The Annals of World-Building III

We zoomed out on the last instalment—now let's get a bit closer to our most important characters from Macbay Transportation Services and their families. Perhaps a bit too close, but so goes the Infinite Vortex of World-Building (and this was an assignment for Novelist Boot Camp, which I've since more or less abandoned, but it was a nice read).

Bartholomew Macbay (Son of Hamilton and Mabel Macbay)

Hamilton Macbay was born to Walter and Dorothy Macbay on July 12 in Wickport. His sister, Monica, was 4 at the time. When he was 6, Hamilton’s parents divorced over Dorothy’s adultery. Walter took both of the children, and Dorothy was not heard of again. Shortly afterward, Hamilton entered school, where he preferred to stay alone. At the age of 15, his home was robbed, and Walter and Monica were both wounded by the robber. Walter recovered, but Monica contracted an infection and died the same year. A month later, the family moved to Avalanche City. Hamilton withdrew more at school but did graduate at 18. He worked in a shop for a while before meeting Mabel when he was 20. He chose the military over her a year later, but he was sent back home to recover from wounds at 24. A year later, he was married to Mabel, who had waited on him. At 25, his father died of cholera. When he was 26, Bartholomew was born. Two years later, Loretta was born. Leaving the kids, Hamilton rejoined the army at 32. Aside from a few yearlong breaks, during which he didn’t do much but preach the glory of The Empire and its conquest, he remained fighting. At 43, he died in a land mine incident.

Hamilton had always been rather detached, from his community as well as his family. He was capable of infatuation with Mabel but usually leaned more towards resentment. He had a pretty big vendetta against the colonists, especially after his severe injury at 24, and was disappointed at being assigned to the units in the Lesser Colonies later.

Mabel Selby was born to Peter and Alice Selby on November 5 in Avalanche City. She was about as sickly as her already-deceased siblings had been, but she survived. She was homeschooled for her first unit of schooling, to avoid too much contact with other children. By the time she was 10, Mabel was healthy enough for her parents to put her in a normal school. Despite not being used to other people being around, she was quite social within months and made friends with several girls, including Tabitha Key, Barbara Smythe, and Margaret Pemberton. Mabel graduated her second and final unit of schooling at 14 and began dating at 16 with Robert Pickle. She did some work sewing, still looking for a husband, until she found Hamilton at 19. She dated him for a while until he suddenly left for the army. She went back to work, now at a factory, at 20 but refused to give up on Hamilton, even as her condition started to deteriorate again at 22. Hamilton returned from the colonies about the time she would have had to give up working, and she kept after him until they were married (she was 24). Her father died of a heart attack a few months before Bartholomew was born, when she was 25. Her health declined more sharply after this, but she continued to care for Bartholomew and had Loretta at 27. At 31, Mabel was left to take care of the children alone. When Mabel was 38, Loretta contracted a bad fever, but the caretaking had to be left to Bartholomew due to Mabel’s condition. The same year, Alice died. Mabel was normally bedridden by the time she reached 39 and was intermittently taken care of by her children and old friends. When she was 44, her husband died. At 50, she witnessed Loretta’s marriage and today relies on Virginia Reeves, help hired by Loretta’s husband, for her caretaking.

Mabel is quiet and has been easily pushed around, but she loves her friends, family, and in-laws very much. She somewhat regretted marrying Hamilton when he left for the army the second time, but she was easily able to fulfill herself by caring for the children. She always wanted better health, but she is content with what she has.

Loretta Macbay was born on April 12 in Avalanche City. At 6, she entered her first unit of schooling, making friends with Theresa Bernard and Maude Parker. One year later, Loretta’s father left for the army. When she was 10, she entered her second unit of schooling, making friends with Joanna Armistead and Steven Skinner. A fever almost took her life at 11, but she pulled through. In the same year, her grandmother died. Loretta graduated her second unit of schooling at 14 and went to work at a clothing store. She had her first date at 15 with Albert Mundy. They broke up a few months later, and she went on to date Randall Goode and Nicholas Coke within the next year. She decided to focus on her job for a while until her obligatory two years of factory service at 18. Her father died during this span, but she was unable to take time off to mourn. At 20, she was unable to secure her old job again and when looking for work found Albert again. He convinced his family business to hire her as a secretary, and he proceeded to woo her again. At 23 (Albert was also 23), Loretta was married. She continues to work as a secretary for the Mundys but will quit when her first child is born.

Loretta is kind and giving but is frightened easily. She can be determined and sometimes holds a grudge, but she isn’t much of a fighter for things other than her family and friends. She is rather optimistic and always looks forward to letters or visits from her brother.

