Cate's Crossing

On February 29th, in the year 1741, in Port London, England, a baby girl is born to Liam and Amy Malone. They name her Mary Catherine. Her father, Liam, quite partial to the sound of his own voice, fancies himself to be a poet, a charmer, and a captivating spinner of yarns. Unfortunately, Liam Malone is enslaved to a mistress, a she-devil-bitch-from-hell that lives in a bottle at Gilly's Pub. When Mary Catherine is but six years old, her mother, Amy, disappears into fates unknown. It is suspected that Amy did end overwhelming melancholia by jumping from Putney Bridge into the swirling waters of the Thames. On May 24th, in the year 1756, Mary Catherine Malone and two classmates, Carie Bishop and Daisy Cartwright, all recent graduates of St. Hilda's School in Port London, embark on a four to six-week crossing to America. They are contracted to be indentured servants for a period of five years. After which time, they will be emancipated with no further obligation. They will sail on a ship called, The Fancy. On this horrendous crossing, they will survive raging storms, near-starvation, ravenous rats, murderous pirates (yes, pirates!), kidnapping, madness, a flirtation with enormous wealth, falling in love, and finally, finally, making land in America at Port Philadelphia, by surviving one hundred and sixty-three wretched days at sea – over four months after their anticipated arrival. Cate Malone is the central character in the story. Daisy and Carie are equally as strong in their own independent ways. In this new world, Cate finds a lifelong friend, a young slave girl named, Elsie. Cate and Elsie gather their own new inclusive American family where they live secluded in the mountains as pacifists as much as is possible during a revolution. During this time of the American Revolution, Cate and her friends live as storm-tossed as when they were on their wretched Atlantic crossing. The determination and buoyancy of these three young women is more than admirable to be sure. By the way, there is a rather personable seagull involved, implying a transmigration of souls. Some suspension of disbelief is required when the seagull, a loving and caring old bird, revisits his life as a human. He does not meddle, and keeps a respectful distance. And then, there is the owl.