Chapter 1
Spain was politically unstable. In 1868, Queen Isabel II. had deposed; the question of her succession was contested and provided the excuse for the Franco-German War of 1870-1871. General Prim, the dominant figure in the Provisional Government, was assassinated in 1870. While Madrid went through a turbulent time; in the north, the Carlists rose again. Pablo Sanchez's Great Grandfather, Julio wanted to get out of Spain with all the political unrest and the possibility of being drafted was high. He was a young man at the time and had known Yago, which was one Spanish version for James, through his father's travels.
So when James Barrow was accused of privateering and gun running after the war, they met privately at an inn where they used to hang out together when he made port in his town. Julio had been training secretly as a helmsman, and was hired by Barrow on the spot. Several families went with them and others stowed away jsut to escape from all different countries. The Silver Bird set off that very night and we all know what happened next. Unfortunately Julio blamed himself for the shipwreck being the helmsman and became obsessed in educating each generation into helping others in any way they could.
That was over 100 years ago but since then, the generations of Sanchez's have all followed Julio's footsteps and all become some form of ship's crew, which wasn't hard living on an island. They became helmsmen, cabin boys, or navigators. Pablo was no exception, except that he was able to retire early because there were few with his expertise, that could teach others these skills as well as he could, so he was able to negotiate his own package for retirement, leaving him comfortably wealthy. Sanchez went ahead and studied, earning a degree in psychology and opening up his own community living townhouse. He'd volunteered with youths for several years in community centres and it was in one of these centre's that he met The Tully Twins. It was then that he decided to continue his grandparent's legacy.
The Tully Twins were abandoned at an early age by their parents who were running from the law all their life. They became wards of the State and spent a lot of their time in orphanages. Hans Tully, their great great grandfather, was born unwanted and unexpected and his parents also abandoned him on the dockside where they did most of their 'business'. He became an elective mute and didn't speak to anyone, except when asking or begging for food and drink in the streets. He lived for almost two years scrounging anything he could find. He had bright red hair and cheeky blue eyes and when a crew member of the Silver Bird found him, they took him under their wing and trained him as a cabin boy. The crew nicknamed him 'Tulip' because of the colour of his hair and even after he was educated and taught how to read and write, when he could tell them his name was Hans, the name Tulip stuck.
When Sanchez first met the Tully teenagers they were defensive, on guard all the time, quite distant and suspicious. They had puked on the way from the community centre to Pablo's home in the car, from too much drink. Their appearance with their punk, purple hair showed their feelings about society and the world. With his psych degree and experience, he knew how to deal with these rebellious twins. He was friendly and accepting, giving them the time and space they needed to feel comfortable without making them feel inferior or ashamed in any way. He thought to himself... I'll make them a nice solid meal get them involved in video games. He figured that would help them settle in.
The Tully Twins were abandoned at an early age by their parents who were running from the law all their life. They became wards of the State and spent a lot of their time in orphanages. Hans Tully, their great great grandfather, was born unwanted and unexpected and his parents also abandoned him on the dockside where they did most of their 'business'. He became an elective mute and didn't speak to anyone, except when asking or begging for food and drink in the streets. He lived for almost two years scrounging anything he could find. He had bright red hair and cheeky blue eyes and when a crew member of the Silver Bird found him, they took him under their wing and trained him as a cabin boy. The crew nicknamed him 'Tulip' because of the colour of his hair and even after he was educated and taught how to read and write, when he could tell them his name was Hans, the name Tulip stuck.
When Sanchez first met the Tully teenagers they were defensive, on guard all the time, quite distant and suspicious. They had puked on the way from the community centre to Pablo's home in the car, from too much drink. Their appearance with their punk, purple hair showed their feelings about society and the world. With his psych degree and experience, he knew how to deal with these rebellious twins. He was friendly and accepting, giving them the time and space they needed to feel comfortable without making them feel inferior or ashamed in any way. He thought to himself... I'll make them a nice solid meal get them involved in video games. He figured that would help them settle in.
Eventually Pablo, with a lot of patience and perseverance, enduring several exploits by the twins, gained their trust. He was keen to assist them to skill up in certain areas. Flash Tully seemed to excel in mathematical concepts and showed leadership, so Pablo decided to send him to university and undertake a business management degree. Flash was now holding a higher position as a Department Head of a large enterprise. The downside of this was he was expected to look the part as well. The punk hairdo had to go, so the next best style to his liking was still a little unusual, but he was still able to exert his personal identity and it suited him. Pablo hoped that one day he would be able to pass his legacy down to Flash if he didn't end up having any of his own children.
