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Mary pressed herself against her mother's side. The bustle and noise of the harbour was scary, and she didn't want to get lost. Ahead, she could see her father and brother walking side by side. Patrick didn't look scared. At eighteen, he was almost eight years older than her. He was carrying his trunk, as well as Mary's. It was far too heavy for her. Papa was carrying her parents' shared trunk. Mama was carrying the baby.
Mary was carrying one thing. A small, red book entitled the Golden Treasury of Songs and Lyrics. She was clutching it tightly to her chest, not wanting to loose it. Mama had told her to pack it in her trunk, but Mary couldn't imagine not having it with her to open and read on the ship.
Ahead, Papa and Patrick had stopped and were talking to a sailor. The man gestured to a large ship. When Mary, her mother and the baby had caught up, the sailor had walked away.
“There, Susie,” Papa said, pointing at the ship. “There's our way to the new world.” He took Mama's hand and led her toward the ship. Mary followed close behind, and Patrick walked behind her.
***
On the inside, the ship was dark and cold. They were led to a huge room with many cots. Mary shivered on one of the cots her family had claimed. They had three. One for Mama and the baby, one for Mary and Papa, and one for Patrick. Mary didn't understand why he should get his own cot, but she was glad of her father's warmth when he sat down next to her. Mama and the baby had sat down on their cot aswell. Patrick wasn't with them. He was trying to get a job working on the ship during the crossing, so that he could help get the best of the food and water to his family.
“Mary,” Papa said. “Why don't you sing us some songs?” He was always saying that Mary had a beautiful voice. She had sung in her Church choir for as long as she could remember.
Mary nodded and opened up her little red book. On the first page there was a list of names. She ran her hand gently over it as she had done countless times. Her name was written at the bottom of the list. Above her's was the name Suzanna Gregory written in beautiful, flowing script. Mama's name. Above that was her grandmother's, and then her great grandmother's. She then flipped through the worn pages until she reached her favourite song. She took a deep breath and began to sing. At first her voice was quiet, but then as she gained confidence she got louder. After a few lines Mama joined in with her sweet, clear voice, and then Papa's deep voice joined in.
Then, to her surprise, someone else's voice joined in. Somewhere in the room someone else had joined into the song. Then more voices joined until the whole room was filled with the song.
Mary was carrying one thing. A small, red book entitled the Golden Treasury of Songs and Lyrics. She was clutching it tightly to her chest, not wanting to loose it. Mama had told her to pack it in her trunk, but Mary couldn't imagine not having it with her to open and read on the ship.
Ahead, Papa and Patrick had stopped and were talking to a sailor. The man gestured to a large ship. When Mary, her mother and the baby had caught up, the sailor had walked away.
“There, Susie,” Papa said, pointing at the ship. “There's our way to the new world.” He took Mama's hand and led her toward the ship. Mary followed close behind, and Patrick walked behind her.
***
On the inside, the ship was dark and cold. They were led to a huge room with many cots. Mary shivered on one of the cots her family had claimed. They had three. One for Mama and the baby, one for Mary and Papa, and one for Patrick. Mary didn't understand why he should get his own cot, but she was glad of her father's warmth when he sat down next to her. Mama and the baby had sat down on their cot aswell. Patrick wasn't with them. He was trying to get a job working on the ship during the crossing, so that he could help get the best of the food and water to his family.
“Mary,” Papa said. “Why don't you sing us some songs?” He was always saying that Mary had a beautiful voice. She had sung in her Church choir for as long as she could remember.
Mary nodded and opened up her little red book. On the first page there was a list of names. She ran her hand gently over it as she had done countless times. Her name was written at the bottom of the list. Above her's was the name Suzanna Gregory written in beautiful, flowing script. Mama's name. Above that was her grandmother's, and then her great grandmother's. She then flipped through the worn pages until she reached her favourite song. She took a deep breath and began to sing. At first her voice was quiet, but then as she gained confidence she got louder. After a few lines Mama joined in with her sweet, clear voice, and then Papa's deep voice joined in.
Then, to her surprise, someone else's voice joined in. Somewhere in the room someone else had joined into the song. Then more voices joined until the whole room was filled with the song.
Another short piece I wrote back in grade 12 Writer's Craft. Looking back on it recently, I kinda like it, so I decided to put it up. The activity was that we had to write about one of the objects my teacher had brought into class. The one I picked was a little old book called "The Golden Treasury of Songs and Lyrics". And so this little story was born.
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