User blog:Jacksonian/Gustaf's Journey

Gustaf's Journey is a fanfiction written by Jacksonian.

Plot
Gustaf jumped from the ship to the dock a few feet away. He grabbed a rope that was flung to him and tied it down to the dock. The other seamen did the same, until The Upptackter was affectively moored in Crown City Dock.

Gustaf, his mooring job being done, examined his view of Crown City. It was 9:00 PM, the sun was a far distance off, with only it's rays piercing the far off horizon. In minutes, that futile light would be gone. The street lamps were lit, illuminating the buildings around Gustaf. There were a few people still out, many in wagons or on horses.

Suddenly, he heard the Captain of his ship yell out in distinct Swedish, "You have free time tonight but you better be back by 4:00 tomorrow morning!"

Filip, Gustaf's only friend on the ship's crew, walked towards him and said, "I hear there's a good pub two blocks away. We could go there." Gustaf agreed. Taking a lamp, they set out for the pub. They talked while they walked. They rarely had time to talk while on the ship, for there was always something to do. This was both Gustaf and Filip's first trip with the cargo ship The Upptackter, in which they hauled wood from Sweden to one of the Thirteen American Colonies. Their stop in Crown City was temporary, and they would head south tomorrow to their destination. Filip came from the same situation Gustaf was in- his family in Sweden needed money badly, so Filip, being the oldest, joined the Cargo Company. It was hard work, but it fed his younger siblings.

They arrived at the pub, called "The Metropolitan". Inside, it was very loud, and everyone seemed to be swearing like drunken sailors.

Wait a second, everyone was drunken sailors.'

Filip and Gustaf slowly made their way to the front and ordered some drinks. While they waited, they watched the large, muscular sailors fight, laugh, and generally make a fool of themselves.

The bartender gave them their drinks. Filip and Gustaf began to drink, but no so much as to end up like the guys around them. To pass time, Gustaf looked at the notices on the far wall. One began to catch his eye.

It read: ''Amazing farmland available! 100 miles from Crown City. Has been explored and ridden of indians! Get your share of land before it's sold. Wagon trains to location leave every other day! Apply at 34 Fourth Street!''

Gustaf read it once. Then twice. The third time, it dawned on him how much better this could be than the cargo ship. He tapped Filip, who also read the notice.

Gustaf told him "We can be on the wagon train by tomorrow!" Filip agreed. They tipped the bartender, made there way through the crowd of drunken sailors, and walked outside. They located 34 Fourth Street, and signed themselves up.

Gustaf and arrived and set up his farm. Soon, he was making twice as much as the cargo ship job, and he sent all that money home to Sweden each month. Filip was also doing well. Eventually, Gustaf married and had kids. They helped out around the farm, and soon Gustaf had grandchildren as well. Gustaf passed away, but the farm went to his grandson, Dave, who has taken care of it ever since. Now Grandpa has grandchildren of his own, who live in Elwood City. Their names are Arthur, D.W., and Kate.

"...and that's how, 150 years ago, your great-great-grandfather Gustaf came to own this farm."-Grandpa Dave, Grandpa Dave's Old Country Farm.