Post by the Netherlands on Aug 19, 2012 15:07:21 GMT -5
He was not cut out to do this. He had never been that much of a family man and preferred a gigantic business conflict over a minor family drama any time. He knew how to handle business conflicts, but being close with people? Now, that was something entirely different. With the boy it didn't feel any different. He was without any judgement, or pre knowledge, but that didn't help a lot. It only made it harder. He also wondered what he was going to do with him. Although didn't know anything about the child, it was obvious he didn't have any parents. Not near, anyway. Maybe he was abandoned. Maybe the natives thought of them as hostile and they got attacked. The Dutchman however couldn't look into the past.
If he could, this would've been a lot easier.
He didn't necessarily mind the company - it was preferred to his men's half drunk shouting, poking in the fire and getting excited as flames flew up high (what were they, kids?) - but it was tiring and annoying to constantly guess what the child was thinking, or doing, or trying to say. He wasn't good at this stuff! He considered himself doing well so far considering the situation, but he had no idea what to do with him. Just leaving it would be cruel, especially because he got the sensation that this child might be more than just a blonde boy with light, bright eyes, being unable to speak, read or write, without any family or acquaintances, while his clothes are new and clean. There was something odd about it and even the most dense person would notice that.
He couldn't take it with him, either. What would his men say? He had said they couldn't bring their wives and children along to the two year long trip. Although he didn't have a family of himself, he could imagine how big of an offer they brought to make this exchange with the natives of America a success and even if he could explain it, they wouldn't be happy with him bringing a boy. For one, he would be horribly in the way, second, they had one extra mouth to feed and third.. he feared it would make his men long to their families, wanting to go back home. They seemed strong and inflexible, but he knew a few of them were quite unstable and had already trouble dealing with their two-year-long departure.
This was quite a difficult matter he had to decide on.
The child caught his attention, after being silent for a few minutes. He'd noticed the boy was eager to learn, although he wouldn't be the fastest, by far. Willem caught his frown and saw the expression of defeat on his face. "Come on. It's not that hard." Maybe he should've started with another word. Like, sky. Or fire.
The child directly looked at him; he interpreted it as a sign that he wasn't going to give up yet. That was a good thing. "Tree," he said once again, very slowly. It was kind of weird, talking like that. And really, he wasn't a good teacher at all.
If he could, this would've been a lot easier.
He didn't necessarily mind the company - it was preferred to his men's half drunk shouting, poking in the fire and getting excited as flames flew up high (what were they, kids?) - but it was tiring and annoying to constantly guess what the child was thinking, or doing, or trying to say. He wasn't good at this stuff! He considered himself doing well so far considering the situation, but he had no idea what to do with him. Just leaving it would be cruel, especially because he got the sensation that this child might be more than just a blonde boy with light, bright eyes, being unable to speak, read or write, without any family or acquaintances, while his clothes are new and clean. There was something odd about it and even the most dense person would notice that.
He couldn't take it with him, either. What would his men say? He had said they couldn't bring their wives and children along to the two year long trip. Although he didn't have a family of himself, he could imagine how big of an offer they brought to make this exchange with the natives of America a success and even if he could explain it, they wouldn't be happy with him bringing a boy. For one, he would be horribly in the way, second, they had one extra mouth to feed and third.. he feared it would make his men long to their families, wanting to go back home. They seemed strong and inflexible, but he knew a few of them were quite unstable and had already trouble dealing with their two-year-long departure.
This was quite a difficult matter he had to decide on.
The child caught his attention, after being silent for a few minutes. He'd noticed the boy was eager to learn, although he wouldn't be the fastest, by far. Willem caught his frown and saw the expression of defeat on his face. "Come on. It's not that hard." Maybe he should've started with another word. Like, sky. Or fire.
The child directly looked at him; he interpreted it as a sign that he wasn't going to give up yet. That was a good thing. "Tree," he said once again, very slowly. It was kind of weird, talking like that. And really, he wasn't a good teacher at all.