The Ghost Of The American Soldier

Chapter Five - Theodosia

   It's the summer of 1795, and Philip Hamilton has just made it home from boarding school with his younger brother Alexander. Their mother sits on a bench outside of their house waiting for her two sons to arrive. Angie, James, and John, all siblings of Philip and Alexander, sit in the grass.

"Mother, when are they due back?" Angie asks, looking up to the road. Eliza props her head up on her arm "Sometime today dear, hopefully soon". The house became a lot more quiet when Philip left, even more so when the third oldest ,Alexander, followed. The summer was always looked forward to.

  "Have they come yet?" Their father, Alexander pops his head out of the door. Eliza scoots over to make room for her husband. "Not yet. The coach was due hours ago".

They all begin talking, when all of a sudden Angie calls out "Wait! Everybody quiet! I hear something!" They all listen, when the sound of horseshoes galloping on pavement is faintly heard in the distance.

    "It's them!" James yells. The figure of a stagecoach comes into view. Eliza and Alex rise and walk down the steps of the porch. It is indeed the coach pulling the two Hamilton boys. It pulls to a stop in front of the home.

   "Philip! Alexander!" Angie and James race towards the stagecoach, three year old John stays in the grass, poking at the dirt. They step out of the coach, Philip paying the driver. The Hamilton family is whole again. 

   Eliza runs to her sons "My boys!" she exclaims while hugging them both. She turns to Philip "Your father has been going on and on about how he wants to bring you to his next meeting" She says brushing the curly hair out of his face. Philip blushes "Mom, I'm only thirteen, I doubt that they'd want my company".

    Their father walks up them "I hope you two have been excelling in school like i expect you to be" Philip crosses his arms "Well hi to you too pops". Alex cracks a small smile "Only kidding son, welcome back home".

   "What a beautiful reunion" A voice suddenly says. Philip looks up to see Laurens standing in the doorway. "Can I go inside for a moment mom, I need to wash up" Philip asks. "Of course son" Eliza responds. Philip walks into the house. "John? I know you're here." Laurens walks out of the kitchen.

   "Welcome home buddy" He says. Philip scoffs "You were with me the whole time, it's not like you haven't seen me in months". Laurens shrugs "Still, it's good to be back to familiar territory." Eliza's voice is heard through the door.    

   "Philip, we're going to have dinner at Mr. Burr's house, make sure you look decent". Philip tilts his head "At Aaron Burr's house? We haven't done that in years". He goes upstairs to change. "John, can you find my brown derby shoes?" Philip asks throwing on his grey coat.

   The family leaves by coach, it's about an hour ride to Manhattan from Harlem. Philip asks his father "Why are we going to Mr. Burr's for dinner? We haven't done that since I was eight." Alex shifts in his seat uncomfortably. Eliza answers for him "His wife... She recently passed on" Philip and Alexander look shocked, with them being gone for so long, they never got the news.

   The rest of the ride is silent, before they finally reach the Burr household. The family leaves the coach, And goes up to the door. Eliza knocks on the door lightly. A few moments pass before it opens. "Hamiltons! Welcome." Philip notices that he seems a bit off.

  "Theodosia really took a toll on him, didn't she" Laurens says, almost not recognizing the man in front of them. Philip gives Laurens a quick look, Forgetting for a moment that he is the only one that can see or hear the man.

   They enter the home, when Burr turns to Philip "You've gotten older since the last time I saw you" Burr says to Philip, "I'm very sorry for your loss Mr. Burr, I had no idea up until recently" Philip says, shaking the mans hand. Burr takes a deep breath in, and then out."Theodosia was the light of my life, I know she's up there looking over us."