An Unusual Romance

Chapter 1

I am a social outcast, living in Hannibal, Missouri. Hannibal is a lively town. When I go downtown, I see the women and girls, all prim and proper in their skirts, dresses and bonnets. The men were well-groomed, their mustaches trimmed and carefully combed in place. I walk by a multitude of houses every day. Many folks live in decent homes; nothing' fancy, but they say it's cozy. Some live in ornate homes, others in unkept cabins and shacks. It's noisy during' the day; the bustle of the town, church bells tolling, and children playing on the streets. It's peaceful at night, when all the people are in their beds, snoring away. The scent of freshly baked bread at the bakery, boiled candies and other sweets at the general shop, the sweetness of oak, the spiciness of pine, and the smokiness of hickory at the lumber yard. I love to feel the coolness of the Mississippi River, the crispness of the wind and rain, and the roughness of the dirt roads underneath my bare feet. I enjoy the taste of fresh milk and the mellow flavor of tobacco. Most of the mothers keep their children away from me. They believe I am a bad influence on them. Yet, the children still look up to me, desiring the so-called "freedom" I have; not going to school, not going to church, and not wearing shoes. Thank the mighty Lord I don't live in a civilized manner. One time, I was adopted by the Widow Douglas, she made me wear shoes, she made me sleep inside, she made me go to church... she even tried to educate me. That was too much for me to handle. I was used to sleeping under the stars, smoking my corncob pipe, wearing raggedy clothes, going around barefoot, and roaming the world free on my raft. My name is Huckleberry Finn; my friends call me "Huck." I live in a cabin with my father, who I refer to as "Pap." We live on the bank of the river. I was born and raised here. My Pap doesn't seem to care about what I'm doing or where I'm going because he's always drunk. Sometimes, he would get aggressive and would beat me with a hickory switch. He would take my money away to buy more alcohol. Most of the time, he doesn't care two wits about me. I don't know my mother, for she was never around. Either she died after my birth, or she ran away because of Pap. I have asked my father about her, but he hasn't told me a darn thing; he would just slump in his wooden chair, with a bottle of whiskey in his hand. To escape from Pap, I would go on adventures with my best friend, Tom Sawyer. Joe Harper would come along with us. Sometimes, we'd sneak off, hop onto my raft, and ride the current across the river. The night sky, the moon, and stars seemed to be everywhere at once. The Mississippi's roar filled my ears. The water felt cold and refreshing; the breeze was warm and soothing. Most of the time, we were pirates, sailing down the Mississippi on my raft. We each had pirate names; Tom was The Black Avenger of the Spanish Main, Joe was The Terror of the Seas, and I was Huck Finn, The Red Handed. I know, pirates killed people, but we didn't do that. All we did was steal food. We'd take eggs from farmers' coops and water from other people's wells. We would also take the meat from those farms, so we could have ham to eat. Those adventures did get us into a lot of trouble, but that's why I liked it. Not only were the adventures fun, but Tom and Joe were also fun. We had plenty of time to talk, planning our next adventure, telling tall tales, having adventures in the woods and on the river, staying' up late...those were some of the best times in my life. Those adventures kept me from being lonely. And if I were, they made me smile anyway. That was the only time I could *really* be myself, to be free, to be happy. At the time, my only reason for living was to be able to travel the Mississippi River, to explore new places, and meet new people...and hopefully, I might find someone I love. A person that was one of a kind. Like a star in the sky. You can't forget their image as long as your eyes are open because they will always remain in your memory, no matter how far you go. No matter how hard you work, no matter how hard you struggle. They'll be there forever. I'm sure of it. One humid and sunny day in the Summer of 1846, I found the river current to be too strong to swim in. I was smoking my pipe, when suddenly, I heard someone yell, "Help me!" I looked up to see a girl almost drowning in the river, flailing her arms, and gasping for air. After boarding onto my raft and untying it from the post, I paddled across the river in pursuit of the girl. As soon as I got close to her, I told her to hang on to the raft. Then, the river suddenly became calm. She held on for