The Pizza

The job search 1751AD

1751. London, England
Mr Seam remembered fondly his time as a child sitting in the feet of his grandad who was telling him about India and all the adventures he experienced there whilst travelling and trying to exchange cloth, made using the newly invented then flying shuttle, which allowed for much bigger pieces to be made by a single operator, for spices.
"It was very profitable because I would carry with me about 200 pounds of cloth, seven colours, and will insist to get its weight in spices. The hard time was when I was getting there, first on a ship and then on a donkey-drawn caret. In the inner town there were enormous regional markets where many people have never seen so much refined colour and so cheap for them. Safron, nutmeg, cumin, turmeric... they bring all of this and it gets pressed in bags , which get so handy that I can carry on my back if need be. Not that there were no helpers available. Latter, when I come here I sell the spices 10 times the price I put in and then I have the whole year wrapped up. Next year I would do it again. London is a good place my boy, if you want to remain what you are. If you want a way up, you need to move around the world more."

James Seam was approaching 33 years of age and felt that every word his grandad was saying has come to pass. His dad chose security and remained a weaver all his life to this day. It paid the bills but with lots of life style compromises. He couldn't even send him to a proper school. All he learnt about the books was from the nice assistant curate ie assistant of the priest, who would come to visit some ailing or very old people, but always would make sure he had lunch in their house. His mom, like her father in law was a master of spices. Every meat, even old mutton, she could make taste fabulous. The assistant curate loved to have lunch with them. And each time after lunch, he will open a book, usually the Bible, and teach them how to read it. If they had questions about the contents he would say that he is not allowed to teach everything yet as he believed it, "This is not New England" he said, so they should just let the plain meaning of the text speak to them without him going into much depth. James felt strangely drawn to the idea of sea travelling. Visiting places like New England felt enticing. He imagined how apostle Paul moved from place to place across the Mediterranean to preach the Gospel, and also his grandad's stories about sea travelling to India and only wished he was bold enough to leave everything and pursue adventure.
"If you stay in London you should marry a working girl like me" his mom was saying. "But if you move around and make a fortune you can marry a girl from the higher society. You have been working hard as a weaver for 15 years already. Do you have anything to show for it or it's just wasting your time in exchange of survival. This is London. We survive. We don't progress and prosper. Your sister married a miller in the country and has a stable life. That the best one can achieve here- stability. What do you want of life? Move out of England, whilst you still can and give yourself a chance. Your grandad bought this house and all the saved money we have are from him. Your dad and I save nothing. We just can't. But we can help you leave".
James knew what she would say next ...
"If you don't want your children to be slaves all but by name you should act before it's too late".
She had a point. He could see thousands of kids whose parents can't feed them beg on the streets. He could see babies exposed and either taken to be like slaves or even worse - to be exploited in most gruesome manner. People have modern machines now and yet the social problems have only become worse. If one gets sick and borrows money for the doctor, or just maintain their family, they risk losing the little they had and even end up in debtors prison.
""London is not my future. Not now. Not like this. If I had wife and family I would be stuck. I must do it now. I must go. I will tell Joanne that I have to leave.""
The carpenter's daughter never hid her feelings for him. Ever since he was 18 and she was 6, she would come to their house with her dad when he had to do work, and play. He always considered her as younger sister. But a few years ago she said she loves him. He didn't know how to tell a girl at 16 that he doesn't feel the same. He was not ready for love yet. His mind was swirling like the valves of the weaving wheel. He had too many concerns in life to think of love. As a man he wanted to be able to provide more to his future family, so he said that to her. Her eyes sparkled with hope which only a person who knows how to patiently love can muster.
"I will wait for you as long as I need to. You are a responsible man. You don't want to get into something you cannot carry the burden of. And a bride is a burden hehe" she laughed the way he liked and cheered him up " but I can do many things which my dad can so you don't need to hire anyone to fix things around the house". Laughter again.
James liked Joanne but felt that he loved her like sister. He didn't feel anything different than that. Thinking about it he never has been in love with anybody. He didn't know what such love is. May be he was too protective of himself and his feelings. Too cautious about life. Too risk-averse.
"I need to take more risk in life Joanne and I may be away for years. I will board the first ship to New England or may be, if I am brave enough, to the West Indies. I want a break from England. I thought of Nassau".

