"Uh.."
"Yes, Karen?"
"Uh- uh uhmm it's actually.."
"Forget it, you can't even expalin properly."
"I uh- okay?"
Awkward.
I'll just sleep anyways, he already knew that I lied so...
I rested my head on his shoulder.
He was a bit shocked at first but he allowed me to do so.
"Thanks."
"What do you mean, Karen?"
"Nothing."
And the travel went on as that until..
----
"Hey, Karen. Wake up, we're here. At Hopetown remember?"
"Oh, right."
I did some stretching first.
I'm still sleepy.
But.
We're here and I actually want to meet someone here.
"Uh.. George?"
"Yes?"
"Can I be excused for a moment I have to see someone here."
"I can't right now, we're in another country so I have to accompany you."
"Oh. Okay I guess."
With George at my back, I asked some people if they knew someone named Erasmus Stephanus Jacobs.
Thankfully, people here are so nice and all. Plus they're responding, America in the 1870s can't relate.
"We know him. He is the one who got the Eureka Diamond, my dear?"
"Karen."
"Yes, Karen. He's here."
I turned over to George about to ask him a question.
"How long are we going to be here?"
"About 4 days. Why?"
"Could I see Erasmus Stephanus Jacobs?"
"Umm okay? But why?"
"I wanted to know what he looked like. You know is he handsome, ugly, tall, short. I'm just curious and all."
He raised his left eyebrow.
"Uh.. Sure okay."
"Really!"
Yay!
My inner history enthusiast is whoozing.
I turned now to this wonderful and responding lady.
"Hey where is he?"
"I could take you and your friend there."
"Okay! Thanks ma'am"
She guided us to where this mystery guy is.
At this moment I feel like I'm stupid for thinking that he might be handsome. Who knows..
"We're here, Miss Karen."
"No "Miss" please I'm still young."
"Okay, Karen. I'll call him."
She went to this house and called his name, the dokr opened and she went to us again.
He said you're welcome to see him Karen.
"Thank you so much.. I'm sorry I didn't got your name.."
"My name is Ambelle."
"Oh. Anyhow thank you much Ambelle for taking us here. I'm so thankful."
"No worries. I shall head on now, good day for the both of you."
She then started walking.
I also started walking but to this 18 year old boy's house.
"Hi Erasmus Stephanus Jacobs, I seem to be interuppting and all but could I interview you and a-"
Then I saw him. Oh my!
I was right. He's good-looking! Might be even better looking than George at my back.
"You- you're so good-looking!"
"Why thank you but I would like to know what's your name you're also pretty attractive.."
"I am Karen Carter. 18 years old at this current moment."
And single. I can be yours.
But you know he might be a little uncomfortable if I do said those to him.
"Wow. We're the same age, Karen. I just turned 18, three months ago."
"You're older."
"Indeed?"
"Indeed. I turned 18, last month."
He smiled and turn to look at George.
"And who are you?"
"George."
Ugh! How can he be so rude!
I kicked his leg and told him to be nice.
"I'm George, 20"
Better.
"Well, George and Karen. I'm guessing that you two are new here."
"Yes, my dear Erasmus. But that name is too formal, could I call your Eras?"
"Of course you can!"
He told us to sit so we sat on this comfy bench to talk.
"So, Eras. I heard from the people here that you discovered the Eureka Diamond stones?"
"Yes, Karen. I did. They we're 28 stones to be exact."
We've been knew. But I have to act like I don't know anything about this.
"Really? Oh my! 28?!"
"Yes, my dear Karen. 28 stones."
Then George whispered something on my ear.
"Pretending to not know our mission, I see Karen?"
"Shut up."
He did.
Eras discussed almost everything about himself and when he told me tk share some things I basically told him lies. Hehe.
"Wow, Karen. You are amazing! I can't believe that you are good at fishing, I can't even fish!"
"Yes. It's all facts. I fish for a living."
"Indeed, Karen?"
"Yes, you see my friend and I."
Pointing at George.
"We two are here in Hopetown to gather foreign fishes to be eatin when we go back to America."
"That is wonderful, Karen."
"Why thank you, Eras"
It was a long talk but it was fun. We both laughed and shared jokes.
But George didn't look happy at all. He seem to be slightly annoyed and I don't know the reason why.
For the past two days, we stayed at Eras' place and he was our tour guide for our short visit here in Hopetown.
He was good company, I must say.
Meanwhile, George here completely ignored me for two solid days!
But it was still fun.
Eras and I would talk and play silly games, even though we're already classified as adults but who cares.
George on the other hand just watched us completely annoyed.
Why is he annoyed anyway? We didn't do anything wrong.
Or is it because of the childish games that we're currently playing.
I think soo..
Well our last day here in Hopetown is tomorrow and Eras would be taking me, yes only me. To somewhere.
"Hey, Karen." Eras said to me.
"Yes?"
"I would like to give you something."
"Okay? What is it?"
He then brought out a bracelet.
"Well for these past 3 days you we're great and all and before you leave tomorrow. I gave you this to let you know that we're friends. Isn't that what friends do when they leave and there's a possiblity that you won't see them again you give them something to remember you."
"Not to be mean or anything but we only met 3 days ago."
We both laughed and I continued.
"That was cheesy, but thank you anyway. I really appreciate it."
I gave him a smile and then I walked away but I did wave to him when I was a bit far from him. Which he gladly returned.
----
I went back to where I told George to wait for me before we start heading off.
Oh right. We're actually leaving right now to not waste anytime.
I smiled while looking at the bracelet and went to him.
I gave him a smile.
"Let's go? Georgie?"
"Whatever.'
"No need to be so cold!"
Then we started to travel.
But after a while....
"So speak up, George. Why did you ignored me for days, two days to be exact. Why?"
-----------------------------------------------------------
Unfortunately, I couldn't find a picture of Erasmus Stephanus Jacobs or as we call him Eras, when he was 15-18 but I found a picture of him in this mid 30s? Maybe in this picture he was 35, I'm guessing.