The winds blew hard,
pitching the massive ship side-to-side.
The vessel tossed from the waves while sea water rushed over the sides
and onto the decks. Men scurried around
the surface, grasping any object to keep themselves from being washed overboard. The night sky gave no light to guide the way.
People stranded
in the hold slid aft and fro along with barrels or boxes not tied
securely. Children and babies cried. Men stood, some tying themselves to beams
with their belts or hemp, determined to grab anyone or anything heading in
harm’s way. The smell below was rancid with sweat, vomit and other excrements
as well as rotten foods and waterlogged clothing.
Three young women
sat huddled deep within the aft of the ship on the starboard side. The oldest tied them together at their sashes
to avoid separation. They had been on
this vessel for over a week and had little food left to share. The youngest, Theresa Rose, had taken sickly
the night before, with a hacking cough and high fever. Her sisters, Lucille and Annunciacao cuddled
her body between them to ward off the chill, cloaking her from the water
falling from above. The darkness
shrouded the occupants and the air was stale from the lack of circulation from
above.
Their hopes and
spirits were high when the first set sail from Spain. Although their reason for traveling was to
locate their mother who stranded them in Portugal, as young women they hoped to
achieve new starts in one of the endless cities. Each girl wore a gold cross around their
necks along with Saint Christopher medals for safe travel. Being consigned to the hold was acceptable
because they were free to walk the upper decks during the daylight to get a bit
of air and sun. The vast ocean stretched
the horizon. Rarely did they catch a
glimpse of any other vessel.
“Lucille, what
will we do if we can’t find mama or papa?
America is so big.” Theresa
worried her rosary beads clutched in her hands.
“Don’t fret
little one. America is large but
Providence Rhode Island is not. That is
where papa lives with his new family. If
he doesn’t know where mama is, we have many family members living there who can
help us.”
“Papa made it
very clear that he didn’t want us. Why
ask him?” Annunciacao said, peeved at both of their parents for abandoning
them.
“I’m sure that we
can survive a week or two at his home until we find mama and move in with
her. He may not want us, but mama will
welcome us.” Lucille protested.
Theresa began to
cry so the sisters stopped their squabble and talked about more pleasant
things.
After three days
with no more than bread crust to share and the storm holding firm, Theresa’s
health faded. The sisters prayed that
the squall would soon pass. Theresa lapsed
into a fever induced coma and nothing the girls did would awaken her. The cough racked her small chest and she
wheezed with each breath.
“We can’t let her
die, Lucille. You saw what they did with
the old woman who passed away two nights ago. They just threw her overboard. I don’t want the same fate for our dear
sister.”
“Hush now,
Theresa is young and strong. Once the
weather clears and we can go above, I will ask for some broth for her. The sun will assist in her healing. You shall see. She wants to see America so much I can’t see
her giving up.”
The next day
broke through the clouds and the rains stopped.
Everyone was anxious to stretch their legs above, hurrying up the
ladders as quickly as the space allowed.
The girls grasped
Theresa under her arms, carrying her thin body to the surface. They set her near the tall, belching chimney
sending smoke trailing behind the ship.
The air blew cool but the sun was warm and soon dried their moldy
smelling dresses. Lucille left to locate
some food or broth, carrying with her the few coins in their possession. Although she was successful, neither sister
could get Theresa to eat. So they dipped
chucks of hard rolls into the broth and ate their meal.
When it came time
for them to go below, Theresa’s eyes opened and a glow lit her face. “It is so beautiful. I don’t hurt anymore.”
Both sisters
looked at the ravaged form of their beloved sister. Her body shook from the fever and each
worried that she was now delirious.
Theresa told them
she loved them and to not be afraid.
While their journeys would take them to special places and people, her
journey was beginning on another plain of existence. Looking to the sky, her smile radiant, she
took her last breath and died in her sister’s arms.
The ship’s
captain allowed for a short funeral. A
priest on board gave Theresa last rites and a rosary was said in her
honor. Each sister kissed her goodbye
and then the shipmates wrapped her in a rough piece of cloth and tossed her
over the side. Annunciacao stood stoic,
watching her sister sink below the waves.
Lucille cried, saddened that they hadn’t been able to save her.
The very next
day, the passengers cheered as they spotted their first site of America. They gazed upon the Statue of Liberty which
stood proud, awaiting her new guests to their new home. The torch stood as a welcoming beacon to
those who traveled to find a better life.
The two sisters paused, with arms linked about each other, and silently
cried. Each thought of Theresa and the
secret she took with her when she died.
She saw where it was she was headed but could not share. She did though share the secret that their
journeys would be successful and full of hope and joy. Walking off the plank hand in hand they faced
America with their heads held high.
Note: This story is mostly true with a little literary license. Hard times with truly courageous people.
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