Chapter 1: Sunk
Sunk
The year was 1912, the year I turned 13. The Titanic had just been built and I desperately wanted to be on her maiden voyage. I had a small party with my primary school friends. My parents managed to get cake and ice cream. I remember that I got books and some new ribbon from my friends. But the best gift of all was from my Aunt Charlotte, 5 first class tickets for the RMS Titanic. We would set sail April 10th.
The next morning at Sunday school I told all my friends. They gushed over the news, but inside I knew they were jealous. When I came home my mom had made casserole and we celebrated my dad's new job with the ice cream. My dad had been a mechanic but he had been fired a few weeks ago and he was now a clerk at Johnny's Sandwich Shack.
"So how was Sunday school Jane?'' my mother asked.
''Fine,'' I said with a slight smile.
''Your Aunt Charlotte is coming in a few days to help with packing'' my mother said. I was thrilled, I loved when my aunt came. She brought gifts and delicious sweets. My brother Benny started jumping up and down ''I love auntie Charlotte'' my brother said in his sweet 6 year old voice. I wasn't sure how my brother would react to the Titanic because, he didn't like fancy things, and he was terribly afraid of drowning.
That day after school there was a knock at the front door, and it was Aunt Charlotte! She had come early, and her arms were laden with boxes and bags. She dropped them on the floor and held out her arms. "Come hug your favorite aunt!" she exclaimed. Aunt Charlotte was our only aunt, but she liked to think that she was our favorite. My mother yelled from the kitchen, "Who is that Jane?" "It's Aunt Charlotte, mom. She's come early, and she brought gifts!". "Oh, Charlotte you're too generous to the kids. You spoil them rotten." my mom replied. That night we dined on roasted potatoes and steak.
After dinner I headed up to my room, where I was joined by my mother and Aunt Charlotte. "Let's get your suitcase packed. After all, we are leaving in four days." my mother said with a smile. We carefully folded skirts, blouses, dresses, undergarments, and socks. We then put them into my suitcase. I packed my smaller things into a carrier bag given to me by Aunt Charlotte for my 11th birthday. I put in my diary, hairbrush, toothbrush, secret teddy bear, a book, and a few hair ribbons. It was settled. All that's left, was to wait.
