The Orphan

When I was younger, I had always wished I was a boy so that I could act at the Globe Theatre that I had overheard about it from people passing by in the musty smelling, crowded street that I used to sleep on for years after my parents death.

Before I began my journey to London, I wanted to have at least two farthings, as I wouldn't be earning any money, I and I needed food. I left in a day or two.

I curled down on to the cold, hard sidewalk, and soon drifted off to a light sleep...

It wasn't long before I awoke. But, I woke up to the sound of horse's hooves going by. When my eyes had got accustomed to the light, I looked at the rider. I had seen him, somewhere. Where? I couldn't remember. William Shakespeare! Now I remember! I saw his picture, on a sign, for the Globe Theartre, about him being an actor and a playwright. My dream...

The next morning, I woke to the Church bell sounding. I could tell that it was six o'clock, because of how many times the bell rang. I went off to my usual job of sack carrying.

The next afternoon I was ready to set off on my journey. I had two farthings, (as I had worked for two people yesterday, and spent one farthing on food).

After about two hours, I think about six miles, a horse and cart went by. I called out that I needed a lift, and they let me aboard. It was extremely bumpy "But," I thought, "better than walking." We stopped, at least an hour later, and I thanked the man wholeheartedly for the ride. We had stopped in a big town, and there were lots and lots of people. Houses were all around and suddenly a lady emerged from one of the house windows and screamed, "Gardez l'eau!"

Everybody scattered aside while the lady tipped out the dirty water onto the street.

That night I slept somewhere, I'm not quite sure what it was called, but it was a street like the ones in Stratford I used to live on.

In the morning when I woke, I set off straight away. When I had walked a while, two miles or so, I guess, I came across a paddock with two horses in it. I wondered if I could take one of the horses and ride it to London. But how would I get it back? Well, I could keep it, and then I wouldn't get so lonely, and I could stop at a paddock for it to graze in. I'll do it. A few problems popped into my mind. How do you ride? How would I control it? Well, I could try and find the thing William Shakespeare had used to control his horse with, and the thing he sat on. I'll have to sneak around and find them.

There was a grey horse in the field and a black one. I could take both of them, so that if one got really tired with me on it back then I could swap them over. Also, they would keep each other company as well. So I went in to the field. When I entered the field, the black horse started to back away as did the grey one. "Oh well," I though, "I can catch them later." Then, I tiptoed quietly to the barn. Finding the things I needed was easy. I got to the barn and peered in; no-one was there. I found the door unlocked and I went inside. On the back wall was a sign, that I couldn't understand above two of the things that you are supposed to sit in, and a sign above the thing that goes on the head. I picked up the object that goes on the back, and had to make a real effort not to drop it. It was very, very heavy. I put it down immediately. I looked around the room and saw that there was a big sack of carrots sitting in the far end of the room, next to barrels of horse feed. I could eat the carrots, as well as the horses. Also, "if I am going to take then both, I will need something to lead the other horse with," I thought, so I found a rope with a collar attached to it. "Just what I need," I thought. So, prepared now, I picked up the heavy object, the controlling thing, the rope and collar and lead and the big sack of carrots and marched out of the barn. The horses had their backs to me, and they didn't move when I crept up to them. I held a carrot in my hand and offered it to the black horse. He accepted it, and while he stood munching, I fiddled around with the controlling thing, and when I was satisfied, put on the heavy bundle of leather on his back, and did up the long piece of rope type thing that keeps the bundle from falling off. Then, I placed the collar on the grey horse's head, and led her over to the other horse. I held the rope in my hand, and struggled to get up on the black horse's back. I put my feet in the iron things that dangle off both sides of the leather and was ready to go. But the carrots: what should I do with them? I couldn't carry them. Finally I decided to stuff as many as I could into my pockets, and then, finally, set off. I gave a small kick and they started to walk. Thankfully, I steered them over to the gate, and they responded. But then, my worst nightmare came true: a man emerged from the house and started shouting at me. I panicked and kicked the horse, hard. They took off very, very fast. I clung on for dear life, and hoped that I would not fall. The man ran inside, and I was sure he would get the magistrate. The horses bolted out of the place I had come in and kept going. I tugged on the bits of leather in my hands, and slowly, very slowly, they stopped. They were breathing heavily. And I was in shock.

When I had calmed down and the horses had got back their breath, I took out a carrot that was in my pocket and ate it.

