The Awakening

PART ONE

The Beginning of The Legend

Backward Jack

Mary Madison was a tired woman. It was August of 1686 and she had just arrived in the new world with her son Jack. Her husband Abraham, unfortunately, died on the journey across the vast ocean from England. He was sixty-one and already in bad health when they set out on the voyage. The perilous transatlantic crossing usually took at least six weeks but this trip lasted well over two months.

Just two weeks into the voyage he started to get sick and run a fever.

Then just nine days later Abraham fell asleep and never woke back up.

There was no way to keep the body on the ship for the remainder of the crossing so they held a somber service and dropped his body overboard.

Abraham was not the only passenger to pass away during the voyage. In total seven men and three women died during the journey.

She did not know what the future held for her and her son, but he knew one thing, it was going to be a journey well worth taking.

Many of the people in those days left England for the new world to start fresh and build a new life for them.

However, that was not the case for the Madison family.

At the time of their journey, Jack was just seventeen years old. However, he had the mentality of a six-year-old.

Nobody was sure as to what the cause was of Jack’s learning disability. Some say that he would eventually just catch up while others held out no hope for the young man.

The other children just called him Backward Jack because he was so different from all of the others.

Jack’s father Abraham told his son to ignore those children. That life was not all about being book smart.

Nevertheless, even Abraham knew that a boy could only take just so much teasing.

That thought came into existence in the second week of March 1686.

It was a cloudy day and everyone knew that rain would soon be falling.

The townspeople of Hampton were happy to see the rain come early this year. The previous two years have been very dry and the crops have suffered for it.

Outside you could hear the sounds of the wind as it passed through the trees and the distinct smell of rain was in the air.

Jack had finished his chores for the day and thought it best that he go for a walk before dinner.

As Jack walked along the edge of Shingly road that ran along the edge of the Oxford forest, he heard some voices in the distance.

He thought that maybe he had just imagined them, but then he heard them again. This time it seemed as though the voices were getting closer.

Up ahead there was a bend in the road and for a moment, Jack caught a glimpse of the two young boys walking his way.

Jack quickly ran off the side of the road and his in the brush along the tree line.

As the two boys walked past Jack neither of them noticed him lying face down in the high brush.

Jack just lay there trying to be as quiet as he possibly could. He knew that if the boys heard him, they would find him for sure. Moreover, that meant the tormenting words and maybe even a few punches to his head.

Even though Jack was much larger than the other boys his age, he still did not try and defend himself against their physical attacks.

As the boys passed Jack, he knew that he had recognized the one boy's voice.

That’s him, Jack thought to himself.

The previous day, as Joshua Cummins was walking home from school he had seen Jack walking through town.

Jack did not attend any school as a child. Some say that he was just too dumb to teach, so Mary took it upon herself to homeschool the boy.

However, after many years of trying, Jack could just barely write his own name. Even then, he would write the letters and his name backward.

Therefore, Mary figured that the best education for her son would be to learn the art of farming and tending to the animals.

However, it was common for poor children to be homeschooled at all. Usually, poor children would not go to school at all and would start working by the time they were six or seven.

It was more common for children from more affluent families (such as those of merchants), both boys and girls, would go to what was known as a petty school from early childhood for basic education in reading and writing.

Girls did not attend the same type of grammar school as boys, but some private girls’ schools were established. Naturally, these focused on more lady-like pursuits like music and modern languages.

Many of the poorer people believed that this did not prepare them for the life of farming which was very common in that area of England.

Joshua’s parents were merchants and had a beautiful home on the better side of town.

Joshua was an only child and he received anything that he would ever want.

He always thought that he was better than the other kids in town were. In addition, when he would see Jack, he would torment the poor boy.

Hey, Backward Jack, where are you going? I bet it’s not to school! Joshua yelled as Jack walked along the road heading out of town.

What’s the matter backward, can’t talk now? Maybe you finally lost all of your brains! he continued to yell.

Jack just lowered his head and continued the walk home. He knew that Joshua would soon turn off the dirt road and cut through the woods and across the old cemetery to get to his house. All Jack had to do was to ignore him for the next quarter mile or so.

