HAMERTON Chapter 2 episode 3

HAMERTON 2

Thank you God for this opportunity.
Hallo new viewers and Happy and Peaceful elections Tanzania!

Hamerton. A large school offering the finest Education to the students of the state and overseas. Natalie joins this school arriving from Brooklyn and she has grief over her lost friends who were murdered in Hamerton. She teams up with Ingrid and their fellow seniors against the House of Representatives to prevent a bomb blast that could cause a large massacre.

Previously, Natalie is in anguish to see Caitlin again, after the hope of Caitlin being alive revives in her. She wakes feeling drowsy and thinking about Caitlin. When she least expect it, Trevor shows up and shares her burden with comforting words. He explains himself about Ingrid's confession but, Natalie just wants no secrets between them.  They both agree to leave later to see Ralph Brooks along with Ingrid. 
Kenneth met Mr. Dickson in a mental hospital  and mentioned to Trevor that he had his worries on Mr. Dickson's sudden discharge

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Later that day, Trevor paused his car a little off a driveway, watching as the Hamerton school bus arrive a silent street.

He sat on the driver’s seat with his hands on the wheels. Natalie sat next to him while Ingrid sat in the back seat of the hatchback Mercedes.

“That’s him, right?” Natalie asked as the bus stopped outside a small gate of a two-story building and dropped off a boy with dark hair and wearing red uniforms.

“I can’t say I’m sure. I don’t remember the last time that I saw Ralph.” Trevor replied.

“He surely looks like him.” Natalie said.

“Dark hair… like Caitlin, right?” Ingrid asked, peeping out of the window to watch the boy step on the patio below the door of his house.

The door opened and Trevor furrowed his eyebrows in queer of the person behind it.

“Isn't that Mr. Dickson?” Trevor asked.

“Who is Mr. Dickson?” Natalie inquired.

Ingrid narrowed her eyes, looking outside.

The boy ran in as the host checked outside and thereafter, closed the door.

“Yes it is.” Ingrid affirmed.

Trevor released his seatbelt and undid the door lockers. “C’mon. Let’s go.” He said.

The girls walked out of the car and shut the doors after them.

Natalie joined Trevor, stretching her polo shirt which she had on, along with khaki trousers. Ingrid was also out of the school uniforms, wearing a white T-shirt and denim knee-length pants. They both agreed to wear casual clothes so that the SOHOT will not be able to trace them.

“Who is Mr. Dickson?” Natalie asked again.

“Ralph, my brother’s class teacher. I don’t understand how he could live with Caitlin’s brother.” Trevor said and took Natalie’s hand, crossing the road with her.

Ingrid followed them. “Erin told me that, after Caitlin’s death, Ralph moved to Canada with his father.”

“Well. Maybe Erin lied.” Trevor said who was so sure that Caitlin was alive.

They halted on the patio in front of the house’ front door. Trevor knocked thrice and waited. At the time, he could feel Natalie’s palm vibrating in his clutch. He turned to her, offering a reassuring smile.

Shortly, there were footsteps to the door and as the three expected, Mr. Dickson appeared behind it on opening.

Mr. Dickson’s face was a bit shocked. “Trevor?”

Trevor smiled. “Yes sir.”

The teacher glanced at him and his company. “Ingrid. How are_” he begun before a voice sounded from inside the house.

“Honey, who’s at the door?”

Mr. Dickson turned around opening the door wide simultaneously. He revealed a woman probably in her early thirties, wearing an apron over a brown suit. She stood at the doorway of a kitchen that faced the living room of the house.

“Ester, they are my old students of Hamerton.” Mr. Dickson explained.

“Hallow?” Trevor greeted for all.

“We are also Caitlin’s friend.” Natalie pointed out.

At that, Mr. Dickson turned his head to face her. He was clearly caught off guard by the statement.

