Teen Ink

Meeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeoooooooo

In exactly a total of 2 mouths and 9 days of sailing they arrived in a strange new land. Christopher claimed they had landed somewhere in India.
Not soon after settling down and starting a fresh new life in this strange new land they encountered humans like themselves. Only with darker skin, marks of paint on their faces and feathers shooting out of their hair.
Some of the colonists are friendly to them. All of them in fear, not knowing what to expect!
***

Annette’s transport necklace finally recharged a few hours after landing on the new land. She quietly made her get away into the forest. Setting the dial to take her home.
The branches of the trees raddled, loud yelping and yelling surrounded her. Dark figures circled her, studying her. Watching her every move, waiting to see her react. She ran to the left almost having a close encounter with a spear. Her hand slid the mini dial on the transport necklace as she pushed it in. The world around her began to glow. As brilliant as the sun, the dark figures that Christopher referred to as Indians. Turned to dust and faded into the time line streaming around Annette. Closing her eyes helped from the spinning making her hurl. She was lifted up, a sort of floating effortlessly among the dates as they flew by. 1543…..1679…..1725…..
Annette found herself distracted, she thought of the baby wondering if it would survive in the new world Annette forced upon it. She couldn’t shake the baby’s face out of her head.
1626….
His innocence ruined by her actions.
1534…
All those people are stuck on a strange new land…helpless.
1500…Annette’s legs gave out as she landed on her knees on the tall swaying grass. The wind whining in her ears as it slowly dies.
She was back at the colonists’ new settlement but several years had passed. Many log homes nestled together. A young boy ran through the tall grass pretending he was a bird soaring in the sky. His ragged cap constantly falling over his eyes. Annette smiled she had a pretty good guess who that was.
“Daniel! Daniel come in dear it’s time for supper.” A voice calling from inside the log house nearest to him.
“Ah mother!” Daniel boomed in a high voice trying to sound like a man. But it came out more screechy.
He dashed off for the house but was stopped in his tracks by a whimper in the bushes.
Daniel picked up a stick sneaking closer to the bush. He raises it in silence ready to strike the bush. With one big swoop he lands on his back. His “victim” laughs. But is rudely interrupted by a terrible cough. A little Indian boy pops up out of the bush and hands him the stick. Daniel retreats back confused. The little Indian boy points at himself, “mmmmee…meeeoooo..meeeeo” Then he points to Daniel.
“Ah….hello …Meo?” Daniel gets up scratching his head.
Meo jumps up and down pointing back and forth between them, “Meo, meo, meo, meo!”
Daniel cracks a smile, “Haha no I’m Daniel.” Daniel offers his hand out for Meo to shake.
Meo stairs at it for a bit then runs back to hide in the bush. Daniel chuckles again and chases after him playfully.
Moments later Meo pops back out of the bush and hugs Daniel. Then lowers into the bush laughing.
Annette tries so hard not to laugh really loud to disturb their little game. She makes her way into the forest (but still close to the colonists) to make her shelter.
***
The boys become great friends even though they don’t speak the same language. They only hang out in secret though. Daniel fears what the colonist might do if they discovered Meo.
But one day Meo never came. Daniel searched in the forest; it was not like Meo to never want to play. He called out his names a few times, but only in vein. Until Daniel comes across a small village. They were Meo’s people! Daniel remembered some of them working for his father and others on the colony. Most of them were lying down with pink rashes, some vomiting. Others invested with crusty small sores scattered throughout their body. Was this brought upon them by the colonists? Daniel was shocked, “Meo….?” He managed to cough up. The chief of the village rose up and greeted Daniel with a nod. Spiriting as fast as his little boots would take him Daniel ran to Meo fear starting to overtake his emotions. When he reached Meo he knelt down skinning his knees as he inched closer to rest his hand on his friends head. Meo’s head felt like it was on fire. Meo looked over to Daniel with a weak grin. Faded fast as Meo vomited away from Daniel.
Daniel had to do something. He knew this disease was smallpox’s. They must have spread it to the natives when they arrived here and made them work for them. His mother told of this disease, and then she must know how to cure it! Daniel tried to explain to the chief with gestures. The chief still confused a bit but catching on went with Daniel carrying Meo. What else could he do? If there was any chance that this stranger could help his son he would take it.
Arriving at Daniel’s home not to long later, Daniel franticly bangs on the door. His mother Elizabeth barely has time to open the door before Daniel barrages in with the chief carrying Meo.
Daniel explains in a shaky screaming voice all that has happened and bags her to cure him. Elizabeth takes it all in and frowns. There is nothing she can do.
Just when Daniel is at his breaking point his father kicks open the door with a gun pulling Elizabeth and Daniel out of the way.
BANG!.... BANG!
The guests are silent raising their heads to the sky. Daniel cries out, Elizabeth chattels him.
“I came as soon as I heard you scream, sorry you had to witness that son. Those Indians are unpredictable.” Daniel’s father whips his brow and lays the gun against the wall. Daniel didn’t answer he just started at his friend lying motionless on the floor next to his father.
***
Annette couldn’t take anymore suffering. She leaned against a tree fettling with the transport necklace. She seemed to cause Daniel more pain when she was around. She turned the transport necklace’s dial without looking. She didn’t care where she went; she didn’t have anything to go back to.