Letters Lost

Dear Lisa,

Today I have some terrible news. I lost my father when the Titanic went down. I know it was called the unsinkable ship, but it hit an iceberg and it sunk. This news has shaken everybody. My mother seems fine but I know she wishes father was home. My older sister won't eat or sleep. We are very worried about her. My younger sister sill thinks father will be coming home and that when we were on the boat it was only a drill. she had been sleeping the whole time and never saw the ship sink.

My little sister and I had been running in our cabin, which was in first class, and our mother and older sister told us to run outside. We ran until we were tired and then we sat down. We were having so much fun. We decided to turn in circles until we got dizzy. We stopped when we were dizzy and our stomachs felt like they were in knots. When we came back to our cabin, it was time for bed.

We woke up when we heard people screaming and running. We, also, could hear the sound of slamming doors. The captain came in and told us that while we had been sleeping the Titanic had hit an iceberg and was sinking. We were told to layer on lots of heavy and warm clothing and then put on a life jacket. Our mother piled on lots of think and warm clothing. Then we put on our life jackets. My mother grabbed our hands and started dragging us to the stairs.

On deck, people were running everywhere. One man tried to take my life jacket but my father shoved him away. People were pushing and shoving every which way. People got separated from their families. The captain yelled that all women and children went first on the life boats then the men could go next. My mom and dad took us to a life boat. My dad said he would be back because he would talk to the captain. He came back and told us it was only a drill. He whispered to my mother trying to hide what he said from us, but I heard it all. He told her he wouldn't be coming with us. He, also, said we needed her more. I knew after this that he would not be coming with us.

We got in our life boats and they let them drop into the dark, endless ocean. The Titanic sunk on April 14, 1912. I remember many people were on the deck of the Titanic. Some people went on with their lives as if nothing was about to happen. In the middle of the crowd, was my father waving to us. It was a sad moment for many people. It was, also, sad for me. People were getting sick, their faces turned a pale shade of green. Many people were crying and grieving. People who wanted to be saved jumped off the Titanic. Most didn't make it either their clothes were too heavy or they couldn't swim. One woman was so troubled she jumped off her life boat. She never even made it back to the Titanic. As the ship was sinking, I heard music, the band was risking their lives to make people calm and less frustrated. I think they were very brave. Most people from the lower class didn't survive either. I heard they were having a party when the ship sank. I think they didn't know until it was too late.

We had to wait a long time in those small, crammed life boats. Finally, we saw a ship, it was the Carpathia. Many people were joyful that a ship was saving us. They yelled as if the ship didn't see us. My mother cried very much. All that time, my little sister had been sleeping. People were waving shirts that they had brought with them. We all boarded the ship. The sick had a separate room than us.

Finally, we were headed in the direction we were going. Right now we are staying in a hotel. It feels so good to be on solid ground again. After this, I couldn't be afraid of anything. My younger still wonders where our father is. Soon we will be coming home.

I miss you and I also miss my father. It was a tragic experience for everyone. My mother was right to be worried when she first had bad feelings about the Titanic.

Your loving cousin,

Marissa