Remembered

[Apollo]

Remember, remember the fifth of November. That was what was written on my piece of paper, the one that found its way into my mail. On it as well, was a destination in St. Austell, You’re Invited in big letters, and a time to be there(Which was in a half an hour). I wondered to myself what this was about, but at the moment I was more excited that I was invited somewhere. Here in England on my program for college, I hadn’t made real friends. I had left everything behind in the U.S.
I got out of my chair, at the table in the corner of my studio apartment, since that was all I could afford anyways. Big Ben, clanging in the distance, announcing three o’clock. I walked to the other side of the room for clothes.
I looked inside my short dresser for something nice and found nothing that had no wrinkles (and I couldn’t iron very well). I grumbled my way into the laundry room and squeezed in, to scrounge around. I found some old work clothes from my job back in Maine, a pair of tan cargo pants. “That’ll work,” I told myself with a nod of agreement. Inside my dresser again I dug through the heaps of wrinkled-unwanted-pieces and found something at least close to presentable; a white polo with graphic designs. I walked into my bathroom and looked in the mirror. My black hair was messy and short but I could nothing with it anyways. My clothes were loose and showed a slight, 18 year old figure with a little muscle and my eyes were distant and tired. With another sigh I was out of my house and on my way.

[Apollo]

On the way I wondered who would be there. Was it an invite from people in some of my classes? I hadn’t made friends really. I knew it wasn’t anyone from home, no one could have really been able to pay for the trip; plus they could have just shown up at my place. What troubled me more was the date. Fifth of November rang a bell somewhere in my head. Haven’t I heard that before? But where? What did it have to do with the invitation? I kept thinking I had heard it before.
But none of it mattered, I’d made it there.

[Apollo]

I peeked in through the window of the door I was supposed to go through. All my friends and family it seemed was there, and even some I wouldn’t consider friends, were there at this gathering. I was happy to see them, but how it was paid for was what kept bothering me. I watched them all mill about the room like chickens in a pen. I took a breath and stepped into the room; with its blank walls, only people inside as decoration.
Walking in, everyone turned, their smiling faces all saying hello or some form of greeting, welcoming me there. I smiled in return, waving at people who I knew, hugging those who were family and close friends. I started to feel like a bee-keeper with no suit and covered in honey. “Hey how are you?”
“What have you been up to?”
“How is. . .”

[Apollo]

Questions upon questions, making me uncomfortable. . Why would they be asking me how my mother was taking the news. News of what? I tried to walk to a corner for some alone time, but Scotty, my cousin, flanked me, pushing over to our grandmother. I stepped back and Jess, a friend from high school, surrounded me with my friends from Orland. It was like they were frozen and me coming close made them start to smile and talk .I couldn’t take it, I needed to find time by myself, but people kept coming up, finding me and smiling. I liked seeing them but this was to much. It was making me feel sick looking at all these smiling faces.
Finally I ran out of the room and out into the hall, telling them I needed to find the bathroom. Looking across the hall I found it, but I turned to the right and kept walking. I needed to clear my head of all this craziness.

[Apollo]

Everyone was acting so weird, smiling as if they were having fun doing nothing, or. . .
Waiting for something. . .
I came to a door by the end of the hall so I decided to go in and have a look around. I had never been in this building, or even this part of England really. This door had a window too, inside was my mother, and she was crying, not happy like everyone else. I wanted to go help her but someone was there with her who seemed to be trying to comfort her. A black suit with a thin black tie and white button up shirt. His black hair was cropped short on his head and he was doing a horrible job of helping my mom. She wasn’t really getting any better. I ducked down so I wasn’t seen. The last thing I wanted was more smiling and questions.
With my ear up to the door I listened to what I could hear.
“. . . For the best. . .” The man said.
“Did he. . .”
“We know it was him.”
“How could he?” My mother wailed on. Do what? I thought to myself.

[Apollo]

I walked back and found another door with my sister and her boyfriend together with another man in the same kind of suit and tie. She was crying as well, seeming to ask the same questions. How could he? Are you sure?
“What the hell is going on? What is wrong with everyone?” I muttered to myself. Across the hall from that were two men in a kitchen, the appliances new and unused. I ducked low again and listened in once more.
“Everything ready?” The first asked.
“Almost, the boy left for some reason but we have people looking for him.” The second informed him.
“He needs to be found. A man that dangerous cannot be running around England.”
“Me? Dangerous?” I whispered, but I kept quiet.
“How can he live with. . .” I leaned a little closer to the door to hear what he was saying. I placed my hand on the handle for support but the latch came out and clicked.
“Something wrong?”
“I heard a noise at the door.” He stated as his eyes wandered towards the window. I heard footsteps as they came closer. I backed up slowly until I found the wall’s corner and went around just as the door burst open; the two men looked around, trying to find out the source of the sound frantically.
“Way to close.” I whispered to myself.

[Apollo]

“What was?” I jumped as Scotty said that from behind me.
“I uh. . .”
“Were you playing hide-and-seek with Jamie again?” He asked, smiling once more. My eyes wide at how easy it would be to say yes. But I had questions that needed answering.
“I was going for a walk.” I answered. I couldn’t tell him what I found, I had a feeling that the back rooms were something no one was supposed to see. “Hey Scotty, how did you guys afford all this?” His smile went from ear-to-ear, to polite-and-confused.

[Apollo]

“What do you mean? You and the college arranged this.” He said. My heart skipped a beat. I have done no such arrangement. “They called us saying you weren’t happy and how you were homesick. So instead of just arranging a visit for you they brought all your friends here. You made up the list and they selected today because you weren’t coming back home because of the job you accepted.
“Oh yeah.” I said. I turned my back to him and my jaw dropped, my heart started racing. None of what had just been said was true. I was going no where. My history program with the school couldn’t afford that for some random student.
I went to talk to him again but he was gone and there stood a Suit. One of the men with short black hair and the thin black ties. “ ‘Ello son. Havin’ a good time?” An English accent came out of his mouth, heavy and deep.
I jumped a bit but stayed still. “Why the hell does my cousin think the school sent my friends and family over here?”
“Because they’re gonna say g’bye to you son. You’ve got a long journey ahead.” He began to chuckle. His lip curled back showing yellow crooked teeth.

[Apollo]

Remember, remember the fifth of Novemeber,
The gunpowder, treason and plot,
I see no reason the gunpowder treason
Should ever be forgot.
It flooded back to me. The fifth of November? It was a day to celebrate the stop of Guy Fawkes, a man who tried to kill the king and Parliament.
"Come on now." Said the Suit. He took my shoulder and started to get me walking.
I need to escape. . .

[Apollo]

"Sorry, hold on think my shoelace is l. . ." I tripped over my feet and landed on the floor.
"Oiy!" He sighed. He went to pick me up and I took my chance and elbowed him where no man should be hit.
"sorry about that!" I said as I got up. I was breathing heavily thinking about this but I needed to make sure he didn't follow me. So I took my knee to his nose. "And that." I said, finally relaxing a bit. I hurried on my way.
They're framing me for an attack on the king and Parlament. . . They must have planned it for today. I'm gonna need help. . .