Natalie stared at him bluntly, Trevor had to say something. “Yes sir. We would like to know what happened to our friend. I reckon that you disappeared at around the same time that Caitlin was allegedly murdered in the bomb blast that claimed the lives of five of the school senior students.”

Mr. Dickson swallowed attempting to steel himself to say something that could please them but, before he could, Ester came to the entrance and put her hand over his shoulder. “Maybe it is about time that we tell them, Dickson.” She said.

Natalie glanced at the woman, feeling confused. “Tell us what?” she asked.

Mr. Dickson sighed and said, “Come in, please?”

The three followed the couple inside the house and were welcomed into the cozy living room. There they sat on one long sofa, opposite the older couple who occupied a love-seat.

“Can we know each other first?” Ester asked, opening the conversation.

“Honey, he is Trevor Tommy, the son of a business tycoon in the US. The other one is Ingrid, she is Trevor’s friend and I taught her too. Amh…” Mr. Dickson introduced and paused, glancing at Natalie.

“Natalie. Natalie Bradley. I’m their friend.” Natalie helped.

“She is also the current President of Hamerton, sir.” Trevor added proudly.

Natalie blushed.

“Oh nice.” Ester said and rose. “What drinks would you like?”

“A glass of water will do, please. Thank you.” Trevor said first.

“I’m okay.” Ingrid excused herself.

“Maybe water.” Natalie said.

Ester smiled at Ingrid and said to the rest. “Okay.”

She left and Ingrid noticed Mr. Dickson watching her go as if, he was uncomfortable without his wife. A very unique discomfort. 

“Mr. Dickson?” Ingrid called.

He turned to her. “Yes Ingrid? Which grade are you now?”

“I am a senior student.” She replied generally.

“That’s nice, nice. And you Trevor? I suppose that you have already joined university.”

Natalie turned to Trevor at this, awaiting his reply. It occurred to her that, ever since he returned, Trevor did not inform Natalie of his academic progress.

Trevor was not ready to answer the question yet, especially when Natalie was focusing on him. Luckily, Ester returned with two glasses of water and offered it to him and Natalie.

Trevor cleared his throat after Ester sat. “Mr. Dickson, so, what happened to Caitlin?”

Mr. Dickson took a few seconds to reply then revealed. “Caitlin is alive.”

Natalie gasped. “What?”

Mr. Dickson glanced at her and nodded. “Yes.”

“How?” Trevor asked.

“Where is she?” Ingrid added.

Mr. Dickson looked at them in turns then answered. “When the school was blown up, Caitlin didn't die. She was barely injured, only in shock. Erin saved her life because Caitlin was a target of some bad people in the school. I took both her and her brother in and left far away with them. We spent a whole year there and when things cooled down, I returned Ralph to study here under my care.”

They were all silent for a while, digesting the revelation.

“What about their father? Does he know what happened to Caitlin and that you accommodate his children for all that time?” Natalie asked letting out her doubts.

“There was no way to reach him.” Mr. Dickson said.

Ingrid frowned. “How come? Didn't you have any phone number? Or, tried Google searching him?”

“No.” he replied.

“Why?” Trevor asked.

“Because, as I told you, Caitlin was in shock. She barely remembered herself. But, now, she is with her father and he confidently entrusted me with his son.” Mr. Dickson explained.

Ingrid was silent.

“Can we contact her? Does she have a phone number or something?” Natalie asked.

“She does have an email.” Ester spoke for the first time since the conversation started and rose. “I’ll get it.”

Natalie turned to Trevor who sat next to her, grabbing his hand. “Trevor?” she whispered. “She is alive Trevor, I was right.”

Trevor who was not as shocked, pulled her closer and hugged her.

Mr. Dickson watched them then rose. “Please excuse me.” He said and disappeared into a corridor that led to a staircase to the upper rooms.

Natalie and Trevor parted. “I don’t know what I’ll do if I see Caitlin again. She was more than a friend. Like a sister. We grew so attached to each other.”

“I understand.” Trevor said.

