The Day He Dreaded by Tracy P.

Midshipman Horatio Hornblower awoke and dressed for duty, knowing that there was now only two days before the day he dreaded. He hurried the captain’s cabin, trying to remember if he had made a mistake or something wrong. He knocked on the door, receiving the usual “Come.” from the captain. Horatio opened the door and was surprised to see Kennedy, Hether, and Cleveland there. 

Captain Sir Edward Pellew briefly looked up at him, “Mr. Hornblower, you’re finally here. Good. You gentlemen are being given a three day leave, starting today. You may leave as soon as you’re ready.” He finally looked up at them, “Enjoy you’re time ashore, gentlemen. It may be the last time you see England for several months. Dismissed.” 

They all offered a salute and “Yes, sir.” before leaving the cabin. 

Horatio began to pack, noticing how slowly Kennedy was now moving. “So what do you plan to do ashore, Archie?” 

“Go to the book store.” Kennedy returned to packing, “Perhaps, see a play if I have enough money.”

“I was planning to go there.” Horatio commented as he resumed his own packing, “We could go together.” 

Archie’s smile grew, “I would enjoy that, Horatio.” 

Once they were ashore, Kennedy led Horatio from the dock, “We should get a room first. There’s three other ships in dock,  we need to secure one before there are none left.” He flashed a grin at his friend, “Unless you think you can sleep in a tree?” 

Horatio frowned at his friend, shaking his head, “I’m not going to try.” 

“Ah!” Archie’s smile grew, “Here we are! The Black Swan. I’ve been staying here for years.” Kennedy opened the door and walked in. 

“Mr. Kennedy!” A tall, burly man dropped the papers from his hand, “Abigail, Mr. Kennedy’s ’ere!” He hurried to Kennedy and embraced him. Then stepped back to look him over, “Ye’ve grown a bit since ye were ‘ere last.” 

A heavy set woman rushed from a back room and threw her arms around Archie, “Oh, my lad! It’s so good t’ see ye ‘gain!” She too, looked him over, “Ye are growin’ int’ a right ‘andsome young man. We kept ye room fer ye. We ‘oped ye’d be among the sailors comin’ ashore.” 

Archie smiled, “I would like you to meet my good friend, Midshipman Horatio Hornblower.” He turned to him, “Horatio this is Samuel and Abigail Wilson. I’ve been coming to their inn for years.” 

“I’m glad t’ meet ye, sir.” Samuel said, “I’m so glad Mr. Kennedy ’as a friend now.” He looked at Archie, “Someone from yer new ship?" 

“Actually, we met before I was transferred.” Archie’s smile quickly faded and blinked, “How did you know I was transferred?” 

“I asked a midshipman from yer old ship if ye were comin’ ashore when it was ‘ere.” He said, “The man told me ye were transferred to Indefatigable. So when I ‘eard that ship was in the ‘arbor, I kept yer room fer ye.” 

“Thank you.” Archie smiled, “Mr. Hornblower needs a room as well.” 

“I’m sorry, lad.” Sam shook his head slowly, “We don’t ‘ave any more rooms. We turned away men who couldn’t find a room at any o ’ th’ other inns. Yer room is the only room left in Spit’ead.” 

Horatio was not sure what to do now; he had never anticipated this sort of problem.

“We can share the room, Horatio.” Archie suggested, “If you want to?” 

Horatio shrugged, “I have nowhere else to stay. And I don’t think I can sleep in a tree.”

Archie laughed, “I would love to see you try!” He turned back to Wilson, “We’ll be sharing the room, ma‘am.” 

“Very well.” Abigail took Archie’s face in her hands, “I’m so glad t’ see ye again. I’m gonna make all yer favorite meals while yer ‘ere!” She hurried back to the kitchen while her husband walked back to the counter. 

As Archie pulled his money out, Sam eyed Hornblower a moment, “How good a friend is he, Mr. Kennedy?” 

“The best, Mr. Wilson.” Archie smiled, and then turned serious, “The only one I have.” 

Sam glanced at Hornblower once more, and then smiled at Archie, “Th’ usual amount, Mr. Kennedy.” 

“Thank you, sir.” Archie smiled sincerely as he paid the man. 

Wilson handed him a key, “I’ll bring everythin’ ye need up t’ ye both.” 

“Thank you.” Archie led Horatio up the steps. 

Horatio noticed that the stairs went up, and then split; the stairs to the right led to only two doors, while the stairs to the left led to a hallway with several doors. 

Archie led him to the second door on the right, explaining as he unlocked the door, “They’ve given me this same room every time I come here. It’s next door to theirs.” He opened the door, “I met them when I was twelve, and they…” He put his bag down, and turned to Horatio, “They treated me as if I were their own son. They charge me less then they do other sailors. They give me the room next to theirs.” Then he added quickly, “In case I might need something.” 

