Hamilton: A modern telling

Chapter One

He walked through the airport, his suitcase rolling against the recently cleaned floor, almost humming whenever not stationary. His shoes tapping against the same surface, with each step. Music from his only working earphone, which currently resided in his left ear, playing the opening number from a recently released musical, that being his preference of music. Around this absent minded man, was chattering from passengers, awaiting to board their airplane and shoes clickety-clacking against the floor.

Many looked excited, it was probable that they were going on holiday, others less enthusiastic of their journey, seemingly were business men. However, this musical enthusiast was neither, he was the bastard, orphan, son of a whore and a scotsman who was about to leave his rough upbringing in the Caribbean to become a scholar. He was Alexander Hamilton.

Alexander was offered a scholarship at Columbia University (formally known as Kings College) and saw this as an opportunity to be more than his position.

Checking his phone in his hand, along with a plane ticket to Manhatten, and his passport, he stressed as he anxiously neared his flight. Soon enough, the he boarded the plane, leaving his past behind

Alexander opened the lid of his second laptop he bought with the money from his cousins will. He remembers the afternoon when he saw him; his body limp, eyes dilated, skin pale, hanging from a rope, his chest didn't rise and his eyes couldn't see. This traumatising event had plagued Alexander each time his eyes gazed upon the device that symbolised what he left, that he would now depend on for his education. The only reason he has this device is because of his financial situation, the scholarship includes travel costs, fortunately.

Once connected to the internet, he instantly begins work on an exam set by his law teacher before he had even begun the school, alerting Alexander of the quantity of work that had to be completed. The email read:

From: g.washington@columbia.uni
To: a.burr@columbia.uni, t.jefferson@columbia.uni, h.mulligan@columbia.uni, j.laurens@columbia.uni g.laffayette@columbia.uni, a.hamilton@columbia.uni ...

Majors and Minors,

I would like to congratulate you on your placing in Columbia University and in to Law, either majoring or minoring. For our first lesson, I would like you to write a short essay comparing capitalism and socialism. No one but me will see what you write and is a starting point, so I can plan the syllabus around your work.

Please don't refrain from emailing me With any questions about the task, that is due the first lesson I have you (applying to both majors and minors), or our lessons we will have.

All the best,

Prof. George Washington, Law professor.
g.washington@columbia.uni

Alexander didn't want to risk his scholarship, by missing any assignments, so he instantly got to work. Searching and scanning the Internet for any information, beyond his pre-existing knowledge, to no avail - he failed to find any piece of information that actually peaked any interest. Regardless, he began his work. His flight wasn't long, but it was enough to begin his "short" essay. Alexander didn't particularly ramble, however, he constantly writes from any perspective, anywhere else, that would be a downfall.

Once off of the airplane and actually out of the airport, Alexander found himself in New York. Three months ago, this merely would have been a dream. Now, it's a reality, he is about to live.

Once getting into a taxi and announcing his desired destination, Alexander looks into his pocket, and pulls out a ten dollar note, the only money he had was this in a Carribean equivalent. This had to make it until tommorow, when he gets his student loan. He has to make it.

The taxi itself was $6.20 from the airport and Alexander hoped he would be able to find some cheap coffee granules and milk with the change.

Finally arriving onto campus, there are an abundance of people, of different ethnicities, for now Alexander had hope that it wouldn't be a problem. The campus had three large buildings, alongside fewer small ones. Law was the the main course of the school, so the law building was the one in the center, four floors and quite wide, according to the school's website, it had a fake courtroom, and a small lecture hall. The other largest building was the dorms, it was three floors high, but contained many rooms, one of which, he would live. The rooms weren't anything fancy, multiple beds (two's three's or fours), miniscule kitchen in the room, en suite bathroom and desks, this building looked the newest but still didn't look modern. The third of three largest buildings was also three floors, the first floor being a cafeteria, and the other two being dedicated to the other majors and minors the university taught. The smaller buildings included the single dorms (more expensive ones), teacher dorms (for those that didn't live near the school) and teachers offices amongst other facilities.

The building that had the cafeteria on the ground floor had many people surrounding it, it was safe to assume that you had to go there. Sure enough, there were many people inside, staff and students inside and after being informed by a fellow student, Alexander made his way to a table, where a polite member of staff asked for his name and gave him a lanyard, which had his name and studies on it; Alexander Hamilton, majoring in Law and minoring in History.

"Your roommates study law too, one of which minors, helpful, huh?" the member of staff asked, whilst looking at his accommodation information, "You're in a room with three others too, second floor, room eight. Nervous?"

"A little." Alexander replied. Nervous was an understatement. Meeting someone you have to live with for a year for the first time, is daunting enough without being in a new school, new country, tired from flying, still mourning his cousin, being homesick, being poor and a vulnerable orphan, 'A little' was an understatement.

After exchanging smiles and bading adiue, they parted ways.

Walking across the breathtaking campus once more, Alexander made his way to the block of dorms, suitcase in one hand, housekey in another. He almost felt ready for this adventure. Once making his way to his dorm, he glanced at the list of roommates, recognising his name and praying he wouldn't hate the rest.

Hope you enjoy so far, any plot ideas, I have a view but I am noisy?