Date: Wednesday, The Tenth day of April 1912
Place: Titanic – Cherbourg Harbor – Cherbourg, France
Time: 20:05

We did not head to our cabin right away when we boarded the Titanic. We stood upon the “well deck” of the ship and watched the lights of Cherbourg shine onto the water. It was already dark out. Most other passengers would walk by us and head to their cabins. A few would stand and watch just like us.

"Isn’t it a beautiful view?" Momma asked us.

"Yes," Anneliese and I both said simultaneously
We don't get a chance to watch a ship take off. When we do see ships, they're usually sailing by Großmöllen in the Baltic Sea. I think about our old house and our relatives we left back home, (or what was home). I felt a little sad, but a bit happy.

As we watched the Titanic slowly move away from land, it started getting cold. I guessed it was because the wind was made by the ship.

We started to head in to find our cabin, since we couldn't see land anymore.

I saw Papa walking away and start talking to some people. I wasn’t sure why though. I followed Momma to where we were going to stay. Anneliese followed slowly behind us.

We started walking down a few flights of stairs. I can tell by the look on Anneliese's face, that she didn't like where we were going. I don’t blame her, I also didn’t like it. I saw a few rats on the way down.

As we continued walking down the stairs, I read the letters on the walls. D Deck… E Deck… F Deck… G Deck. 'How far were we going?' I thought. When we finally made it down to G Deck, Momma opened the door that leads us to a hallway. I wasn’t surprised to see rats once we got to this level. There were at least three walking around. I was surprised that Momma wasn’t scared. Or maybe she was, but she didn’t want to show us.

"This must be it," Momma said, walking up to a room. "Cabin G-4"

Anneliese and I weren’t really surprised by the size of the room, from the looks of the hallway and all the doors so close together. In the room, there were four small beds; two on each side with what looked like a sink straight ahead. I wondered where the water closet was. Are we supposed to share it with a bunch of strangers?

“Are you sure this is our room?” I asked. “It looks like a closet.”

“Josephine!” Momma scolded me. 

I walked into the room and sat on one of the beds. Looking at my sister. I can tell she was sad. She sat down next to me.

“I know how you feel.,” I told her. “I am sad as well. But once we make it to America, Papa will find us a new home and things will get back to normal.” I can see a smile on Anneliese’s face but can still tell she wasn’t fully happy.

Momma was in the hallway talking to some woman at G-6. I walked over and hugged Momma and she put her hand on me.

“Josephine, this is Mrs. Agnes Sandström.”She lives in America, in San Francisco, California.”

“Really?” I asked. I hear people moved there because of all the gold.” I wondered what they were going to do once they find it all. 

“Yes, that’s true.” Mrs. Sandström laughed. “My Husband Hjalmar and I moved there four years ago. In fact, he’s there right now looking for gold. We traveled there much too late. Most of the gold was found during the ’90s.”

Looking at Mrs. Sandström, she looked to be in her early twenties. I can tell because Momma and Papa are in their twenties and look to be that age.

“Why were you in Europe?” I asked.

“Josephine!” Momma scolded me again. “It’s inappropriate for a young lady to ask questions like that.”

“That’s quite alright,” Mrs. Sandström laughed. “My daughters and I were visiting my parents in Hultsjö and some friends in Forserum.” I looked confused. I’m guessing Mrs. Sandström could tell I was because she answered exactly what I was thinking. “Sweden, my dear,” she chuckled.

I looked in our cabin and saw Anneliese sitting on the ground playing jacks.

I politely excused myself and rushed back to our little closet of a room. Momma stayed and talked to her for a little while longer. 

Anneliese still looked sad. I sat down next to her. “You know, it’s not that much fun playing Jack’s all by yourself.” I laughed.

“I know,”, Anneliese sighed. “But what else can I do? I sat next to her and started playing as well.

A few minutes later, when I was up to Sixsies, Papa came into the room followed by Momma.

“Great news everyone,” Papa said in a cheerful voice.

Anneliese and I looked up at him, which startled me and caused me to lose the ball and have it fly out the door. Momma caught it just in time before it went down the hallway.

“What Papa?” Anneliese Asked.

“I got a temporary job here on the Titanic,” He began. “I start tonight.”

“That’s good Papa,” I mumbled. But what’s so great about that?”

“Josephine!” Momma scolded. “You are being very rude tonight!”

“I’m sorry,” I apologized.

“Well, Josephine,” Papa continued. “The good news is, because I am working on the ship, the captain has moved us up from third class to second class.”

“My sister and I were so excited and cheered.

“That’s really is great news dear,” Momma cheered as well. “What job would that be?”

“I will be working in the boiler room shoveling coal.” He said with a smile.

“Isn’t that a dirty job? I asked.

“Yes, but remember, we’re going to second class.”

As we left third class, Momma said farewell to Mrs. Sandström, which was pleased and very happy for us. She herself did not mind being in a small room with other people. Besides, they were Swedish as well.

Making the long walk up two flights of stairs, was a challenge. Especially with us each holding a bag. We ended up in cabin 51 on Deck E. Once we made it into the room, I lied on the bed. “This is the life,” I thought. It did not take long for both me and my sister to fall asleep.

Date: Thursday, The Eleventh day of April 1912
Place: Titanic – Second Class Dining Hall
Time: 08:05

When we woke up the next day, we all felt refreshed and ready for the day… but especially breakfast. As we headed to the dining room, papa was just coming back from work in the boiler room overnight. He looked dirty and needed a bath. You could say he almost looked like a … well Papa had so much coal on him, his face and arms were all black. He made me laugh.

