Union Jack

Chapter 1

A Girl's Revolution

Isabelle Stanton sat wearily down. Those stupid rebels, how dare they rebel?

"How can the Rebels Rebel?" she burst out.

Jack Stanton, her brother, limped in and threw himself onto her bed.

"What'd you mean, 'how can the Rebels Rebel? They're called Rebels for a reason you know."

Isabelle threw a dirty look at her brother.

"Thank you so much for that overly obvious bit of information there, but I already knew that. What I meant to say is that those bloody rebels are starting a war for no good reason!"

"Well sis, there is this little thing that's called freedom. All the Americans want is their freedom you know."

"You don’t get it, do you?" she asked point-blank. "It's not the thought of war that scares me nearly as much as the thought of you getting dragged into it." Her big greenish-blue eyes watered up so that they looked like little puddles in her face. "I don't know what I'd do if I ever lost you."

Jack narrowed his eyes and starred at her for a minute.

"You don't have to worry Izzy. I'm still too young to go off to war. I've still got two months before my seventeenth birthday."

"Do you really think that two months is going to make a bit of difference when it comes to the draft coming out? If they want you, they'll get you no matter what."

Jack growled in what was not self-pity. Pulling his injured leg up onto Isabelle's bed he pulled up his gray pant leg.

"And why, exactly, would they want me?" he asked softly. "Isabelle, I can barely walk, let alone march off with a troop only to be played as a pawn against the Americans. The Captain, or Coronal, or whoever comes to get me to in list won't care if they have me or not. Trust me Izzy, you are in no danger of loosing me anytime soon."

Sometimes she was almost glad that snake had bitten her little brother. Sure, he had, for the most part, sacrificed the use of one of his legs, but it might save him when it came to war. It was true, not self-respecting general would want a cripple in his Calvary.

The next day a rumor was flying about that the General was coming to find soldiers. One from each family, at last Isabelle's fears were finally coming true.

"Don't you worry your little head over this messy affair, Jack. Big sister isn't going to let the mean old General take you away." She muttered under her breath.

Then the sound of the beguile sounded through the small town. Whole families came out to see who would be chosen to be taken to war. When the General arrived at the Stanton residence Isabelle regretted more than ever her father's recent department to the next world. She tightened her grip on Jack's pale and fragile hand as the General made his way up the street.

"Where is the head male figure of this household?" he asked coldly.

"I am." Jack replied taking one step forward.

"Please sir!" Isabelle burst out, unable to see her baby brother dragged into the whole messy affair. "You can't take him!"

"And why not, my girl?"

"Good Lord man, can't you see he's hurt something awful?"

"Izzy, don't. I swear I'll come home alive."

Isabelle rounded on the very thing she sought to protect.

"You bloody well better believe you will, because you're not going at all." She then turned to the General. "Please sir, won't you allow me to take my poor brother's place?"

"Isabelle, no!" Jack and her mother cried.

"The British army is a honourable thing. We will not enlist young girls." He replied coldly.

"I should hardly think that I am a young girl. I am seventeen years of age as of three days ago. I am old enough to make my own decisions."

"That may very well be, but I will not be responsible for a woman's death."

"General, I am probably going to die one way or the other. At least give me the chance to fight for my honour as well as my life. Please, let me protect what's most important to me, my family honour, my brother, my mum, and my country."

"We have never heard of such a request. Very well, Miss Stanton, you may join our good army in her quest. But just remember that if you die it is your own doing and not my own. Do you agree Mrs. Stanton?"

"I most certainly do not!" Her mother replied aghast. "But it is Isabelle's choice to make. I shall go along with whatever she decides."

Jack turned to his sister and was on the verge of pleading, which he did.

"Izzy, please, I could never forgive myself if you were to die out there." He told her softly.

"Jack, I shall not allow you persuade me of otherwise. And I daresay it's far too late now anyway." She then, even against everything that she had planned on doing for weeks, broke down and hugged Jack good-bye. "I shall miss you, little brother. May God and his Angels keep you safe until I return."

"And you, Isabelle." He muttered.

"Very well General, I am ready." She said softly. "Good-bye mother, good-bye Jack, I daresay that I shall survive to see you again."

"Good-bye Isabelle." Jack whispered. "Good-bye."