CHAPTER TWO

May 28, 1914

“Ouch! Get off my foot.” A skinny girl with long auburn hair and dark green eyes glared at Albert. A short navy blue jacket covered her white blouse. Her black shoes peeked through the hem of her long navy blue skirt.

“Sorry. I didn’t see your foot.” Albert tried moving forward, but the dock was packed and there was little room to manoeuvre.

“You’re not a Mountie, are you?” The girl pointed to Albert’s wide Stetson hat and the brass buttons sparkling on his stiff red jacket.

“No. I’m with the Salvation Army. I’m in the Youth Band.” Albert lifted up his cornet case to show her.

“I’ve seen the Salvation Army on the street, collecting money to help the poor. My friends call your army the Sally Ann. Is it true that everyone from the Salvation Army smiles all the time?”

“You mean like this?” Albert grinned so widely his mouth hurt.

The girl laughed. “Are you going to London?”

“Yes. I’m going to the Salvation Army’s International Congress with my father, my uncle Thomas, my aunt Betsy and my cousin Lewis.” Albert gestured toward his family.

Albert’s father, uncle and cousin wore identical uniforms, but unlike Albert’s, their hats fit perfectly.

“My name’s Albert McBride,” he told the girl, pushing his hat back on his head. He extended his hand, and his hat tipped over his eyebrows. Dark brown curls poked out underneath the sides.

The girl shook his hand firmly. “I’m Grace O’Riley,” she said. She looked Albert up and down as if inspecting him for a parade. “Your hat is too big.”

“I know. It always falls off. Father said he’d get me another one, but in the rush to organize the trip, he forgot.”

Grace laughed. Her eyes twinkled like emeralds. “Is the band going to give a concert on the ship?”

“Yes, the Staff Band will. I wish I could play with them, but I’m only in the Youth Band. You should come and hear them.”

“I will. I like music.” Grace looked up at the ship. “Isn’t she beautiful?” she asked.

Albert peered up. The giant ship loomed over the dock like a floating castle. Large, white lifeboats hung off the top deck. A red-and-white-checkered flag flew in the breeze. Steam winches hauled boxes, trunks and suitcases for storage in the hold deep below.

The first-class passengers were already boarding. Many of them had attendants to carry their belongings. Their luggage, marked WANTED, accompanied them aboard.

“I can’t wait to sail on the ocean. I’ve never sailed before,” said Albert.

“I’ve sailed with my father back in Toronto. But that was on Lake Ontario. This is my first time on a giant ship on the Atlantic. This is going to be a wonderful adventure,” said Grace.

The ship’s whistle blew. The engines hummed, and smoke curled up to the sky. People gathered below the ocean liner, ready to wave goodbye to friends and relatives.

“We’ll be boarding at any moment!” said Grace, clapping her hands.

Albert tucked his cornet close to his chest. As he did, his hat fell forward and hit his nose. He straightened his hat and stood taller to keep it from falling again.

“Come on!” said Grace. “The line is moving.”

Albert picked up his battered black leather suitcase and began to move forward with the crowd.

“Ouch! There you go again, mashing my toes,” groaned Grace.

“I’m sorry. It’s just …”

“I know. It’s crowded here. But if we’re going to be friends, Albert McBride, you have to promise to watch where you’re stepping.”

“I promise,” said Albert, as the new friends headed toward the gangplank of the Empress of Ireland.