"As I said, I will wait for you James. I read about Nassau. It's a pirate republic. Like ancient Athens. Self- governing. You need to be careful with those people they can kill you for nothing. I am told they don't value life at all".
""As if my life is valued by anyone but my parents and may be you"" James thought.
What he was about to say felt as the hardest thing ever.
"Please, do not wait for me. I mean I don't want you to waste your life. I may not even come back. You are 21 don't wait. Find someone who deserves you".
He regretted these words immediately and even more when he saw tears in her eyes rolling down her cheeks.
"" she never puts on make up and yet her face is perfect as always"" he thought.
"Sorry, you always make me happy with your presence and laughter but I need to be direct and honest. It's your future at stake here too and I don't want to ruin it".
The glint of hope appeared again in her eyes. Her sleeve absorbed the tears -she picked this from her dad - she won't ever use napkins. Kind of sweet...
"I will wait. I know you care for me, and you say this as expression of selfless care, but I can wait and will wait".
She kissed his cheek quickly and run back home. He looked after her, dressed as working lady, with semi coarse heavy attire and yet running like a girl, with no weight or care in the world.
"I will write to you..." he barely managed to blurt out. She didn't hear him. But she seemed like she never doubted it.
"Are you coming with me to the port James?" his dad's voice plucked him out of his thoughts.
I need a hand to get some cloth to the ship leaving tomorrow for the West Indies.
"West Indies? Are you sure do they need a helper?"
"You are a weaver James what can you help them with? But I know the captain so I will talk to him."
"I can help with cooking which I learnt from mother and I suppose their sails get worn out from time to time and I will be handy in repairing them".
"Help me out with this heavy roll. Tell your mother you are going because the captain is a good friend of mine, an Italian, who knew your grandfather, and he will likely have you on board."

James felt like if the earth under him began to move... ""it is happening he thought. I am embracing my future".

The ship's name was written in circle around the shape of some dish, probably Italian.
""Marinara" -pizza is a dish we like a lot in Italy" captain Leo said. It was invented almost 20 years ago in my home city Naples after the Spaniards brought some tomato seeds to our governor and we quickly realised that the red fruit, pomodoro or tomate in Spanish, is a nice one to be mashed and mixed with grated cheese on top of flat bread. It is already very popular in the whole of Italy. The name of the ship and the garnish that goes with it reminds me of my city."
"I don't want to think of London." James said in turn as if talking to himself .
It literally cast me out. I am ready to come to the West Indies and then stay more with you. See New England perhaps, Boston...They say it holds a new promise".
"You have to see it all first my boy. Don't raise your expectations too high. You need to find your place. For me it's at sea. That's how your grandad was too. We like to travel and trade. You choose what you like. Find it and enjoy it"

The captain was almost 70 but looked still strong and able to inspire his people. His wisdom flared again again having so much life experience with many different people. Yes James had to find what he is called to do. ""How can you find anything if you don't seek ? I will seek and I will find. Jesus promised that "".
He saw familiar smiling faces as the ship was parting the port. His mom and dad and brother
waved goodbye. Next to them ever hopeful and strong in her optimism was Joanne. The morning sun's rays fell on her face. It reflected them like a mirror. He felt he could almost see himself in her.
""I hope she forgets me quickly" " he thought and in the next moment he felt almost a stabbing pain in his tummy and chest. The thought of losing her forever felt like a knife which swirls inside him. "" may be I am more into her than I thought"".
"Common boys! All the sails fully on. Let's make the most of this wind." The pain in the tummy disappeared as quickly as it came.
"James, the kitchen is fully loaded with food stuffs and ale. Get on with it. The sails are new so I don't expect we need you working on them anytime soon. Everyone wish ourselves Godspeed!"

The new English flag, with the two crosses, on top of the mast, slowly sunk into the horizon.