The sun shone brightly through the small window, onto her pale face. She squinted, turning her head away from the bright light. Her green eyes surveyed the tiny area around her, searching for another place to sit—where the piercing rays would not blind her.
Ceileah Maher’s appearance bespoke of her heritage in every way. Her long, curling, auburn hair told of journeys taken through thick woods, with ivy and ferns covering the twisted roots of all kinds of trees. Her eyes reflected lush green pastures, sprinkled with dew on misty mornings. Her freckles seemed to just fall onto her nose and cheeks, like snow on rosy petals. Not in hindrance of her beauty, Ceileah wore simple clothes of hand sewn brown cotton. She wore a gray coat over her dress, and had dull brown leather shoes on her feet, with wool stockings underneath.
Ceileah looked to her right to see her friends still sleeping. Jacob and Annie O’Brian, her friends since childhood, had been married for just about five years now. They were a bit older than her; Jacob, twenty-three, and Annie, twenty-two. Ceileah was only nineteen, and looked up to her friends, hoping she might one day have a marriage like theirs. Smiling, she nudged Annie with her knee.
“Too early,” Annie groaned, rolling over to bury her head in her husband’s shoulder. Annie’s sandy blonde hair fell onto her light face, covering it almost completely. You could see her thin lips through her strands of hair, and her curved nose that ended in a slight upward slope. Her active childhood still played a part in her features. There were scars on her forearms that seemed to follow up to her neck: proof that girls were not too afraid to face danger. She had always been the roughest girl Ceileah had ever known. Ceileah remembered climbing rocks and trees with Annie, and swimming in the chilly river not far from their home.
Jacob’s features were strong but gentle, just as he was when Annie was near. He was slightly tan from working on his father’s cargo ship, and had short, brown hair that seemed to go whichever way it wanted to. His eyes were dark from lack of sleep, though when fully rested, his eyes would give his gentleness away. His nose, casting a shadow on his long face, curved downward. His lips were thin, and his jaw square with short brown hair that sprinkled his face. He was a handsome man, being well built from years of hard work.
Ceileah frowned, desiring for someone to talk to and looked around again, wishing that if she would not be allowed to chat with her friends, then the sun would simply leave her alone, and let her go back to sleep.
There were many others on the boat, heading for America. Ceileah wondered if they were any closer to land. She had heard the captain the day before, saying that they would arrive today. Ceileah rose to her feet sleepily and looked out the window. Her jaw dropped and her eyes widened, seeing Boston Harbor not too far away. Excitedly, she bent down to wake her friends. “Annie! Annie, get up! We’re here!” Ceileah said, her thick Irish accent permeating every syllable. “Jacob! Wake up!”
Jacob sighed, blinking groggily as he straightened himself against the wall. He sleepily ran his fingers through his short hair, making it even more of a mess. He scratched his jaw and looked up at Ceileah, telling her that he was too tired to care. Annie woke, feeling her husband stretching, her eyes shifting around the room, still sleeping, trying to remember where she was and suddenly coming to life when the excited words had sunk in.
“Are you sure?” Annie asked. Jacob smiled at his wife's absent-mindedness and kissed her gently. Annie smiled and stretched.
“I can see the dock!” Ceileah exclaimed. “Look for yourself!”
Annie got up, stumbling wearily as she looked out the window, her hazel eyes being pierced by the sunlight. Ceileah went to her left, gently waking the frail woman still sleeping on the floor. “Mum,” Ceileah said softly, shaking the woman slightly. “Mum, get up! We’ve made it! We’re here!”
“Unnhhh?” the mother muttered, trying to straighten herself. Sarah Maher had the same green eyes as her daughter, but they were fading with age and physical strain, not to mention the sickness that had overwhelmed her recently. Her graying red hair curled around her thin face, coming out of the thin linen scarf she wore on her head. “Are we there already?”
“Yes, Mum, we’re here!” the daughter repeated. Ceileah got up and headed for the door that led up to the deck. “Captain!” she called out, seeing the older man looking out towards the Harbor. “Is this Boston?”
“Yes, young lady, it is,” he answered, turning to face her. “A bit excited?” he teased. Ceileah blushed as she walked to the port side of the ship and looked down the shoreline.
“When can we get off?” she asked.
“As soon as the boat is docked,” he told her.
Remembering something, Ceileah rushed down the stairs again. She nearly knocked over a thin woman as she ran to where she had been sleeping. “Sorry!” she called out behind her, bending down to make sure all her things were packed in her small travel bag. Annie and Jacob were packing their things as well, talking quietly between them. Sarah sat up and began to double-check her bag, making sure everything was ready to go. When everyone was set, the four immigrants got up and went to the deck.
Sarah took a deep breath and let it out slowly, closing her eyes and raising her face to the heavens. “Dias—go raibh maith agat,” she whispered, thanking God. Indeed He was to be thanked. After all, He was the one who had led them here after Sarah’s husband died, and the one who had given them protection while on the sea.
At long last, they had arrived.
No comments:
Post a Comment