dear life as I sailed her back to safety. I tied the rope to the post, so we wouldn't float off. I offered my hand, to get her onto the raft. She put her delicate fingers in mine, and I hoisted her up onto my raft. She sat there with her hand on her chest, breathing rapidly, as if she was having a panic attack. As soon as she calmed down, I asked her, "Are you alright?" "I think so..." was her reply. She stood and looked at me, with a surprised look in her eyes. "You're Huckleberry Finn..." I nodded and responded, "The one and only. You look familiar, yet I can't recall your name." "It's Rebecca Thatcher." I thought long and hard, trying to remember where I heard that name from. "Thatcher...oh! You're Judge Thatcher's daughter. You're one of Tom's classmates; he's always talking about you." She nodded in reply. I looked at her face. Her soft lips were placed in an enchanting smile. Her flawless skin was like fresh milk, her chocolate hair was tied up in braids, and her radiant brown eyes were beaming' with gratitude. Such a beautiful girl is rare. Was I falling in love? I couldn't be, I had just met her. Suddenly, I heard her say, "Are you alright?" That brought me back to reality. "What? Yes, I'm alright. It's just that you're the most beautiful girl I've ever seen in my whole life." She chuckled and blushed. "I'm that beautiful, you say?" I nodded in reply. She looked at my cabin with a sad look. "This is where you live?" She inquired. I nodded and replied, "This is my home...I've lived here my whole life." She walked off the raft and picked up one of my Pap's empty whiskey bottles. She held it up with a confused look on her face. "It's part of my bottle collection." I said. That was a fib. I couldn't reveal my drunkard of a father to her. Then I heard a female cry, "Rebecca? Rebecca!" Ms. Thatcher boarded on my raft. "That's my mother calling me. I don't think she knows that I haven't drowned." I nodded as I untied the rope from the post. "I'll get you to your parents as soon as possible." On our way up the river, I asked her, "What were you doing swimming in the river? The current was too strong for a girl like you." She shrugged and replied, "My parents and I were having a picnic and I decided to go swimming. The river was calm when I got in. Then, the current became too strong for me. Thank God, you saved me. If you hadn't, I would have drowned." I looked at her and smiled. When we got to the shore, I helped her down from my raft. We both shook hands. She looked at me and smiled sweetly. "Thank you, again, for saving me." I smiled and replied, "It was my pleasure, Miss Thatcher." "No need to call me miss. Call me Becky." She placed a gentle kiss on my cheek. As Becky walked away from me, back towards her family, I stood there watching her. I didn't want to let her go. That's when my heart melted into a puddle of mush. How could I resist such beauty? She took my breath away. No girl had ever made me feel this way before. I knew it was love at first sight. I wanted her to be mine. But I knew I couldn't have her. My Pap never approved of me Courtin' girls. In fact, he despised them. He hated their very existence. He told me that if I fell in love with a girl, she would leave me. I never believed him. I ignored his words, even though they broke my heart. After a few weeks passed, I realized something that I had never realized before in my whole lifetime; what I had never realized about myself. I loved Becky Thatcher. And I wasn't gonna let anyone stop me; not my Pap, not nobody else. Not my friends, not nothing. The summer went by, and I told Becky all the wonderful secrets of the river. I taught her how to steer my raft. Soon we began exploring different parts of the river. I showed her my favorite spots along the riverbank, and we spent our days together. I took her fishing and had picnics. She laughed and talked endlessly, making me feel like the happiest boy alive. She became one of my best friends. I couldn't help but be attracted to her. She fascinated me, with her innocence, her kindness, her beauty, her wit, and her courage. One thing I learned was that I would do anything to keep her near to me. Every moment I spent with her filled my heart with joy. I knew she must have felt the same way, for I saw those beautiful chocolate-brown eyes staring at me with admiration and happiness. I noticed how happy she made me. Sometimes, when I looked at her or listened to her laughter, I felt as if nothing else existed except for us two. That summer had changed everything inside of me. Everything. It didn't matter that my Pap disliked girls. Nothing in the world could change how much I loved her. All my thoughts, actions, and dreams revolved around her. There was nothing but Becky in my mind. I loved her, deeply, completely, unconditionally. She was my future, the person I wanted to spend the rest of my life with.  