Meg, however did not have those same traits. In fact she was a bit of an airhead, but she excelled in any sport or athletic endeavours. When she was old enough Sanchez decided to encourage her in athletics and sports, so sent her to the stadium to train in professional sports. She was solid girl and he feared she could have a tendency to become overweight, which would only add to her lack of self-esteem and do nothing for her confidence when dealing with other people. It was fortunate indeed that she showed interest in sports and physical activities. However the punk hairdo would have to go also as it was getting in the way constantly, so she changed her appearance as well. She was able to keep her funky purple colour, therefore asserting her independence and identity.
Pablo learnt in a very short time of their peculiar idiosyncrancies. Flash had an obsession of cleaning his teeth at the kitchen sink. Perhaps because he had no real bathroom to himself or privacy at the places he stayed, so made do with whatever he could. Even though he had his own bathroom and toilet at the Sanchez household he still used the kitchen sink for cleaning his teeth.
Meg on the other hand was preoccupied with fixing things, anything and everything, sometimes even when they didn't need fixing. She became quite a handy person but she risked life and limb every time when she tinkered with electrical appliances, often while they were still plugged in! Pablo wondered if she had a death wish after everything that had happened to her in the past, but he kept a close eye on her, particularly during her teen years when her hormones were all over the place.
However, there were skills that they both still needed to practise. Meg's cooking left little to be desired, but the twins didn't seem to mind a bit. Burnt offerings were often more than they used to get and they didn't waste a thing. This habit didn't die quickly, in fact there were often burnt left overs that cluttered up the space in the refridgerator and Pablo would throw them out when Meg wasn't there so as not to hurt her feelings. He would say he got hungry and ate them.
Meg, however did not have those same traits. In fact she was a bit of an airhead, but she excelled in any sport or athletic endeavours. When she was old enough Sanchez decided to encourage her in athletics and sports, so sent her to the stadium to train in professional sports. She was solid girl and he feared she could have a tendency to become overweight, which would only add to her lack of self-esteem and do nothing for her confidence when dealing with other people. It was fortunate indeed that she showed interest in sports and physical activities. However the punk hairdo would have to go also as it was getting in the way constantly, so she changed her appearance as well. She was able to keep her funky purple colour, therefore asserting her independence and identity.
Pablo learnt in a very short time of their peculiar idiosyncrancies. Flash had an obsession of cleaning his teeth at the kitchen sink. Perhaps because he had no real bathroom to himself or privacy at the places he stayed, so made do with whatever he could. Even though he had his own bathroom and toilet at the Sanchez household he still used the kitchen sink for cleaning his teeth.
Meg on the other hand was preoccupied with fixing things, anything and everything, sometimes even when they didn't need fixing. She became quite a handy person but she risked life and limb every time when she tinkered with electrical appliances, often while they were still plugged in! Pablo wondered if she had a death wish after everything that had happened to her in the past, but he kept a close eye on her, particularly during her teen years when her hormones were all over the place.
However, there were skills that they both still needed to practise. Meg's cooking left little to be desired, but the twins didn't seem to mind a bit. Burnt offerings were often more than they used to get and they didn't waste a thing. This habit didn't die quickly, in fact there were often burnt left overs that cluttered up the space in the refridgerator and Pablo would throw them out when Meg wasn't there so as not to hurt her feelings. He would say he got hungry and ate them.
Flash was keen to learn to fix things also and very competitive. This is why he got to where he is in the business career. He didn't take too kindly to the fact that his sister was a better handy person than he was. What he didn't realise, was that he was so much better with figures than she and he had to learn the hard way. When he tinkered it often resulted in disaster; like the time when he tried to tighten the thread on a tap, which was loose and instead loosened it further and water spurted out everywhere. He didn't think that he may have to turn the water off first.
Eventually he secured the tap turning it the correct way but it left a large pool of water all over the kitchen floor, which luckily didn't flow on to the carpet in the dining/living area.
He cleaned up his mess and mopped the floor, however, and instead went and worked out what needed to be purchased to fix the tap properly, securing several quotes on plumbers to see which price was more viable, which he did without a hitch. This was his forte after all.
Other times they would pursue their leisure times which included playing console games with Pablo. His competitive spirit was fed in the pursuit of more technological challenges and more often than not, he would best Pablo and surpass him by many levels.
Meg had several other areas she enjoyed including visiting as many art galleries as possible. She didn't know why she was so attracted to art galleries and she would often attend every art exhibition she could find by looking in newspapers, listening to the event calendar on TV, reading the local fliers and searching out posters that were put up around Castaway Cove's town centre so she didn't miss any.
Eventually he secured the tap turning it the correct way but it left a large pool of water all over the kitchen floor, which luckily didn't flow on to the carpet in the dining/living area.
He cleaned up his mess and mopped the floor, however, and instead went and worked out what needed to be purchased to fix the tap properly, securing several quotes on plumbers to see which price was more viable, which he did without a hitch. This was his forte after all.
