Against the Stars

Chapter 8

As Mother said, Bella Kersey showed up a few minutes later. She stood n the doorway, with perfect posture and her curtsy was exactly like it should be. Ginny felt her heart fall into her chest.

Bella was short, yet taller than Ginny. She had hair that could be called red, but Ginny –since she was a natural redhead- would have called it auburn. Her eyes were hazel but with a bit more gray than brown.

“Good day Miss Miller,” Bella said, giving Ginny a bit of a head nod.

“Good day Miss Kersey,” Ginny said through a forced grimace.

“Mother! I’m leaving!” Ginny called, as she started to head towards the door. She wrapped her cloak tightly around her shoulders, she knew she be met with a blast of wind as soon as she stepped outside.

“Wait just a moment! Hello Miss Kersey, I just wanted to introduce myself. I’m Suzanna Miller.”

“It’s a pleasure to meet you Mrs. Miller,” Bella said, before turning to Ginny. “Are you ready to go, Virginia?”

Ginny started to correct her, but decided against it. Bella was no doubt about it the type of person who ignore what you said. Even if Ginny told her a thousand times, Bella would still call her Virginia. Ginny sighed; it was going to be a long day.

Bella ignored the fact that Ginny did not answer her question and began to walk out the door. Ginny could tell from the look in her mother’s eye that she would have no choice but to follow her. Outside, as Ginny suspected, a large wind was picking up. The breeze ruffled the edge of Ginny’s cloak against her legs. Ginny closed her eyes, ignoring the skin. Thick cloth hurt.

“So what do you want to do?” Ginny asked with a degree of carefulness. She had no idea how Bella would respond, and more likely than not, it would be in a way Ginny did not want.

“Well I thought we could window shop. Did you bring any penny money?”

Ginny hit her pocket lightly, causing the change to jiggle.

“Well maybe, we’ll do more than window shop,” Bella said, a true smile on her face. “Wonderful,” Ginny replied, a fake smile on hers.

“Se that house over there, that’s where Nan James’ family lives. Such a good English family. Nan’s just lovely…” after that, Ginny stopped listening. She didn’t need to hear about any more good English families.

After shutting out Bella’s meaningless rambling, Ginny let her eyes wander. She was good at that. Even though she had been living in Williamsburg for at least a couple weeks, things still mystified her. Ginny had a feeling no matter how long she lived here she always be amazed.

The little town brought back memories of Andover, the tight knit village where everyone knew everyone. Andover to Ginny and many others was like one big family. Why Ginny wouldn’t have been surprised if everyone there changed their surname to Andover! Ginny closed her eyes for a moment, picturing the small farming village. She could see the wide open plains and the endless hills. She longed to run free again! Then Bella’s jabbering snapped Ginny back to reality. A single name stood out in the long winded one sided conversation.

“What was that?”

“Oh! I’m sorry. I said that’s where the Eby’s live. They own the general store. My mother doesn’t like them. They’re second generation Virginians. Robert Eby hasn’t even been to England. “

“So?”

“Well they’re patriots,” Bella said. She said patriots like the way some people said small pox. As if the patriots were a disease that needed to be rid of. “Did I not make that clear?”