I decided to get going a little faster so I gave the horse a little nudge and he went at a nice jogging pace that I adapted to very easily. Much better than when they took off, this pace was much more comfortable. If we went at a pace like this, I thought, then I should be at London in no time, hopefully.

It was getting dark so I decided at the next field I would stop and let the horses graze, while I slept. About half an hour later, when it was completely dark, I stopped and went in the gate. I would get up early and get moving quickly so that nobody would catch me. I took off the objects on the horse, but left the head collar on the grey so that I could catch her easily in the morning. I then gave them both two carrots each which they accepted willingly. I then nestled down on the grass to sleep.

I woke early in the morning and got the horses ready straight away. I mounted the grey this time and led the other one. I gave them one carrot each, and ate one myself and got going.
I went at the jogging pace that I did yesterday and thought I was very lucky that I don’t have to walk all the way, but feel a bit bad about taking both of the horses. Names. I should name them both so I don’t have to keep calling them, “The grey and the black.” The black one could be called, “Cobalt,” and the grey, “Sugarfoot.” They are pretty good names I thought.
How many miles have I been travelling? Well, If I have been going about half a day walking and nearly a day and a half riding at this jogging pace then the first day roughly eleven miles and about five or six so far today. So I was going pretty well. Again as soon as it got dark I would stop in a field and leave early in the morning again. But, when I had been going another hour or so, I came across a small fair.
There were children on stilts, people singing, people dancing and playing other games. Sugarfoot and Cobalt pricked their ears at the sound and the sight of the fair, and before I knew it, they took off with me again. They headed towards the gate that surrounded the whole fair, and I became very nervous because they would jump the fence. I worried. But they would get tangled up! I pulled on the leather lines and tried very hard to try and stop them. But they would not stop. Then, a boy of about my age stepped in front of the gate so that they couldn’t jump it. But, they turned sharply to the left, and somehow I then managed to stop them. I got off and went to thank the boy who saved me. He was walking over, staring at Sugarfoot and Cobalt.

“Thank you so much,” I said thankfully to him. “It’s okay,” He said, “I like your horses.”

I blushed. I can’t tell him they're not mine, he’ll tell someone. “The grey one is Sugarfoot and the Black one is Cobalt,” I said, “What’s your name?” I asked. “I’m Julia,” I said.

“Philip,” he said. “You on your own?” he asked. “I am,” He said slowly.

“So am I,” I answered. “My parents are dead,” I said even more slowly.

“Sorry,” he said, “Where you going? I’m going to London, family there,” he said.

“Oh, I’m going to London as well,” I hesitated. “Want to go together?” I asked.

“You’re lucky,” he said, “You have two horses to ride, I have nothing.”

“Well, You could always ride one of them, I don’t mind,” I said.

“Really? You really mean it? Wow! Sure I’ll go with you!” he exclaimed brightly.

“Have you ridden before?” I asked.

“Sure have, my grandparents owned a farm and I looked after all of the horses. Exercised them, fed them, groomed them and everything else. I love horses.”
“Well, I only have one...er...” I motioned to the heavy object on Sugarfoots back, and the controlling thing on her head.
“The saddle and the bridle,” he said.
“Yeah I guess. Well I only have one of each,” I said regretfully. How could he come, on one of the horses with no saddle or bridle?
“Oh, that doesn’t matter: I can make the lead rope into reins connected to the head collar, and my grandad taught me to ride bareback. There’s no problem there, Julia,” he said with no concern at all.
“Great!” I exclaimed, “We had better get going so we can find a field to sleep in and let the horses to graze in by dark,” I said.
“Good idea,” he said with a smile.
He made the rope into reins and hopped up onto Cobalt's back, while I slipped up onto Sugarfoot. And we were on our way.

