible. They would donate all of it around town to the people that could barely afford anything. The thankful smile of the poor beggars always brought light into the hearts of the Goldhats.  

   As the years were passing along carelessly, Gideon and Alice were starting to get old. Their energy and power was beginning to drain, and they weren't able to help as much as they used to anymore. Their kids were not yet ready, or even old enough, to take on their parents' duty. George was the one who was next on the list to give and care for the poor. The parson knew that George already had a good, caring heart. Nonetheless, Gideon wanted to encourage him to adapt the same purpose and drive he adapted long ago.

* * *

   George, now the stable of the farm for years was starting to think about everything else but hay and horses. After so much calmness and a somewhat level of wealth he wanted adventure. He thought it wasn't too late to explore, go to America perhaps, and help the settlers. He also craved going at sea, fishing and steering a great ship towards the unknown. Uncharted waters, unending seas and unforgivable moments that could change history, it all sounded ever so exciting for George. He saved up quite a big number of guineas he was willing to use to invest into these courageous expeditions. He wished that maybe one day he would become a traveller. But for now, it was just stable work, tending the horses and talking casually with the farmers. He didn't mind it at all. The sun was climbing higher up in the sky. It was a bright morning, perfect for riding, or maybe a walk in the forest. As he was finishing his first shift in the sun warmed, smelly wooden barn, he heard hasty footsteps closing in from outside.

   "Master George." said one of the farmers barging into the horse-keeping byre, breathing very hard, as if he ran for miles. "The parson is here, he said he wants to talk to you about something of very high importance."