Other times they would pursue their leisure times which included playing console games with Pablo. His competitive spirit was fed in the pursuit of more technological challenges and more often than not, he would best Pablo and surpass him by many levels.
Meg had several other areas she enjoyed including visiting as many art galleries as possible. She didn't know why she was so attracted to art galleries and she would often attend every art exhibition she could find by looking in newspapers, listening to the event calendar on TV, reading the local fliers and searching out posters that were put up around Castaway Cove's town centre so she didn't miss any.
Meg also enjoyed experimenting on her guitar that Pablo had bought her for one of her Christmas or Birthdays. She could often be found outside late at night, strumming away and trying new chords. If she showed a consistent interest, Pablo had told her that she could have lessons, but she had never taken him up on the idea. She was very self-conscious and rarely let anyone hear her play, not even Flash. Often either Flash or Pablo would sit upstairs listening to her outside their windows.
"She sounds good, yes?" Pablo would whisper to Flash.
"I think she is very good, she really should go and have lessons. Make her go, el Padre." The twins would call him el Padre meaning 'Father or Father Figure.' They had done so for quite awhile now.
"I cannot, she will only when she feels ready. No one can make her. She does not let anyone hear her, much less go to have lessons. Maybe one day when she is ready."
The twins loved to dance, they still went to clubs on occasions usually with each other, other times they would dance at home and Pablo would join in. He was fit and although he was losing his hair was not that much older than the twins. Old enough to be their uncle and perhaps their father at times but he kept his body in top condition.
He would often go jogging with Meg but rarely kept up with her. She always steaked ahead of him but enjoyed his company once he caught up with her.
"She sounds good, yes?" Pablo would whisper to Flash.
"I think she is very good, she really should go and have lessons. Make her go, el Padre." The twins would call him el Padre meaning 'Father or Father Figure.' They had done so for quite awhile now.
"I cannot, she will only when she feels ready. No one can make her. She does not let anyone hear her, much less go to have lessons. Maybe one day when she is ready."
The twins loved to dance, they still went to clubs on occasions usually with each other, other times they would dance at home and Pablo would join in. He was fit and although he was losing his hair was not that much older than the twins. Old enough to be their uncle and perhaps their father at times but he kept his body in top condition.
He would often go jogging with Meg but rarely kept up with her. She always steaked ahead of him but enjoyed his company once he caught up with her.
One afternoon, Flash came home from an outing with his friends and heard muttering and movement in the next room. He stopped and listened then peeked around the corner.
He saw Meg standing there in her nightie at 3.00pm in the afternoon, which struck him as a little strange to begin with. They were talking quietly so he couldn't hear what was being said. When Flash came around the corner, Meg looked a little sheepish.
"Hi Sis, el Padre, what's up?" Flash raised one eyebrow.
"Flash, hi, I...er just woke up from an afternoon nap. I don't know what possessed me to stay up so late last night but I needed to catch up." Meg turned around and headed up to her room to change.
"We were just discussing going out to eat. It's my treat, what do you say?" Pablo patted his pocket where he kept his wallet.
"Sure, why not, I'll just go freshen up." Flash headed up the stairs and looked back at Pablo expecting an expression, glance or a gesture but got nothing.
The next morning Meg looked around the room for Pablo but couldn't find him anywhere. She headed into the kitchen to make breakfast and sat down to eat. Pablo was still nowhere to be seen and for some reason she didn't ask Flash. In fact they said very little to each other throughout breakfast.
Meg made breakfast and Flash cleared away the dishes from the night before, but still they didn't say very much to eachother. They hardly even looked at eachother, which was most unusual.
to be continued...
He saw Meg standing there in her nightie at 3.00pm in the afternoon, which struck him as a little strange to begin with. They were talking quietly so he couldn't hear what was being said. When Flash came around the corner, Meg looked a little sheepish.
"Hi Sis, el Padre, what's up?" Flash raised one eyebrow.
"Flash, hi, I...er just woke up from an afternoon nap. I don't know what possessed me to stay up so late last night but I needed to catch up." Meg turned around and headed up to her room to change.
"We were just discussing going out to eat. It's my treat, what do you say?" Pablo patted his pocket where he kept his wallet.
"Sure, why not, I'll just go freshen up." Flash headed up the stairs and looked back at Pablo expecting an expression, glance or a gesture but got nothing.
The next morning Meg looked around the room for Pablo but couldn't find him anywhere. She headed into the kitchen to make breakfast and sat down to eat. Pablo was still nowhere to be seen and for some reason she didn't ask Flash. In fact they said very little to each other throughout breakfast.
Meg made breakfast and Flash cleared away the dishes from the night before, but still they didn't say very much to eachother. They hardly even looked at eachother, which was most unusual.
to be continued...
This is one of the stories I'm dying to see continued! More please!
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