I know that sounds crazy because I come from a lowly background and she is the daughter of a wealthy Judge. Still, I knew my love for her was true. I knew I would never leave her side.  It was as simple as that. But then I started to notice something strange. Becky and I grew even closer than before.  Our friendship deepened to a point that was almost a relationship.  We were inseparable.  Even though everyone in town disapproved of us being together, we chose each other. We didn't care about anybody's opinion. We knew that no one could take us from each other; we just loved each other.  Becky was everything to me. Without her, I didn't feel complete, and I needed somebody to make me feel whole.  And I realized, the person who could bring me back from the darkness I'd fallen into, was right in front of me. She was my light in the dark.  With her, I found hope; with her, I felt at peace.  With her, I experienced the sweetest feelings of happiness and bliss. With her, I knew I belonged on this planet.  With her, I was free from Pap's tyrannical rule, from his hatred of women. I loved Becky more and more every day. I tried my hardest to hide the depth of my feelings from all the townsfolk, but I failed. I was madly in love with a judge's daughter, a wealthy judge at that. It wasn't just the stark contrast between our backgrounds that made our love controversial; it was the unspoken rules of society that threatened to tear us apart. The whispers of disapproval and judgment were like venomous snakes slithering through the air, hissing with their fangs bared. But how could I deny the profound connection that tethered our hearts together? How could I resist the gravitational pull that drew me towards her, despite the insurmountable odds? Every glance, every touch, ignited an inferno within me, devouring any remnants of reason or logic. I was consumed by an indescribable love, one that defied the boundaries of social class and expectations. Becky's porcelain skin radiated a soft glow under the sun, possessing a beauty that was captivating beyond measure. Her eyes, like twin pools of rich chocolate, held a depth of warmth and tenderness that I had never encountered before. And her laughter, oh, her laughter was a symphony that echoed through the air, bringing joy and light to even the darkest corners of my existence. But it wasn't just her physical allure that captivated my heart; it was her spirit, her unwavering courage and kindness that ignited a fire within me. Despite her privileged upbringing, she possessed a genuine humility that spoke volumes about the purity of her soul. She was not just a judge's daughter; she was a beacon of hope, a sanctuary in a world that seemed determined to snuff out the light. Yet, as much as I tried to hide my love, the townsfolk could sense the burning intensity that simmered beneath the surface. Their disapproving glances, their muttered comments behind closed doors, all seeped into my consciousness, reminding me of the insurmountable obstacles we faced. I felt their judgment, their prejudice, like a weight upon my chest, threatening to suffocate the very air I breathed. I was determined to prove that love could conquer all, that it could transcend societal norms and expectations. I would fight against the tides of judgment, against the waves of disapproval crashing upon our love, with every fiber of my being. For Becky, I was willing to face the consequences, to defy the conventions that bound us, and to embrace the storms that lay ahead. I knew that our love would be tested, that hardships would pave our path, but I refused to let them break us. We were bound by a love that surpassed wealth and status, a love that was built on trust, understanding, and unwavering devotion. I would shield Becky from the storm clouds that gathered on the horizon, standing tall as her protector, her steadfast anchor in the face of adversity. I made a silent vow to myself. No matter the challenges that lay ahead, I would hold on to this love with a fierceness that could rival the raging river. I would cherish each stolen moment, each stolen glance, and I would savor the taste of bliss upon my lips. For in the depths of my heart, I knew that love, true love, was worth every sacrifice, every battle fought against the constraints of society. And as the stars emerged in the indigo canvas above, twinkling with a promise of eternity, I whispered to the night sky, "Becky, my love, together we shall defy the odds and rewrite the very fabric of our destiny."