The Patriot ****UNDER EDITING****

Chapter 1

"Damn rebels!" Father shouts as he throws the paper down and replaces it with a book.

"What is the matter, Father?" I ask, although I know exactly what he is carrying on about. The Sons of Liberty, dressed as Indians, boarded three ships and dumped all of the tea in the Boston Harbor.

My father may curse at them, but I secretly rejoice with them; however, if my father knew, I would be disowned. No child of his shall be a rebel.

They taught me at an early age to respect our king and to be loyal to him. However, I hear the Patriots talk as well, just from going into town with Father. All my life, I believed the Acts that Parliament imposed on us were justified, but I overheard one man in town say something that completely destroyed the ideology that I was raised under.

"We are all God's creatures, and only He is our supreme being." I began to realize that the king violates human nature, establishing himself over everyone. What right did he have to place taxes on us without our consent?

"They threw the tea into the Boston Harbor, so the harbor is closed. Good, that is exactly what they deserve!" I do not dare say a word. The only thing I have to say is that he is wrong, which  would not settle too well. 

Instead, I walk out of the study and into the parlor. I read the newspapers that are lying around. Each one covers the story about the tea. It is truly an event that shook the whole nation. At that moment, I start to feel a pang of guilt. There are people taking action, and what am I doing? Pretending to be a Loyalist. Although, if I should take action, the consequences would be severe. Not only would I lose the only family that I have, but if we lose this contest, we will surely be put to death. Suddenly, an idea flashes through my mind.

I can write and send pamphlets under a pen name to the newspapers, inspiring and rallying the Patriots and maybe, possibly, convert Loyalists.

"Goodnight Father!" I shout as I walk past his study.

"Goodnight my dear Hannah!" I  go into my chamber, sit at my desk, and begin to write. As my pen moves on the parchment, a great anger begins to rise within me. I have been angry before, but not like this. I had an ungodly desire, a desire for revenge. After I go through the Acts, I go into how the king does not have a right to tax us without representation. I go into detail about the Laws of Nature and how he is violating them.

I finish in the early hours of the morning, after writing three pages worth of material. I do not dare leave it in the open. I seal it, address it, and put it in my desk drawer.  I'll hand it to the post rider tomorrow and if Father should see, I'll simply state that it is addressed to an old friend of mine. I blow out the candle and lie down.

I should feel guilty about lying to Father about who I am and what I believe, but I do not. Am I in the wrong for being so secretive about it? I am only doing it to protect my relationship I have with Father. He is all that I have left and he needs me now that Mother has passed. However, I must always do what is right. This cause is one that I hold dear to my heart, and while I love Father, I love the cause even more.