A New Trade

Prologue

William Hopkins (Willie) was very aware that he and his best friend, Trenton Royce, were being followed when he started walking toward the door of the school. He could hear some of the kids he knew hated him snickering behind him as someone prepared to sneak up on them. As he pushed open the door, he saw Grant Thornton, the meanest kid in school pull on Trent's backpack and empty it's contents on the ground. Willie went to pick them up but Grant and his friends had already kicked them onto the grass outside and grabbed Trent by the collar.

"So Trenton, you must be having such a good day." said Grant sarcastically.

"Come on Grant, quit it" Willie replied before Trenton said anything back.

Just then, Grant's friends started to grab and push Willie to the ground. Willie did not say a word, he simply kicked one of them in the shin and tried to stand up. Before he could, Grant dropped Trent and stepped on each of their chests to stop them from getting up.

All of the sudden, a figure appeared out of nowhere and pushed Grant away. Now, even though he could not see the face, he knew the voice right away. It was his cousin Oliver.

" He said to go away Grant, so get to it!" Oliver said firmly.

" Wow guys, wow, you need an older cousin to help you because you're too poor to learn to fight for yourself, that is really sad.". Grant said moping to Willie and Trent as he walked away.

Once he was out of hearing range, Oliver calmly said "are you guys okay?"

"Yes, we're fine.". Trenton said as he got up and brushed the dirt off of his clothes. " "Never better."

"How did you sneak up on him like that?" Willie asked Oliver, "That was really good"

"Well, to tell the truth, I didn't."

"What do you mean?".asked Trenton puzzledly.

"I mean that I heard the whole conversation because I was right at the stairs listening in."

"Plus, he kind of chose a bad place to try to fight someone, I mean who couldn't see it?" Willie said as he began to understand.

"Come on Willie, let's get home." he said finally, " Oh, and come with us Trent."

As they walked home, Willie started to think about what Grant had said and he realized that it was true. His family really was having trouble with money these days. Judging by the point that Grant said this to them both he guessed that Trent's family was too. He started to think about what they could do about it for the rest of the walk home.

When they arrived at the front door of their small house in Manchester, England they saw that there were many people inside. Including Trent's parents and sister, grandma Marilou and Oliver's family unit. Something must be going on he thought as he saw that his brother Brodie and his dad looked ready to go somewhere.

"What is going on?" Oliver asked nobody in particular.

His younger sister Miranda answered" Uncle Gordon and Brodie are going to sail west to the new land.".

"Oh, good timing then, I assume" Willie said.

"Yes, indeed it is" grandma Marilou answered assuringly.

"Be more polite,mom." Willie's mom Dana said with frustration, " his father is leaving to an unknown place for a few months and he is going to miss him."

"Oh, I am truly sorry dear." came the reply.

"So, this is a goodbye moment and we got in the way of it." Trent said with a hint of humour and confusion.

"What is with everybody being so rude?" his mother Courtney answered "you have to be nice too, Trenton.".

"Sorry everybody." he said grumpily as he went to take a seat on the floor beside his dad and baby sister.

"Anyway, our ship leaves in two hours at the docks in Liverpool and we need to start saying our goodbyes" Gordon said.

After everybody said goodbye and all the hugs were given, they were off to see the new land. Oliver, his mother Alice, his father Leon and his sister Miranda left shortly after and it was just Willie, his mom, his sisters; Kate and Nellie, Trent's family and grandma Marilou left when dinner was served. Of course it was nothing special but every meal was a good one when Dana Hopkins was cooking. At least, according to Gordon.

After dinner was done, Willie's older sister Kate walked their grandma home and Willie and Trent went into Willie's room.

"You're lucky, you have a chance to go somewhere new in the next half year or so, I am stuck here for who knows how long." Trent said suddenly while they were playing backgammon.

"You never know Trent, you might get a chance. I mean, your family has just as many reasons to go as mine."

"That is the problem though, we have reasons but not a way to do it. We will never be able to do it with a baby in the house and we don't have the money."

"Don't worry Trent, there is always a chance..."