Natalie snuggled on his chest again and cuddled his fingers as they patiently waited for the couple to return.

Ingrid leaned on the sofa’s arm and looked around the room. She thought as she did. “Where is Ralph?”

“Maybe in his room.” Trevor suggested.

Silence prevailed afterward as they all waited. About ten minutes later, footsteps sounded close to the room and Natalie parted with Trevor, readying herself to receive the incomer.

Ester entered with a piece of paper in her hand. She walked to Natalie and gave it to her. “Here is Caitlin’s new email.”

Natalie received it with a trembling hand. “Thank you.”

The lady offered a warm smile. “Sure. You are welcome.”

Trevor looked at the girls. “I think that, we are done here. Is that right?”

Ingrid nodded on behalf of Natalie.

He turned to Ester, rising. “Thanks again. Mrs. Dickson, right?”

“Yeah.” She said in a giggle.

“Can we say goodbye to Mr. Dickson?” Ingrid asked.

“Ooh… no. He has things to take care of. He is replacing a light bulb. In Ralph’s room.” She replied, pausing after each sentence.

Natalie nodded. “Please greet Ralph. Maybe we will see him again in school.”

“The badge!” Trevor snapped.

“Yes, the badge.” Natalie said, remembering what they were missing.

“Can Ralph bring it to us ma’am?” Ingrid asked.

Ester smiled. Surprisingly, she seemed very aware about the issue. “Oh, I saw Ralph with that badge this morning before he went to school and I asked him to return it to the owner.”

“You mean, me?” Natalie asked.

“I don’t think he knew that but, this afternoon, he told me that, he retrieved it to your principal’s office.” Ester said.

Natalie sighed.

Ingrid was silent.

Trevor took a moment and said. “Okay. Thank you Mrs. Dickson. We hope to see you again.”

Ester nodded. “You are very welcome in this house.”

They all thanked and she escorted them out.

Back in the car, Natalie took out the paper with Natalie’s email and stared gracefully at it. “I finally have this. I can’t believe it. Caitlin is alive. My Caitlin.”

Trevor smiled, seeing his girlfriend happy as he rolled out of the street. He glanced at the rear-view mirror and saw Ingrid having a serious look. It was like, Ingrid was not satisfied with their visit there.

She stared bluntly on the car floor, pulling her lips together in a frown.

“You know,” Trevor said loudly, catching Ingrid’s attention. “That face reminds me of someone.”

Ingrid checked him on the mirror. “Who?”

“Erin.” He replied.

Ingrid glanced away, remembering Erin then looked back at him, remaining silent.

“She was usually upset.” Trevor went on.

“I am just wondering how on earth we would recover the badge.” Ingrid explained herself.

“We will. One way or the other.” He said.

Ingrid smiled a little and frowned again. The badge was the least of her concern. 

What will follow next? Stay tuned to find.

©All rights reserved

kindly don't forget to drop your comments on the story Hamerton, wherever on the net with the hashtag #creativewritingHamerton . 

Ahsante, Thank you, Merci, Tack, Dank, Obrigado, Salamat, Spasibo, Grazie...

HAMERTON 2 CAITLIN IS ALIVE

HAMERTON 2

Thank you God for this opportunity.

Hamerton. A large school offering the finest Education to the students of the state and overseas. Natalie joins this school arriving from Brooklyn and she has grief over her lost friends who were murdered in Hamerton. She teams up with Ingrid and their fellow seniors against the House of Representatives to prevent a bomb blast that could cause a large massacre.

Previously on Hamerton. Natalie softens up with Ingrid and Ingrid shares with her a short history about Trevor. Ingrid wants to tell Natalie something but, Natalie wants them to focus on the missing badge. They are eventually led to believe that Randolph Michael, (Trevor's brother) took it from Natalie's office when he came to give Natalie Trevor's message. 
Mr. Tommy mentioned that Caitlin is alive.


