We then went onto to Germany, France & back to Ireland. Same sort of "family", always with different names. Okay, so what was my name today. I knew that my father played this game where we always went under different names. I guess thats why the other family members didn't have the same name, well, they didn't look like us either. But, it wasn't my place to ask questions. It was all assumed and understood and my father had it all under control. All too soon it was time to go back to America. It was April. Here in Ireland, it was very pretty, but we were to go back to New York. From the beautiful expanse of green, to the narrow and dirty streets. Even where we lived, it was still so very different from the places we were visiting. It was early April, when my father said to me. You will be twelve soon. Yes, on the 12th of April. Well, then, he went on, you should have a proper celebration. Handed me one of my magazines. The Shipbuilder. The one with the Titanic in it. It took me a few moments to realize what he was about to say. For my birthday, we were going to travel to Southampton, England and take the Titanic back home to New York. I couldn't believe my ears. It was a dream. I was so excited. My father once more came through as the person who had everything under control. He was giving me the best present I could ever possibly think of. A week on the biggest ocean liner in the world. A whole week to explore all the possibilities. I knew all the facts about the engines, reipocating and Parson's steam. Oh, I thought, I'll be twelve. They will let me visit them. I've been on ships. The sailors always liked to let the boys see. Years later I thought, perhaps to recruit them. I had found later that boys went to sea at age 13 or 14. That seemed so foreign to me. I was to go to college. My father wanted me to have everything.
             So on 10 April, we arrived at the dock to see the ship we would soon make home. Her lines, her grace, I couldn't be...