Philip was delighted to be riding again and chattered on about horses until dark.
We found a field, with a bit of difficulty, maybe because we were getting close to a town or something like that, I thought. When we had “un-tacked” as Philip said it, (taking off the saddle and bridle), we shaded under a nearby tree and made ourselves comfortable, we started to talk about money.
“I’ve got one penny,” said Philip. “I have been working for the fair, setting it up and that, only for four days, but they were good to me. I worked for them and they supplied me with food and a bed. They gave me a farthing a day.”
“I’ve only got two farthings, but I have carrots in my pockets. Would you like one? You must be hungry, I know I sure am.” I picked out two carrots out of my pockets and offered one to Philip. “Thanks Julia,” he said and accepted it.
We were both tired so we went to sleep.
Again I awoke early, and realised that Philip was not there. I stood up and went to see if he was with the horses. Thankfully he was and I went over.
“Morning,” he said.
“Morning,” I replied. “We gotta get going now, don’t want to get caught.”
“Ok, who are you going to ride today?” Philip asked me.
“Cobalt, I’m going in a pattern. Cobalt one day with the tack, Sugarfoot the next and so on,” I explained my plan.
“Good plan,” he replied, “I’ll tack him up then.”
“Thanks Philip.”
When Philip had finished we set out on our way. We talked about our backgrounds and I found out that he had got separated from his parents, somehow, at a bear baiting session and he was going to London to try tofind them. I told him the reason why I wanted to go back to London, (to act), which he thought was very funny.
“Girls can’t act, don’t be silly, Julia.” He laughed.
“Yes, they can. Better than boys if you ask me. It’s a really stupid rule, girls not being allowed to act. It’s unfair to us girls who can act and really want to get up in front of an audience and show them what we can do,” I exclaimed.
“Ok, Ok. I didn’t mean to sound like I meant that you can’t act. It’s just...oh don’t worry. Let’s change the subject, I don’t want to fight.”

“All right.”
He went off talking about horses again for ages and ages, but at least we weren’t fighting. It’s nice to have company with someone who you can talk to and share your problems with.

A while later I found a sign saying, "London three miles."

"Philip!" I screeched.

"Yeah, what?" He asked.

"Look, A sign to London. Three miles!" I motioned over to a small sign just up ahead.

"Great!" he said enthusiastically.

We chatted about what we were going to do when we got to London, and decided to try and meet up sometimes. Maybe.

Soon we entered London. "My home-to-be I," thought.

We stopped the horses and Philip dismounted.

"Better be going," he said, "Thank you so much for letting me ride your horses with you."

"It's all right. I enjoyed your company," I said.

"Where you staying?" he asked me.

I really had no idea. What was I going to do? I felt sick.

***

"Julia?"

Philip was standing over me. I had no idea where I was.

"Where am I?" I asked.

"My relative's house," Philip explained. "You fainted."

"Oh. Where are Sugarfoot and Cobalt?" I asked.

"They're outside." he explained to me.

I wondered what had made me faint. Suddenly, I remembered. When Philip asked me where I was going to stay.

The next morning Philip woke me up.

"Julia?" he asked.

"Yeah, what?"

"Do you want to go to a bear baiting session?"

"Um..." I said, not sure if he had remembered that my parents had died at a bear baiting session, "I'll see."

"Please? They're for this afternoon, Grandma has been promising for ages to take me." he explained.

I hesitated before saying yes.

When we were ready, Philip went out to tack up Sugarfoot, for me to ride there.

When we reached the ring I got very nervous, although trying not to let it show that much.

Halfway through the performance I couldn't stand it any more, so I stood up and went out. But, about ten minutes later, a bear got loose! He stomped about everywhere, crashing things down, doing heaps of damage. Then, the bear came over to the fence and crashed it down. I was getting angry. One of those bears killed my parents. I lashed out at the bear, giving him a hit. Someone by a cart chucked me a thick rope. Amazingly, I got the rope caught on the bear's foot! Just a fluke! But, the great news was that the bear's owner gave me a farthing in gratitude!

When we went back home, I decided to ask Philip if he had a big round hat.

"Why do you want one?" e asked me.

"Remember my big ambition to become an actor?" I said sarcastically.

"Yeah. So why do you need a hat?" he asked.

"Are you thick? I'm going to dress up as a boy, go for an audition. I need something to cover up my face with, so they wont see that I'm a girl," I explained, exasperated.

"Oh. Now I get you. I have a hat that you could borrow," he said.

"Thank you."

The next morning I awoke, with butterflies in my stomach. Philip had given me that hat last night, which I was going to tuck my hair up in. Also, Philip had given me some clothes as well.

When I was halfway through my audition, My hat fell off! Everybody watching stared. When I started to run, they started screaming abuse at me. Unfortunately, I was stopped when a cart had tipped over. They caught me and took me back to a house near the Globe. They locked me in a room, with a jug of water only.

But, they hadn't realised that the window was loose! I opened it and, with a big effort, got to the ground. I started running as fast as I could. The men had been on guard, and they started running after me.

A bear baiting session was going on and, the bear got out! Again. I was positive that the bear that just got out was the bear that I had caught.

The bear recognised me and started chasing off the men! Phew!

Exit: Pursued by a bear.