"You children go ahead and eat breakfast, while I get washed up," Papa told us as he walked towards the washroom. "I'll be out later."

We saw a lady, heading to the dining room. She looked like she should have been in first class, with all those fancy clothes on. As Papa passed her, she looked at him in disgust and walked away mumbling to herself.

"What is wrong with her?" I asked Anneliese.

"Beats me." She answered.

We walked into the dining room, many people were already there. Everyone was sitting at the table. It looked almost like a restaurant, with people serving them. It didn't look too fancy, but it was fine.

As we sat down, a waiter came along and handed us a menu.

"What would you lovely ladies like for breakfast?" He asked.

With him calling me a lady, it made me feel very gay inside. I looked at the menu. "Oh, you have soda scones?" I cheered.

"I'm sorry miss, we are out of soda scones." he apologized.

"Ah, shucks," I pouted. "Well, I guess I will have some buckwheat cakes instead."

"Fine choice miss," he wrote it down on a notepad. "And would you like some ham and eggs with that?"

"Just Eggs, No Ham. I'm Jewish." I pointed out " And can I also have a bowl of oatmeal with fruit."

“May I,” Momma corrected me.
I looked at Momma and then back at the waiter. “May I have a bowl of rolled oats and fruit, please.”

Certainly, miss," He smiled. He looked over at Anneliese. "And what would
you like dear?"

"I'll have the same as my sister," She said shyly."

Momma looked up from her menu. "I'd like some fish with a bowl of hominy and a cup of tea."
Momma doesn't eat much. She likes to keep her figure. (whatever that means).

"I'll have a tea as well," I added.

"Me too, Anneliese squeaked."

"I'll bring them right out for you." Our waiter walked away.

I look around and see other tables being served with their food. I guess, they got here
earlier than us.

Papa came into the room, just about the time we got our food.
He ordered a plate of Grilled Ox Kidneys, (gross) with some au gratin potatoes, fish, and a cup of coffee. He must be extremely hungry. By the time we were all done, the staff was already getting the room ready for lunch.

We could hear the horn of the ship going off. 

Date: Thursday, The Eleventh day of April 1912
Place: Titanic – Queenstown Harbor – Queenstown, Ireland
Time: 11:34

The horn we heard meant that we reached the final stop to pick up more passengers. I asked one of the passengers on board where we were and they mentioned Queenstown, Ireland. I wasn't sure where Ireland was. I started skipping away and headed out to the deck to checked out the view.

"Hey kid!" a man yelled to me. I looked over at him. "Shouldn't you be down in Third Class?"

"No," I shouted back at him. "I'm in Second,"

"You don’t look like a second class passenger." I heard him holler back. "Go back down where you belong.

I started to tear up and ran to my room.

"Momma!" I cried, as I ran into the room, "This mean man told me to return to third class."

"Oh, really?" Momma hugged me.

"He said I don’t look like a second class passenger." I continued to sob.

"The nerve of him!" Momma growled. "Just ignore him. You have all the rights of being in second class." She patted me on my back. Taking out a brush, she started brushing my hair, grabbed a ribbon out of her trunk and put my hair up using the ribbon. I guess this was her way to make me look more second class like. I don't know, but I liked it. Anneliese wanted hers done too.

"Now Josie, If you have any more problems with him, or anyone else, talk to a crew member."

"If you want..." Anneliese began, "...I can go out with you."

I shook my head, yes.

"Don't do anything I wouldn't do" Momma laughed. “And be back before dinner.”

And after that, we both went out on the deck watching the boats bring passenger towards the ship.

Date: Wednesday, The Eleventh day of April 1912
Place: Titanic – Queenstown Harbor – Queenstown, Ireland
Time: 13:15

After about ten minutes of staring out at the water, we started exploring the ship. We found that we couldn’t go everywhere, but we still had fun. There were places second class passengers were not allowed to enter.

On the deck near the end of the ship, we saw two kids about our age hanging around. A boy and a girl. They looked happy. They were playing a game of some kind. We decided to walk over to them.

“Hi,” I say as we got closer.

“Hello,” said the girl. I’m glad there are more kids on here. My names Marjorie.”

“My name is Josephine and this is my twin sister Anneliese”

“Hi,” My sister shyly says.

“What game are you playing?” I ask looking at the boy with a rope ring in his hand.

“Quoits,” the boy says and then throws the ring to a bunch of circles on the deck with numbers in them.

“Never heard of it,” I watch him play.

“Never heard of it?” he laughs. “Where in the world are you from?”

“Großmöllen,” I answer.

“Where is that?” Marjorie asked.

“Großmöllen is located in the German Empire,” I frown. “But we don’t live there anymore. We’re moving to America, since we were forced out of our home.”

“Oh, I’m sorry,” Marjorie said. “My Mum and Dad and I are moving to Idaho from England to live near family.”

“We haven’t decided where we will be moving to,” I told her.” Probably…” I was interrupted by the sound of the boat horn, which made all of us jump. The boat started moving.

“I guess we are off,” the boy said. “I better head back inside, dinner is starting” He started running.

“Wait!” I yelled. “What’s your name?”

“Marshall…” He yelled. “Marshall Drew.” And then he was gone.

“I better get going as well.” Marjorie said. “Don’t want Mum and dad waiting.” She took off as well.

Anneliese and I walked to our cabin. Momma was waiting for us.

“You two have a good time?” She asked as we walked in.

“Yes,” Anneliese said. “We met some kids.”

“That’s nice,” Momma smiled. “Come on, let’s get going to dinner.”