“They love you.” Horatio stated. 

Archie nodded, “I think they felt sorry for me, being sent into the navy.” He glanced away, “They felt I didn’t belong in the service. That I was not cut out for it.” He suddenly brightened up, “So, shall we go down and have dinner, and then go to the book store?” 

“Yes, we shall.” Horatio smiled, then caught Archie’s arm before he walked out the door, “Thank you for allowing me to share your room, Archie.” 

Archie gave a slight smile, “You would have done the same for me, I’m sure.” 

The two midshipmen enjoyed their meal and their trip to the book store. Kennedy had kept Horatio’s thoughts from the coming day. After hours in browsing through the books, each found something they liked, made their purchase, and returned to their room.  

Archie dropped onto the bed, “Oh, Horatio!” He mumbled as he stretched out, “There’s nothing like a real bed!” 

Horatio smiled, “Not like the hammocks. Well, we have an hour or so before supper.” Horatio folded his hands, “What would you like to do?” 

Archie yawned, closed his eyes, and wrapped his arms around the pillow under his head, “I think I’d like to just enjoy this bed for now.” 

“Very well.” Horatio nodded, “I believe I will see if I can find Cleveland or Hether for a game of cards.” Archie mumbled something into the pillow that Horatio could not make out, but the later decided not to inquire as to what, and left his friend to his recent bliss. 

Horatio went downstairs, and then went to search the other taverns and inns and, eventually, found four midshipmen playing cards. He watched them play until they invited him to join them when one quit the game. The game went on until almost nine, and then the other men informed him that they needed to return to their ship, So Horatio returned to the Black Swan and saw Wilson sitting with his wife in the corner. He bowed his head to them, “I fear I lost track of time. Has Mr. Kennedy eaten?” 

“No.” Mrs. Wilson smiled as she stood, “I kept som’ food warm fer ‘im. I knew ‘e’d wan’ something’ t’ eat eventually. I kept som’ fer ye, as well.” 

“Thank you, ma’am.” Horatio said. 

Wilson pushed a chair out with his foot, “Sit down an’ tell me ‘bout yerself, sir. Are ye really a good friend to Mr. Kennedy?” 

Horatio sat down. “I try to be.” 

“When ‘e served on Justinian,” Wilson said, “there was a cruel man on that ship. Th’ day we met Mr. Kennedy, ‘e ran in ‘ere an’ hid ‘neath this table, where no one could see ‘im unless they bend down. When that man came in, Mr. Kennedy whispered, ‘don’t let ‘im get me.’. ‘e was just a wee lad, an’ so terrified. I asked that man what ‘e wan’ed and he asked if a lit’l midshipman ‘ad come in ‘ere. I tol’ th’ man t’ leave an’ ne’er to come back. ‘e was not welcome ‘ere. After ‘e left, I told Mr. Kennedy he could stay ‘ere and I wouldn‘t let that man come ‘ere. I ‘ad all my belongin’s an’ my wife’s moved into th’ room at th’ top o’ th’ stairs, an’ put ‘im in our room. That way, if that man came back, I’d ‘ear I’d ‘ear ‘im. It’s been Mr. Kennedy’s room since then. We love that lad…..as if ‘e were our very own. Do ye know ‘bout th’ fits?” 

“Yes.” Horatio nodded. 

“An’ yer still ‘is friend.” 

"Yes."  

Wilson smiled, “Ye are a good friend.”

Horatio returned to their room with two plates of food and put it on the table. 

Kennedy looked up from the book he had been reading when Horatio came in, “I was wondering what happened to you.” He put his book aside as he stood, and then walked over to the table, “I take it you found one of our shipmates?” 

“No.” Horatio sat down, turning his attention to the plate in front of him, “I did find a card game, however.” 

“I’m glad to hear it.” Archie sat down and smiled at the food, “Mrs. Wilson always makes my favorite meals when I’m here.” 

“They love you like a son, Archie.” Horatio said before he started eating. 

“They met me when I was very young.” Archie explained between bites, “A year later they told me that their son was killed in a navel battle at sea. He was their only child and they where sadden, not only because they lost their son, but that they would never have grandchildren. I believe they made me the grandson they wanted.” 

After they had finished eating, Horatio took the plate downstairs and thanked the Wilson’s for the meal, and then returned to the room. Archie had already turned down the bed, and was waiting for him, “Which side do you want, Horatio?” 

“It’s your room, Archie, therefore the choice is yours as well.” 

Archie shook his head, and climbed into bed on the right side.
 

