Into the Past and Onto the Streets
Leah squinted as the sun hit her brown eyes. She had just finished tying her wavy brown hair into French braid pigtails as the musty smell of garbage entered her nose. That's how it was in the alleyways of Queenstown, muggy and smelly. She could hear the noise of the congested streets; everyone spoke of a 'Ship of Dreams' taking passengers to America. Leah would have loved to go back to her true home, to find a fresh start, but she knew it was impossible. Leah was completely broke, with nothing but a small rucksack filled with scraps of clothes, and whatever she could pickpocket.
That's right, she'd admit it, Leah was a poor, eighteen year old orphan, who pick pocketed in order to survive. She found no shame in it. She needed a way to survive. No one in London was going to take pity on her. The woman though she was nothing more than a disgusting street rat and the men would only call upon her after many brandies, for other services. She denied them of course. She may have been alone in this world, but she still had some class. She would not degrade herself for the pleasures of unhappy rich men.
Leah sighed at the thought of another dull day in London. She kept clean for someone who lived on the streets, she did not smell, her teeth were surprisingly healthy, but her hands did get sweaty and dirty from time to time. She whipped her small, pale hands along the skirt of her knee length dress and straightened her oversize male coat. Her dress was thin and frayed and the coat had dust marks, but she did not have anything else. She was thankful that she did not have holes in her shoes; of course, she had lifted her worn shoes last week. She hoisted her sack over one shoulder, and made her way to the busy street.
There were cars honking nosily, people dashing from stand to stand, rummaging for last minute supplies, and families from many different countries talking in their native tongue. Leah casually made her way to a crowded stand, where the owner was shouting at many costumers furiously. She quickly ducked in between two bodies and snatched two apples. She quickly rushed away from the scene, stuffed the apples into her pocket and casually made her way where the people were flocking.
Her innocent brown eyes lay upon the vast ship. It astounded her. She wondered how a ship that large could possibly float along the ocean. She watched attentively as families and couples boarded the ship. She envied them so much. She hated Queenstown, it was not her home. Sure, it was easy for her to get around from time to time, but this was no life. She wished to pick up the pieces, to start a new.
The sun rose high, it had to be around 1:30. People began to hurry upon the ship, past the shouting officers. Leah watched with curiosity as each family endured a lice test. Some passengers passed the test and some did not. Then, inspiration struck her. She snuck pass a couple families and found one exiting the ramp. They seemed to be complaining about their unavailability to board. Apparently, they had been found with lice and the whole family was refused passage. Leah used the father's outbursts as the perfect opportunity to reach into his pocket and grab his ticket.
It was just about 1:50 and the docks were being pulled in. Leah quickly hurried behind two men who seemed to be straggling aboard.
"Anyway, we don't have lice; we're Americans. Both of us." She heard the man with stringy sandy-blonde hair say.
They were allowed to hop on, and when the looked at her, she simply held up her ticket and pointed to the two men who just boarded. The officers sighed and granted her access. She could not believe it. She was actually aboard the RMS Titanic. She was on the Ship of Dreams. She was finally going home.
She fumbled through many doors, and through many people. She searched diligently to the spot she'd be bunking for the next few nights. Leah didn't even care that she was in steerage, she was going to America. She hoped that once she arrived, she would have better luck.
She climbed down several staircases, and hit what finally seemed to be rock bottom of the ship. Families and couples spread throughout the hallway, searching for their room number. Leah was finally about to locate hers, and she quickly threw herself inside. It was tiny, but she didn't mind, she was used to cramped quarters. However, a thought soon occurred to Leah. The ticket she picked up belonged to one of a family of four. That meant that she had the whole room to herself.
She placed her stuff down on the lowest bunk, removed her jacket, and gave a small sigh. Her luck was getting better already.