We had arrived at the station. It was busy and I could feel the dirty air fill my lungs as I breathed. Pieces of coal flicked in my eyes as I took Mr Jones hand and he helped me up onto the train. As Mr Jones had expected we had arrived just on time and the train was about to leave.
I looked around. There were many children saying goodbye to their parents and men in suits waving at their wives. I felt lonely all of a sudden. Yes I had Mr Jones but I had only met him a few days ago. I had no one to really talk to or lean on when the stress ,of this arranged marriage, was a little to much. What was I going to do when I actually got to America? Mabye my husband-to-be would let me write letters to my loved ones is England. Oh I would love to stay in contact with my brother even if all are conversations are a bit of paper and ink. They were my whole life growing up. I told them absolutely everything never missing the tiniest detail. David was a lot older but I was still close to him. He was more mature than Leon and I so messing with him was so easy. All you had to do was pull his tie or steal his pipe and he would chase your around the farm. Leon was definitely the prankster. He would put dye on my hairbrush or paint mustaches on the people in my paintings. My childhood could be described in one word chaotic but I would not change it for the world.
The train itself was quite fancy compared to the ones you see on the newspaper. It had leatherseats and a lot cleaner than I thought it would be. Then I realised we were in the first class area of the train. Was this a mix up? Did we get on the wrong side? I walked over to the seat right at the back and say down nervously. I decided I would do everything I thought I would not be able in America. I sketched and made a flower chain with daisies I had in my pocket. I did not know what to expect in America. How much different would it be to England. Could I handle the change? With the many thought swirling in my head I fell into a deep sleep not waking up into I was shuck vigorously 3 hours later.
"Miss wake up we have to leave" Mr Jones grabbed my bag which was on the floor and pulled me up out of my seat.
I looked out of the windows. We were close to the sea. I could see it in the distance and smell the salt in the air. It was so pretty. All the blues in the sky and the bright faces of people around me. The sea automatically changed everyone's moods. I had been to the seaside once before. It was for my brothers birthday and my dad wanted to make it really special. We caught a train really early in the morning and drove all the way to the coast of England. We swam and got ice cream. It was a great day and one of my fondest memories. I was going to miss my simple lifestyle.
Stepping of the train I noticed how orange all the trees were. At home all the trees were ferns so they stayed dark green all year round. The farm definitely was pretty but this was stunning. How all the colours matched and gave off this warm feeling. My boots made a clicking sound as I walked down the old stone steps to get to the dock down at the bottom of the hill. It was a massive harbor with many boats and the shore was covered in people and luggage trying to board. The steps were over grown but looked quite safe so I hurried down them. My Jones was behind me chatting to one of the Dock workers. I kept quiet and took in the scenery. It was beautiful.
When we had got on the boat I felt ill. The moving of the floor beneath me made me feel uneasy. Mr Jones had rented a suite for me to say in on the boat. It was right at the front of the boat and under the control room. I had small windows in the walls and could see under the sea through them. All the coral and little fishes. I went over to the bed and layer across on it. Mabye some sleep will make this horrible feeling go away?
I woke up about an hour later to the sound of footsteps walking around on the top of the boat. I got up and opened my door to see what the racket was. I saw Mr Jones in the hallway coming put of the captains office.
"Aleena please stay in your room and rest. They is a storm coming and we need everyone in their rooms" he spoke coming towards me.
He opened my door for me and told me goodbye. I locked my door after he left. This whole situation was very stressful. I sat down by the door and played with my mothers necklace. It was a silver locket coated with tiny diamonds and some sort of pattern. It had been in my mother family for generations and was the only thing of value I owned. It was always passed to the eldest daughter. I stared at it. There was a picture of my family and one of my mother and I inside. I looked about 1 or 2 and could barely crawl so mother had me in her arms and she was smiling down at me. These were the moments I missed her the most even though I barely knew her. I wonder if she would be proud of who I am now.
The night went by so slowly. It was quiet and lonely. I fell asleep to the sound of ship workers yelling and wind hitting the sails. Mr Jones never came to say anything and I never heard him go back to his room.
When morning arrived I quickly got change out of my green dress. I had been wearing it for way to long. I went to my suit case and found a pale blue dress with sleeves and little pearls and gems sown on. I put my hair in a half up half down style and went upstairs to the top of the boat. Men were huddled in a circle eating some sort of stew while women were washing their children in buckets. I had gotten used to the smell of the sea and the boat. It was quite pleasant actually. Mr Jones was holding a compass and talking to two men. They were deep in conversation so I decided not to bother them. A little boy came up to be and I asked if I wanted anything to eat. I declined his offer and walked over to Mr Jones as the men had left and he was standing looking at the sun. He smiled at me as I walked over and said hello. The talk was not very interesting he just asked if I slept alright and if I had eaten. I got bored quickly and went back to my room. That was how most of the trip went. Pointless conversations with strangers and wanting to be by myself.
The time had finally arrived. I was getting of the boat and taking my first steps in America. Mr Jones told me my husband was meeting us at some market in the center of L.A. After a few minutes we got to the entrance of the market. I had no idea who or what to look for so I followed Mr Jones into the crowd. Their were people selling all types of food and some selling handbags and hats. It was so colourful and wholesome. Mabye I missed judged America.
The weather was definitely different to England. It was sunny and warm while England was freezing and would start raining randomly. There was a lot less countryside and trees than England though. All I could see were houses and streets leading to the unknown. The market itself was massive. Packed with people and filled with tables covered in food and gadgets. Half of the stuff I had never seen before like this thing that would dry your hair after you washed it. I have lived on the farm my whole life with out electricity or vehicles so everywhere I looked I would find something that intrigued me. Mr Jones told me off many times for walking to slow or talking to shop owners.
Finally we came to a grassy area in the middle of the market. It looked like a small park as their were bench, trees and a pond. Sitting at one of the benches was a very attractive man. He had dark brown hair and green eyes. He had a slight beard and was wearing a suit with the first few buttons of his shirt undone. Then I got a closer look as we walked closer into his direction.
Is it. No it could not be. Sitting on the bench right infront of me was Axel Matthews. The famous American business. Everyone in England knew about him as he had given money to some poor villages around the coast. Suddenly Mr Jones was hugging him and talking like they had knew each other for years.
"Axel this is Aleena" Mr Jones said once he had sat down. "Your soon to be wife"
Authors note
Well yeah finally we meet her husband. Took way to long but this is a slow burn book. Again any mistakes please feel free to point them out. The book will go under editing once all chapters are finished. Recommendations for what's going to happen is also welcomed.
-Caroline <3