Continue;

Chapter Two: Caitlin is alive

Mr. Brooks stood at the edge of a balcony of his bedroom looking down to his mansion’s front yard. Leaning on the balcony rail and holding a Clearly Canadian of Green Apple, he enjoyed the view of his house.

There was a fountain of a fish statue, surrounded by a small rose garden. A pavement way led from the main gate to the building portico, bordered by flower hedge of Ontario wildflowers.

He sipped from his drink again and checked his watch.

1:00pm

The clock read.

He gazed at the main entrance and saw the gate open. A dark saloon Mercedes drove in and the black gate closed behind it.

Mr. Brooks retired from the balcony and walked down the stairs of his extravagant mansion, to greet his guests.

He arrived the lobby which was huge with marble floor and a dorm shaped roof. A crystal chandelier hanged from the roof, giving the hall a wonderful spectacle.

The doors opened and Mr. Brooks’ daughter walked in, holding her brothers’ hand.

Caitlin was very much alive and healthy. She was averagely tall with her shoulder-length blond hair dangling over her back. She wore a light blue knee-length dress with shining embroidery on the chest. Her feet were clad in white stilettos matching with her cream colored shoulder bag.

Ralph himself wore a black shirt and black trousers. As his clothes were, so was his face for a long time; gloomy and sullen.

“Hello dad?” Caitlin greeted giving him an air kiss.

“Hallo dear.” Mr. Brooks replied and rubbed Ralph’s hair. “Son.”

“Hi dad.” Ralph replied taking his dad’s hand down.

“So, how was your trip?” Dad asked, looking at Caitlin.

“Fine.” Caitlin responded shortly.

“Did you get any inspiration?” dad asked.

“Yes.” Caitlin replied, walking into their sleekly furnished living room. “I would like to visit Africa another time. You should see their culture dad. They live very differently from us.”

“Oh, I have been there. That is why I also wanted you to go.” Dad said walking to a drink cabinet in the living room bar counter.

Caitlin sat on a sofa. “I made many friends. Ralph did so too.” She sighed with exhaustion. “We brought a lot of souvenirs. We’ll open our bags later.”

Ralph sat on an opposite seat and begun taking off his boots. “Dad. While we were at the camp site, we met Mr. Bradley. Isn't he Natalie’s dad?”

Dad came back with two juice glasses. “Yes son. He works for our company, Brooks Mining. He is the chief engineer of the project. Did he recognize you?”

“We hardly met.” Caitlin explained. “He only received us and later, another person escorted us to our stay.”

Dad sat opposite them. “Didn't you want to ask him about Natalie?” He asked his daughter.

“I didn't get the chance father. But, you know that, I can’t reach her until she is out of that place.”

“Of course.” Dad said in understanding.

Caitlin took a large puff from her drink and relinquished her glass on a silver coffee table in front of her. “Dad, I’m very tired. Can I go to rest?”

“Okay.” Mr. Brooks agreed and she rose, leaving the room.  

He turned to his son and watched him as Ralph took out a phone from his pocket and begun tapping it.

“Ralph?”

Ralph turned to him. “Yes father?”

“How’s your sister? Do you think that she is better now?”

Ralph glanced away in thought then back at his father. “I think so dad.”

Dad offered a short grin. There was still some longing in his heart to get their children back. He wanted to get them over the trauma of losing their mother and the distress that they both went through in Hamerton.

Ralph noticed that and said. “Don’t worry dad. She will be okay.”

Dad smiled, nodding as Ralph rose to leave as well.

He hoped that his son was right.

Meanwhile 3,451 mi away, Ingrid and Natalie stood in the playground of the primary section, waiting for Randolph Michael or the boy that they sent to look for him.

It was late around six pm, and the primary scholars filled their canteens and dining halls for supper before prep.

“I’m so anxious right now.” Natalie confessed to Ingrid, rubbing her palms together in the cold evening.

“For what?”

“Losing that badge. What if Randolph didn't take it?”