Horatio walked around the bed, and followed suite. It was not until they put the lights out, that Horatio remembered the quickly approaching day. He had forgotten about it while with Kennedy and the other midshipmen. Horatio sighed heavily, wondering how he came to dislike this day so much. 

As he pondered it, he realized that it was not so much the day, as the memories the day brought. It had the memories of his mother and how much he missed her that had caused him to weep on that day, the first year he spent at school, which led to some older boys laughing at him. So from that day on, he did his best to pretend that this day was just another day. He tried not to think of it, and most especially, the memories that always accompany it.

Horatio had no idea he had fallen asleep until the morning light woke him. He sat up and noticed that Kennedy was gone. He quickly shaved and dressed, and then went down stairs to ask the inn keeper or his wife if the had seen Archie that morning. As he descended the stairs, he heard Archie’s unmistakable laugh. 

Horatio joined them for breakfast, and then he and Kennedy returned to the book store. It was during their bookstore browsing, that Horatio accidentally discovered how little money Archie had left. 

As they left the bookstore, Horatio asked his friend, “So, which play are we going to see tonight?” 

Archie made a face and shrugged, “We don’t have to see a play, Horatio.” He forced himself to be happier, “Perhaps, we could find someone to play cards.” 

“You don’t like to play whist.” Horatio pointed out.

Archie sighed, “I know. And I can’t play very well either.” He grinned as he turned to his friend, “So we shall find you a worthy opponent.” 

Horatio realized it was because of his friend’s lack of money. Thinking quickly, he looked down, cleared his throat, and spoke slowly, “Archie, I feel….indebted to you.”

“Indebted?” Archie laughed softly, “Horatio, you do not owe me a thing.” 

“You shared your room with…” 

Archie cut him before he could finish, “The bed was big enough for both of us.”  

“Well, since you paid for the room.” Horatio went on, casually, “And our meals, it is only fare that I pay for our entertainment. So you choose the play we are going to see tonight.” 

“You don’t have to pay my way.” Archie shook his head. 

“We are going to a play tonight.” Horatio insisted, “The only say you have in this is which one.” 

“Hora…” 

Hornblower quickly interrupted him, “I said it, and I mean it.” 

Archie snapped to attention and gave a proper salute, “Aye aye, Captain Hornblower.” 

Horatio could not help but laugh and, that evening, paid for him and Archie to see a play. 

The next morning, Horatio awoke to the smell of bacon cooking. It smelled so good; he forgot what day it was. He dressed, shaved, and hurried down stairs. As he expected; Kennedy was sitting with the Wilson’s laughing and talking. He looked up and smiled, “Good morning, Horatio! Come and join us.” 

Horatio obeyed and, shortly after he had sat down, Mrs. Wilson came out of the kitchen with a fest; Bacon, eggs, ham, scones, butter, and jam. “I hope ye boys are hungry.” She sat the food on the table and then dished it out on each plate. “Eat, lads. Ye’ll not get food this good until yer next leave.” 

“Thank you, Mrs. Wilson.” Archie smiled up at her.

“Aw.” She put her hand on his cheek, “Yer such a sweet lad!” 

Blushing with embarrassment, Archie grinned and diverted his gaze. 

After they had eaten, Archie kept Horatio distracted until they returned to the ship. 

That evening, Horatio slipped away from everyone to be alone. He had been sitting for almost a half hour when he heard footsteps approaching. 

“Horatio?” Archie peered through the dim light on the gun deck, “Are you here?” Raising the lantern, Archie walked over to where his friend was sitting next to one of the guns, “What is wrong, Horatio?” 

“I wanted to be alone, Archie.” Horatio shook his head and shrugged, “I was thinking of my…parents.” 

“Because, it’s your birthday?” Archie sat down, cross legged on the deck. 

“How did you know?” Horatio knew he did not tell Archie when had made such an effort to kept it a secret.

“That is not important.” Archie grinned, “What is important is that Horatio Hornblower turned eighteen years old today. And there is a gift for him.” 

“A gift?” Horatio was surprised. This was the last thing he was expecting. 

Archie pulled something wrapped in brown paper from behind his back, “Happy birthday, Horatio.” He handed it to his friend. 

“Archie, I…” 

“Open it.” Archie insisted with a smile.

Horatio tore the paper and pulled it away to reveal a pistol. The craftsmanship on the weapon was exquisite. Horatio’s mouth slowly fell open. He raised questioning eyes to his friend, “Archie, this must have cost…”

“It’s a gift, Horatio.” Archie shook his head slightly, “You are not supposed to question how much it cost.” 

“I’ve never received such a gift.” Horatio looked at the pistol again. His initials had been etched into the handle, “I don’t know how to thank you.” 

“Your friendship is all ask, Horatio.” Archie said sincerely. 

Horatio assured him, “You will always have it.” 

The End

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