Loretta May Franklin (Daughter of Roderick and Gabrielle Franklin)

Roderick Franklin was born to Luke and Modesty Franklin on November 30 in Ricken. His older brother Cedric was 5 at the time. Roderick entered his first unit of schooling at 6, making friends with Gerald Crewe. At 10, Roderick entered his second unit of schooling, making friends with several boys, including Randolph Nowell. Roderick entered his third unit of schooling at 14, making no long-term friends. He had his first drink of alcohol at 15 at a school party. His first date was at 17 with Ellen Sparks. When he was 18, his mother died of unknown causes, and he began drinking more regularly. Shortly thereafter, Ellen, unsuccessful in convincing him to put down the bottle, broke up with him. After graduating at 18, Roderick began work at a military factory and soon found he had become an alcoholic. He met Gabrielle Mathers at a grocer’s at 19. The two began dating, Roderick concealing his addiction as well as he could, and he was wed to Gabrielle when he was 20. They moved to Jamber straight away. At 22, his alcoholism started to overrun him, and he beat Gabrielle for the first time when she brought up his habit’s effect on their finances. A year later, Loretta May was born. Roderick took up residence in the factory for a while and at 25 returned home. He was 27 when his wife had a miscarriage. He managed to restrain himself from abusing his daughter until he was 31. His addiction went further form his control, and he quit work at 32. When he was 34, he nearly killed Loretta May and brought her back home once he found her. Five years later, his wife died from wounds he gave her. Roderick drank himself to death shortly after Loretta May left the house for the last time.

Gabrielle Mathers was born to Theodore and Gwyneth Mathers on June 19 in North City. At 6, she entered her first unit of schooling, making friends with Lisa Acker and Magnolia Hume. When Gabrielle was 9, Lisa was killed in a train accident. Gabrielle continued to her second unit of schooling at 10 but didn’t try to make friends for another year. At 11, she made friends with Susan Deadman and Charles North. Gabrielle finished her second unit of schooling at 14 and went to work making hats. Her first date was with Charles at 15. When she was 16, Charles joined the military, still corresponding by letter. A year later, Charles was killed by colonists. Gabrielle quit her job but had to find a new one within a year. At 18, she began work at a goods factory in Ricken. A year later, she met Roderick. The two were wed when she was 20. At 22, she was first beaten by her husband. About a year later, she gave birth to Loretta May. Gabrielle convinced an overseer at the factory to convince her husband to stay there, but she was only able to raise Loretta May for two years before he returned. Gabrielle was still beaten, though she only had to put herself in place of her daughter once, when she was 26. A year later, Gabrielle has a miscarriage after an attempted suicide. At 31, she wasn’t able enough to keep Loretta May safe from Roderick. At 32, Gabrielle had to find work again since her husband quit. Two years later, she helped Loretta May run from home. Gabrielle was 39 when she succumbed to injuries inflicted by her husband.

Maximilian Webb (Son of Winfred and Erin Webb)

Winfred Webb was born to Kenneth and Mariana Webb on April 25 in Mayport. His sister Patricia was four at the time. Winfred had a relatively normal childhood in the city, completing all three units of schooling. He graduated at the age of 17 and went on to Mayport University the following year. He went through several girlfriends but did not marry Erin Wyman until after graduation at 21. A year later, he began his education at The King’s Institution. He finished in four years. At 25, he lost a political election to the war-scarred Hugo Stenger. A year later, Winfred moved to Perry; at 27 he became deputy major of the city. At 30 he failed to become mayor of Perry and moved back to Mayport. About this time, Max was born. Winfred was able to secure a spot at the colonial conscription office later that year. At 33, he finally became the Manager of Conscription for the Lesser Colonies. He hung on to this position until the age of 59, when he died of a burst aneurysm.

Erin Wyman was born to Graham and Themis Wyman on March 2 in Anemolis, Saricum. The family moved to Wickport when Erin was 7. She began her first unit of schooling then, staying a year behind. Due to struggles with learning the language, she did not move on to her second unit of schooling until she was 12. At 16, she graduated and succeeded in being accepted for a third unit of schooling, working at a clothing store for extra funds. She graduated at 19 and applied to several universities. She was only accepted to Mayport, so she moved there at 20 and began her studies. She dated Eston Stewart for a year but broke it off after he demanded certain things. At 23, she dated Winfred for a month, dropped it to focus on schoolwork, and later returned to him. She graduated from the University at 24 and married Winfred shortly afterward. While Winfred went to complete his political education, Erin worked as a schoolteacher, especially catering to students from a similar background to hers. She moved to Perry with her husband and began teaching there. She gave birth to Max at the age of 31 after she and her husband moved back to Mayport. With the support of some friends and colleagues, she was able to devote her time to raising Max until Winfred got a stable job three years later. Erin then continued to raise Max with her husband’s support until Max left the house. Since then, Erin has returned to teaching. Her husband died when she was 60, and she still mourns him a bit, but she loves life.

Viola Robbins was born to Frederick and Elizabeth Robbins on September 22 in Fog. Despite some difficulties in the way of intelligence, she managed to get through her first and second units of schooling by 14. She began work at a clothing store later that year. At 15, she had her first date with Cleveland Harrison. They broke up within a month, and Viola went through a few more boyfriends before meeting Max when she was 16. They fell madly in love, and in two years, they were married. When she was 20, she had her first child, Fenton. A few months later, Max left for the military, leaving Viola in Fog. She stayed there during his time in the military and at The King’s Institution. At 26, her husband finally rejoined her in Fog, and he became mayor. A year later, Max moved back to the capital for conscription duties, and Anthony was born. Viola today devotes her time to raising her children, still in the less urban Fog, and she doesn’t fuss much with her husband’s activities, though she still comes to visit when Max has time.