3 Chapter 3: A True Childhood

The next four years passed rather simply. The small family of three enjoyed every day they had. Jonathan learned many important facts about his family. One fact was that his grandpa was very rich. As one of the richest men in not only the colony of Pennsylvania. But in the entirety of British North America.

With just over 40,000 acres of land just north of Philadelphia made up of land granted to his grandfather's grandfather by William Penn, land purchases, and a marriage or two William Carpenter was one of the biggest private landowners in all of the Americas.

It became a habit in John's life to run through the fields in the summer, climb in the orchards in the fall, and be huddled up in his great-grandfather's pride and joy, the extensive library made up of around 1,500 volumes from all over the world in a variety of languages entailing a plethora of subjects. While in his previous life as Steven, he was never a big reader, with nothing better to do John devoured any and all books he could get his hands on reading over two dozen books a month during the winter.

However, his favorite times were in the spring when he and his mother would go up to the hills nearby and watch as wildflowers went into bloom. Sometimes he would have a picnic, other times there would be a game to play, a book to read, or any other activities but wherever they sat upon those hills John would be some of the best times of his life.

On one of those days, John would sit down and look at his mother leaning down to pick up a wildflower.

'This is what a childhood is, I am spending my days learning and playing with my family. While I loved my old parents they both worked and I spent most of my time in preschool and daycare. Here I am truly lucky enough to have what feels like the best possible childhood.'

Sitting in contentment for a little while longer he hears his mother let out an excited gasp and turns around to see him.

"John, John, come quick you need to see this."

Sauntering up toward his mother he looks over her shoulder and sees what she is pointing at. Sitting among the wildflowers is a clover, a four-leaf clover.

Looking back at the clover for a second she turns back to John, "Look, a four-leaf clover, it's a good sign of the year to come."

Giving my mom a light smile I pull out my notebook and pluck the clover. Flipping past pages of pressed flowers and other plants I find a blank one and put the clover inside.

"Now I will forever have good luck, Mother."

Days like this while not an everyday occurrence but were common enough to make it an almost instant tradidtion. This peaceful backdrop was contrasted by the news that Grandpa brought home about the war every week or two. His wealth allowed us to continue living quite well but from his talks with Mother, I knew there was trouble.

"The French have destroyed a quarter of my shipping business. The empire is doing little to safeguard the interests of the colonies."

"Then what will you do father, there aren't enough guns to fully equip your ships. This is losing you a fortune every month."

"I don't know. I am doing my best but I truly don't know how to keep my people safe. Around 30 of my sailors died in recent privateer attacks, and I can't in good conscience continue these shipments if it will get people killed."

While this was going on John was in the corner playing with a set of little army men his grandpa got for him. 'I may have memories of adulthood, but I'm still a child,' he would often tell himself, even though he used to play with legos well into adulthood. But overhearing his grandpa and mom talk he quickly walked over.

"Grandpa, someone is attacking your ships," he asked staring up at his grandfather.

"Yes they are, but this is business for Grandpa. You don't have to worry about it, this is business for the adults of the world."

With a pleading tone and widened eyes he continued, "But Grandpa, I have an idea. I want to help."

Giving off a content but exacerbated sigh, "Well alright, what's your idea on how to protect my merchant shipping interests."

Taking a deep breath John starts, "Have all your ships travel together, like the Spanish treasure fleets. Then put all your big guns in two ships. One in the front, and another in the rear then if one pirate attacks, have one ship counter while the other protects the fleet."

Having talked a lot for his young lungs he sits down to catch his breath, and after breathing heavily for a bit he looks back up at his grandpa.

Williams's face is a mix of shock and joy as he stares off aimlessly into the distance, before looking back down the John.

"That, is, GENIUS." He exclaims, "I don't know why we didn't do that before, now we can properly defend our ships."

Seeing his grandfather smiling he continues, "Yeah, and you can charge other ships a lot of money to come with you guys and remain protected."

This causes his grandfather to get an even bigger grin. "I need to ride to Philadelphia immediately, but John if you want anything, just ask me for it."

Thinking for a second he says with a smile on his face, "I want a tree house near the house."

His grandpa simply chuckles and says, "Of course, anything for you, my dear grandson."

The next few months passed rather uneventfully. The convoy plan had been extremely effective in deterring French privateers and enough funds had been secured to have a second convoy put in place with one going from New York City to England to complement the one already leaving from Philadelphia. And on top of all those successes, John's treehouse had been built. He would often spend hours up there reading and playing till one day something new happened.

On a Friday afternoon, John climbed the ladder up into the treehouse near the house but when he entered it he found another boy in the building.

This boy was around as tall as him and looked to be 6 or 7 years old. He had swirly black hair that seemed unnaturally fluffy and chestnut brown eyes that were focused intently on reading one of the books John had left up there.

Seeing John the boy looks startled puts the book down and wears a guilty face. "I'm sorry, I didnt know you were going to be up here, ill leave right now."

Stepping fully into the treehouse John waves him off, "Don't worry its fine, what were you trying to do?"

Sitting back down he looks down and seems a bit ashamed, "I'm trying to learn to read, none of my family can and I want to be the first."

Feeling a bit surprised John thinks for a second, "Then I'll teach you."

A look of shock goes over the boy's face, "You would teach me to read and write, for what."

"For free, I've been wanting a friend and you look nice. So let's start over, I'm John Carpenter" He then sticks out his hand for the boy to shake.

Seeming weary for a second he then shakes his hand. "And I'm Eli Thompson"

"Oh your Sarah's son, then it's nice to meet you. She's a nice woman." Eli smiles at the compliment to his mother.

The two of them spend the next few hours reading talking and joking before Eli leaves to head home with his mother promising to come back soon.