Then Jack felt the thud when the first rock hit the back of his shirt. Then he felt the pain as the next rock slammed into the back of his head.

Jack turned and took a quick glimpse at Joshua who was now collecting stones on the side of the road to throw at Jack.

Jack knew that all he had to do was make it to the next bend in the road and he would be almost home and to the one place where he felt truly safe. Moreover, at that bend was where Joshua would turn off the road and follow the path into the woods.

One by one, Jack felt the rocks as they hit his back. One of the flying projectiles managed to hit him against the back of his knee causing him to lose his balance.

I have to keep going. Jack thought to himself.

Jack quickened his pace and soon he was too far ahead of Joshua for his stones to reach their intended target. Jack just kept walking as the stones bounced off the road behind him and rolled into the brush along the sides.

It was then that Jack heard the final shout from Joshua.

Your mum is a feeble peasant woman who has relations with a pig!

Jack did not care that the town’s children poked fun at him, but when it came to his mother, he would not tolerate it.

Jack looked at his mother as a Saint. She was the one person in the world who he thought truly understood him. He would not just stand by quietly as someone talked bad about his mother.

When Jack turned back around Joshua had already left the road and was heading down the path towards the cemetery.

Jack quickly sprinted through the woods to cut him off.

The faster Jack ran through the woods the angrier he became. With each branch that hit Jack, he would envision the rocks as they pounded into his back.

It was not long before Jack could make out the image of Joshua as he walked along the oath.

Jack could see his face and noticed that he appeared to be smiling to himself.

How could he be smiling after what he said about my mum? Jack thought to himself as he felt the anger boil up within him.

Jack managed to get about a couple hundred yards further up the trail without Joshua seeing him. He dropped down behind a fallen tree and waited for his prey to arrive.

As Jack lay there, he managed to find a tree branch that had recently fallen from one of the enormous trees in the forest.

Jack tightly gripped the branch as he imagined what he had in store for Joshua Cummins.

As Joshua walked along the trail, he thought he saw some movement out of the corner of his left eye.

It must just be an animal, he thought to himself.

Joshua had walked this trail many times over the years. He has seen everything from small deer to a few stray dogs along the path so any movement did not cause him any real concern.

Joshua managed to walk about fifty more feet down the trail when all of a sudden Jack jumped to his feet and blocked the trail.

Hey, Backward Ja… was all that he could say before the tree limb came crashing into the side of his head.

Joshua fell to the ground in agony as Jack jumped on top of him and started punching him in the face.

Everything around Joshua went completely black as Jack took a hold of his ears and slammed his head repeatedly into the hard ground of the trail.

Nobody was around to witness the beating that Joshua received from Jack that day. There were no witnesses to the brutal murder.

But, most importantly, there were no witnesses to hear the incoherent chants that Jack made, as he slammed Joshua’s head into the solid ground.

After about twenty minutes of nonstop beating, Jack just lets go of the head of Joshua Cummins.

He just sat there at the dead boy’s feet crying. Not out of sadness but out of pure relief.

When Jack lifted his head and looked at the limp body that was blocking the dirt path he started to laugh. His laughter filled the forest and one would think that Jack had just heard some extremely funny joke.

Jack was laughing because, in his final moments of life, Joshua Cummins urinated on himself. Jack for once, was able to laugh at someone else’s shortcomings rather than his own.

Three days later Abraham and Mary went into town and heard that a young lad by the name of Joshua Cummins had come up missing from the area. The town’s people put together search parties and spent weeks on end searching the local woods and surrounding hillsides for the child.

Then after almost a month, they knew that all hope was lost. They concluded that no child could survive the elements of the late winter. Even though it had hardly snowed that year and the days were warmer than normal, the nights dipped down below freezing temperatures.

The town’s people decided to hold a special church service for the young man that May, even though they never found the child’s body.

On the morning of the service, Abraham was in the barn milking one of his cows when Jack walked in.

Good morning son, Abraham said to Jack.

Good morning father. was his reply.

Abraham noticed that his son was avoiding making eye contact with him as he worked around the barn doing his chores.

Is everything okay Jack? Abraham asked.

