Starting Over

By Maddy Price
My dark black hair was swishing in the wind as we were riding on the ship going across to America. I am from Iran where it is harsh living, my parents were killed when I was 11 and I have been living alone with my brother. Now I am eighteen and my little brother is fourteen. We are sailing to America to start our new lives and find new places, and try to forget the tragedy of our parents.
The boat speeds on, and the smell of the sweet ocean breeze trickles into my nose as my brother and I look outward on the bow of the boat. I can only speak a little bit of the language they call English, but my brother and I will learn as we go along our journey. It’s hard not speaking English, but we are on a ship filled with Iranians, but the people that work on board couldn't speak our language at all.
"All hands on deck!" yells the captain, asking us all to stand before his intimidating sight.
His white pale American skin gleamed in the sun as his dark blue eyes stared into my own.
“Young lady, will you please go make me my coffee, this is a very important job.” said the captain.

I barley understood him but I could make out “make me my coffee”.
So I tried to answer him in the best English that I could.

“ Yes sir.” I answered.

I hurried into the galley and made the cup of coffee for him, and ran back out handing him the steaming cup. He took a sip and he liked it so everyone started to cheer, I think that meant that we were going to have a good rest of the trip.