The Great War

The Road to America

November 30th, 1952

So much has changed since we left our little home in England...I still can't even comprehend the changes I have seen since then. Emma has become extremely clingy lately as if someone is coming to kill her. It's hard to explain to her when all she does is just cling to me and tell me she wants to go home and cries. I hope somehow I'll know what to do when we actually get off this dump people call a boat...

From the moment I stepped onto the boat to take us overseas to America, I knew immediately that I wasn't going to like it at all. Emma clung to me even more (as if that was possible) as we stepped onto the boat.

"Will you stop that??", I said to Emma in annoyance as she continued to cling to me.

"Well it's not my fault I'm completely petrified with fear!!", she retorted back.

"We'll be just fine. You need to trust me on this...please.".

"I'll try as hard as I can, Carla, but I can't make any guarantees.".

As we continued onto the ship, we were directed to our cabin which was quite like home. It felt safe, like I could trust my life on it. It had bunks for beds, curtains that were some shade of dark brown, and beds to match that.

We set our things down and began to unpack. We unpacked in utter silence until Emma broke it completely.

"When should we get to America anyway?", she asked with anticipating curiosity.

"Well, I don't think it will take too long.", I said, unsure of my answer.

"Well I hope it's soon, because this place smells like a goat farm.".

"I have to admit, I completely agree...".

We unpacked the rest of our things and the boat shipped off. I hoped that we would get there soon, because I was already seasick. Emma and I stayed there for the rest of the afternoon until everyone was called to the deck for dinner. I decided I wasn't very hungry, and I think Emma had made the same decision as well. We walked back to our cabin in silence, no words or looks exchanged between us. I began to read a new novel I had gotten and Emma doodled on a page. Finally, she broke the silence.

"I hate it here already.", she said, absolutely disgusted.

"Believe me, I do too. There's too much motion and it's making me feel dizzy.", I said, slightly dazed.

"I hope we get there soon, because I really HATE this place.".

"Don't we all?", I said.

She didn't reply after that and soon it began to turn dark. We turned out the lights and went to bed. I didn't fall asleep for quite a while with all the thoughts running through my mind. I began to wonder how we would start our new life in America, how long it would take to ever get there, what to do to try and fit in. Just as I had given up on sleep, the waves calmed, rocking the boat in a soothing manner. Soon, the rocking had done its job, and I fell into a deep and badly needed sleep.