Jack just went on working as if he did not hear his father speaking.

Jack. Is everything ok bay? his father said again with a louder tone in his voice.

Jack just turned to his father. As he stood there and stared into his father’s eyes, he began sobbing.

What’s the problem son? Abraham asked as he walked over and put his arm around Jack.

Father, I did something bad. was all Jack could say through his sobs.

Abraham had never seen this side of his son before. Jack was always one to hide his emotions. Even when his favorite dog died after being kicked in the head by the neighbor's horse Jack refused to cry.

Come on let's get inside with your mum and talk about this, Abraham told Jack as they walked to the house.

As the three sat on the front porch of their home Jack just sat there and rocked back and forth and mumbled to himself, I did something really bad. repeatedly.

It’s okay sweetie. You can tell us what happened. Mary assured her son.

No, you’re going to be mad at me, he replied.

Abraham, why don’t you go outside and fetch us some firewood so that I can start dinner soon? Mary said as she glanced over at her husband.

He knew that Mary had a way to talk to the boy. Therefore, he left the two of them on the porch alone as he walked out to the woodpile behind the barn to gather some firewood.

Now tell me, son, what is wrong, Mary said as soon as Abraham was out of sight.

I hurt Joshua, he said through his sobs.

What do you mean you hurt Joshua? she asked with a tone of concern in her voice.

He was poking fun at me and calling me Backward Jack. I just got really mad and I hit him.

Mary could not say a word as her son explained how he had killed the young boy be dragging him into the woods and beating him with a tree branch.

When Jack finished, she asked him, And where is Joshua now?

I buried him in the old cemetery on the edge of town, he replied.

The Oxford town cemetery was about a quarter mile from Madison’s home. Mary knew that she needed to see where the child’s body was located so she asked Jack to take her to where he buried him.

Whatever you do son, don’t say a word of this to anyone. Do you understand me? she asked as she held his face in her hands and she stared into his eyes.

Yes ma’am, but what about father, can I tell him? he asked.

No. Do not tell anyone, especially your father. This is to remain a secret between you and me. Do you understand?

Yes ma’am, he replied as he wiped the tears from his cheeks.

As Abraham was returning to the house with an armful of firewood, Mary and Jack rushed past him as they headed to the barn to retrieve their horses for the short ride to the cemetery.

We’ll be back soon. Just get the fire going and put on a kettle of water. I won't be too long.

Abraham was not able to respond before the two were in the barn and out of sight.

As Abraham dropped the firewood on the floor next to the fireplace, he could hear the galloping of the horses as Mary and Jack rode off into the woods.

As the two arrived at the cemetery, Mary and Jack climbed down from their horses and tied them to a small tree on the edge of the cemetery.

Now show me where you buried him at. Mary softly asked Jack.

Over here, Jack replied as he walked along the wooden crosses that were placed at each grave as a headstone.

Mary knew that Jack was not able to read so she was confused as to what he was searching for, Right here momma, he said as he stood in front of the newly placed cross.

Mary stood next to her son, looked down at the cross, and read the inscription that was on the wood.

Jeremiah James Morris

Born Jan. 12, 1627

Died March 1, 1686

I buried him right here momma, Jack said as he stood there in the middle of the cemetery.

Are sure of that son? She asked.

Yes ma’am I'm sure, he said

How can you be absolutely sure? asked Mary.

Because, the dirt was all still fresh when I brought him here so I just dug the hole and dropped him inside. I covered it back up so that nobody could see what I had done, he replied.

Mary just took in a deep breath, turned to her son, and said, Jack, you are to never speak of this ever! Do you understand me?

Jack just stood there with a blank look on his face as if he was trying to comprehend what he had just heard.

Do you understand? Mary asked with a deep tone on in her voice.

Yes, ma’am I understand. But am I going to get in trouble now? he asked as he dropped his gaze to the ground.

As long as nobody finds out about this you will not get in trouble, I promise, Mary told Jack as the two-walked back to the horses.

When the two arrived back at the house Mary told Jack to feed the horses then put them in the field and to get cleaned up for dinner.

She reminded him not to speak of word of what happened to his father.