“I’m telling you. He did. He is the only one who went to your office and the only one who could have taken it.”

Natalie was silent.

“There, look.” Ingrid said, looking toward an approaching boy.

Natalie turned to the direction and waited until Randolph drew near.

“Hallow.” He greeted Natalie and turned to Ingrid. “Ingrid. You’re alive!”

Natalie glanced at Ingrid with a shocked expression on her face.

Ingrid scowled at him. “Yes. Though you and your mom wished that I wasn't.”

Ralph tried to look defensive. “I had nothing to do with anything that my mother did to you.” he narrowed his eyes, questioning her. “Wait… who is paying for your studies here?”

“It’s not your concern young man!” Ingrid rasped, grabbing Ralph’s hand.

Natalie intervened. “Okay okay. Guys. Please? I do not want to interfere with your family issues but, Ingrid? Can we get what we came here for?”

Ingrid sighed, still having his eye on Ralph.

Ralph jerked his hand free. “What do you need?”

“Her badge. Where is it?” Ingrid growled.

“Ingrid. Please?” Natalie asked. “He is a child.”

“I am not a child!” Ralph retorted.

Natalie turned to him and held his shoulders, crouching to reach his height. “Randolph. Did you take anything from my office while you came to give me Trevor’s message?”

Ralph was silent.

“Tell her Randolph. Don’t be so difficult right now.” Ingrid snapped.

“No!” he said angrily, looking at Ingrid.

Natalie turned to Ingrid. “Ingrid. Please?”

Ingrid shook her head and turned around, giving them her back.

Natalie sighed and faced Ralph again. “Please? Tell me if you took my badge from the drawer in the office. I will give you… candy!”

He shook his head. “I could have a container full of candy if I wanted to.”

Natalie grimaced. “What?”

He stared at her bluntly.

“Okay. How about… I am the school President. I can get your class teacher to give you a short holiday with your friends.” She said and added. “Without being suspended.”

He shook his head. “I have exams by the end of the week. I have to study.”

Natalie sighed. “Aah? What do you want then?”

Ralph twisted his head to face Ingrid who was already watching them. “I want her to say what she has to say.”

Ingrid frowned. “Never!”

Natalie stretched herself. “Ingrid. Please? We need that badge.”

Ingrid shook her head with disappointment and sighed.

“Say it.” Ralph urged her.

“There is nothing between me and Trevor.” She said quickly and paused when Natalie look amazed at her. “And...” she swallowed and added. “I don’t love him.”

Before Natalie had the chance to ask, Ralph said. “I took the badge.”

Natalie turned to him. “Where is it?”

“With my friend but, he is a day scholar.”

“Can we get it tomorrow when he comes to school?” Ingrid asked.

“I hope so.” He replied.

“What’s his name?” Natalie inquired.

“Ralph.”

“Is that a joke Randolph?” Ingrid asked, getting mad at him.

“No. His name is Ralph Brooks. He is a day scholar.”

 Natalie dropped her mouth in shock. “What did you say?” she asked.

Randolph turned to her. “Ralph Brooks. Okay. Good bye guys.” He said and started out, leaving.

“Let’s go. We’ll get the boy tomorrow. And about what I said to Ralph… it’s what I have been trying to tell you over a long time. I wanted to be honest with you Natalie but, you never gave me the chance.”

Natalie was still over the name that Randolph mentioned. Ralph Brooks. Caitlin Brooks’ brother. That meant a lot to Natalie. She took in a deep breath to swallow everything and faced Ingrid, staring silently at her.

“Natalie?” she called.

Natalie stretched her hands in the air and turned around, walking out on Ingrid. 

What will follow next? Stay tuned to find.

©All rights reserved

kindly don't forget to drop your comments on the story Hamerton, wherever on the net with the hashtag #creativewritingHamerton . 

Ahsante, Thank you, Merci, Tack, Dank, Obrigado, Salamat, Spasibo, Grazie...