Fire! by Mary Beke
In April of 1775 a boy heard news that the American colonists were revolting against the powerful British Empire because of heavy taxes. That boy was Jackson Clark. He was a French- Canadian who lived in beautiful Quebec City. He was the kind of boy who preferred to sleep on the floor than to sleep on a bed. He felt proud of himself when he got dirt in his hair and mud between his toes. His siblings did not like these disgusting practices. His papa worked at the bank and his mama stayed home with the small ones. They all lived happily in Quebec City along with their loving grandparents. Some seven months after the news of the Americans revolting, Jackson s family decided that to stay under British rule was worth the taxes. On November 19th, Jackson heard from his papa that Guy Carleton, the strong governor of Quebec, had arrived at the port bringing news of a terrifying American invasion of Quebec. Jackson was quietly eavesdropping on his papa s conversation with his grandpa. Papa ranted while his grandpa spoke in hushed tones. I m in utter shock! exclaimed Papa, Two forces think of that! One force waiting outside our city walls led by Benedict Arnold, a Connecticut smuggler, coming up through the uninhabited wilds of Maine. And another will be here soon, led by Richard Montgomery, coming from the recently captured Montreal! Papa wrung his hands in disbelief. Yes, Grandpa mumbled, Benedict Arnold has been everything. A pharmacist, bookseller, horse trader, smuggler and now he will try his hand at the art of war. And Richard Montgomery, a brigadier general in the rebel army, the one coming from Montreal. That is why Guy Carleton has arrived; he had fled from Montreal. Aye Papa sighed. As the conversation went on, Jackson began to worry. Would his home be captured? In early December, Montgomery s forces arrived to join Arnold s. It was rather intimidating with the multitudes out there waiting to attack them. Guy Carleton ordered that if any ablebodied men of the city did not volunteer to help the cause, they would have to leave in only four days, or be treated to a horrific traitor s death. And of course, Jackson, who was almost fourteen, had to enlist. On the evening of December twenty-seventh a deserter from the rebel forces came to inform the British leaders that the rebels would attack Quebec City on the next cold stormy night. For about three days the sky was clear, but on the fourth night the clear sky was overcome by heavy storm clouds. Papa was told by the second-in-command that he would be assigned to a group of about thirty militia, and under the cover of blizzard, defend a barricade that Carleton had ordered to be made a week before. The men hoped the snow would hide their figures from Montgomery, It was about three p.m. when Jackson got the news. Lad, I have been told you have to come. but you will have to clean up my spare gun, because I have not used it since I was hunting moose last winter, Papa instructed. Jackson, who had wanted to fight since he was eight, dutifully cleaned Papa s old spare gun, ( Papa said he did a
terrible job so he did it again - properly). It was four p.m. and they had to leave before the sun would set. Jackson put on his thick leather breeches and his warm, wool-lined mittens, as did Papa. They quickly grabbed the guns, lit their lanterns and raced out the door into the falling snow. Jackson and his Papa met the other men of the militia. And then they waited. To Jackson it felt like an eternity, Then, SNAP. The startling noise came from straight ahead of them. What was that?! whispered Jackson but not as quietly as he should have. Shhhhhh! came several angry voices. What was it? Jackson whispered, this time very quietly. It has to be Montgomery. I expected him to arrive before. Get ready. whispered Papa. By this time Jackson s hands were shaking with cold. He fumbled through his pockets, found the bag of shot and powder and hastily prepared his musket.
Put out your lantern! Papa exclaimed with the angriest whisper he could muster. Jackson quickly threw wet snow over the flame. After all was dark Jackson began to see shadowy figures moving in the distance. Now or never. Jackson whispered to himself. Fire! cried Papa. BANG! BANG! Jackson and Papa s shots rang out, quickly followed by the others. As soon as Jackson fired, he quickly reloaded. He fired once more; this time not as quickly followed by the others. Jackson had no idea if his two shots had hit their target but after he fired his second, he decided that it had been his last shot. After ten minutes all the noise ceased. When some of the rebels decided to see what happened, they saw that some were dead, including Montgomery. Others were wounded and then captured, and some ran away.
After seeing the carnage from far away, Jackson looked into his papa s eyes and Said to him in hardly a whisper, I always wanted to fight when I was little. Now, I never want to fight again. They returned home. Jackson quickly jumped into his bed and fell asleep while Papa, who had received no more orders, kept watch for Arnold s force. In the morning, one of Papa s friends brought news of what happened the night before. Apparently, Arnold, not knowing that Montgomery was dead kept marching on to Quebec City. His ankle was shot before they got to the first barricade, so a new leader was installed. They overcame the first barricade and kept marching, assuming that Montgomery would be helping them. As soon as they reached inside the city wall they were fired upon by British redcoats and militia and were quickly defeated. Jackson was greatly relieved. The home that he loved so much was safe; but at a cost. A few British were killed and even more wounded. The rebel casualties were over ten times as great as theirs. Surely no war is worth the life of one person. Jackson mumbled to his mother one day. I personally believe that certain causes are worth it. Mother said. Things like defending your country from slave traders. Jackson agreed. Soon Jackson s family began to enjoy a few years of peace. They heard of grand dances and balls happening at the governor s house, and even got a letter from the Governor, thanking them. And after that, Jackson had the best fourteenth birthday ever. The End