Chapter Two: I Wrote a letter
Jackie Oriento
My father's brother— Bagattson Greene, was a retired seaman, a captain to be precise.
He'd always travel around the world in his ship, L'amour, with his crew: Wyner dirty hand, Mr. Grey hair, Long stick, Red eyes, Mr. Rum, and some other crew members whose names weren't known by me.
Mama, Katherine, had ordered me to construct a written letter with my quill pen. "Fine handwriting"- she'd always praise.
She wanted me to write to uncle Green Bag, to know if he was willing to join- or help us in the search for the treasure. Hopefully, both because we lacked the basic skills of treasure hunting, and he seemed to be grounded in it. He was the known, and only experienced seaman in the family.
Surely, a favour wouldn't hurt.
"I shall return in a short time," mother informed, whilst adjusting her already perfect clothes. She was clad in green tunic top, and long fashionable skirt that crossed her knees. Katherine's hair was short with curls and neatly dressed.
She worked at a tailoring shop- at madam Isabella's to be precise, whose owner she unendingly despised. They were like rivals. Her and madam Isabella hated each other, but one still had to play the fool and be the underling.
Mama always made sure she looked her best whenever she went out. It was like a social battle out there. One had to look their best no matter what circumstance they fell in, and mama was one of e'm.
She cared so much about high social standards. Maybe too much- I'd say.
Who was I to judge anyways? I was just a twelve-year-old lad who wasn't quite knowledgeable on these things compared to mama. Though not an island, but it showed that women seemed to be extremely conscious about their style and class in this neighborhood.
"And Jackie, my boy. Make sure you write that letter quickly and deliver it to the office immediately, okay?" Mother's voice sounded eager and desperate, and at the same time, she spoke almost soothingly.
She probably tried covering up the trace of desperation and sealed everything up with a grin.
I picked up my quill pen, and a fresh blank sheet of paper, and began to write.
Paintburg,
April 2, 1832
Dear Uncle Green Bag,
It is I Jackie, your nephew. It is of great pleasure I write to you. I needeth to go straight to the point. I get that you are retired, but my mother and I have found a treasure map. We were hoping you could help find the treasure- that's if at all it is real. According to Mama, we needeth to find it as soon as possible.
I hope your ship L'amour is still strong and as beautiful as ever. Come quickly with her and your crew, so we can sail at sea and go trasure hunting.
Your nephew, Jackie Oriento.
As demanded, I moved on with it, heading to mail the letter as soon as possible.
I ran, beign an energetic lad, steering my direction towards madam Isabella's. I was on the mission to inform mother of an accomplished task.
When I got to mother's work place, about entering, I instantly recoiled my steps as my ears sensed a loud gong-sounding bellow. It was Isabella and mama arguing on a topic.
So I easedroped.
"This is the second time I'm telling you not to use this textile! Can't you see? It's faded!" madam Isabella's bellows didn't tune down. Mother was seated on her compartment table, breathing out harshly in fury, trying so hard to stiffle her anger. "The colour's washing off and you were suppose to get this done before thursday! You're a petty slow slug, a snail from god knows where!"
More and more curses followed, words in which I couldn't even fathom. If I were bigger, or shared the same disrespect as mother's boss, surely I would've wanted to march up to her. I felt bad for what was happening. Even I couldn't take in the hurt. I could tell mother's reason for the way she acted.
Silence from the watching crowd, who were the customers and workers, grew stronger when a louder bellow surpassed madam Isaabella's.
"Well I quit!" Katherine shut the queen finally, though for a while, but enough to let Isabella assimilate the said words. Standing up, Katherine went on, "I am tired of your insults you buffalo! Mad dog! That's what you are!"
Gasps everywhere and mutters encompassed the area.
Finally settling in what my mother had told her, Isabella's pride didn't lay down yet and retorted still. Isabella tried twisting the whole situation by pointing out some kind of point. She vexatiously pronounced, though a subtle of shame flickered in her eyes.
Mama had surprised her truly.
Madam Isabella taunted as soon as soon as she was able to find her voice back, "Poor woman, I presume you have another source of income? I pity you and your son." her tone dropped, only to sound as though she cared, but obviously showed off mockery. Now this was when my name had come in, and some sort of hurt feeling gleamed in mama's eyes.
"If you quit, you'll have no money to cater for your lad. If I were you, I wouldn't let that pride take the best of me, and would crawl apologizing right this moment! You know you're nothing but poor without me."
Scoffs, cackles, hysterical noises all chattered round the place, all in mockery of mother. It all ignited like wildfire as soon as the landing sentence had been dropped.
Seeming as it was, madam Isabella appeared to have won this fight…or had she?
"You're wrong Isabella," mother began, surprising the crowd once more. Even I. She appeared to have something off her sleeves, but she was too embarrassed and overwhelmed by sadness to the extent that she couldn't even keep our little secret anymore.
"I do not need you, nor the beggarly salary you pay me. For I have found something worth more than you could ever imagine. Should I say just treasure? No. The treasure of all treasures, right in my palm. And mark my words Isabella, when I find it, you will not be the only one begging."
Katherine left, leaving everyone in silent confusion.
I was a child, but I could tell that was the greatest mistake mother had ever made by exposing our treasure secret- something we weren't even sure of.
She held my hand as we strode home.
At home, Katherine's happiness had lowered a bit. She had sauntered off to our store room, where we had saved up our entire rum, and began drinking it bottle by bottle.
I just stood there, staring at her without even uttering a single word, and I made sure not to create a slightest noise.
Her behaviour had changed entirely, and I had never seen mama so depressed and drink rum like there was no good in tommorow.
Suddenly, by accident, I had fallen a bottle and the clattering noise of the falling bottle made mother turn to me. You should have seen the look on her face when she discovered my presence.
"Jackie! What are you doing down here ?!"
She then offered me a stool, which was close to her to sit on, then began talking like she had too much to drink already.
She compelled a smile on her face, speaking drunkenly, "Young Oriento, you're my little lad, my everything. Though you've heard stories of the unfortunate Oriento, your father, who failed in his mission to retrieve a certain treasure. But you Jackie, you're not him. You're different. You are Jackie Oriento, my gifted child. Your father's work will not end here, rather it shall be of success. I give you my blessings, young lad. You shall sail with your uncle Green Bag and find that treasure.
She resumed gulping down the rum, until the whole bottle had emptied.
"You saw how I lost my job, right?" mother caressed my face. "We needeth find that treasure quickly. Have you written the letter?"
I gave a positive nod, then helped her climb the stairs to her room, putting her to bed. When I was done, I was about leaving when I was suddenly stopped by mother's voice, saying, "Can you get me a bottle of rum from down the stoor room, please?"
She begged, already wasted.
"No!" said I, firmly. "You've had too much to drink already. You can have just water."
I poured her a jug of water, and I too retired to my bed.