The next few weeks it was the same old routine. I wake up an hour before dawn. Brush my hair and teeth. Get dressed and head down to the kitchen. Captain Crawley gave me my own room in the sailors quarters. Since I am a girl it would be inappropriate to sleep in the bunk rooms with the other men. My room was very small. It contained a bed, a small desk, a mirror, and a small closet. The captain gave me permission to find four outfits out of the clothing being brought to the mainland, so I did. I took the plainest outfits. I chose four of the same pair of jeans. Four of the same style of shirt only different colors. Four of the same pairs of socks. Then four different pairs of undergarments. I was very grateful for this, so I worked extra hard in the kitchen.

When I arrive down in the kitchen I always get a massive pot of coffee, and one of tea going for the men. Then I start preparing the meal for the morning, and thawing meat out for lunch. Normally I make some type of a warm wheat, along with some type of meat, then some bread. The sailors I can tell love the food I make for them, and I can see it in their belt lines. Every morning the men trail in rubbing their eyes and they go straight for the coffee, or teas. Then they wait for Captain Crawley to arrive. After he has given the blessing they all quickly eat and then it is off to work.

I put Seamus in charge of the clear up of the tables, and the washing of the dishes. Everyday he and I have some new topic to talk about even though we never talk to new people, or hear any of the worlds news. Around ten o’clock while fresh bread is baking we go topside and walk around the deck breathing in the salty sea air. Today the sun is hidden by a thin layer of clouds and there is a brisk feel to the air. Happy that I brought the old jacket given to me by Seamus I zip it up, and pull the flaps over my neck. “Why is it so cold today?” I asked him shoving my hands in my pocket.

“That be the air coming off the main land. Autumn be almost over, and the air be growing colder and colder,” he answered back as he brought his hands up to his mouth to blow on them.

“How far away are we from Ireland?” I asked him.

“Only bout two days away,” he answered back. I grew quiet. What would I do once I reached Ireland? Would Captain Crawley let me stay and be the ship’s cook? Where would I go if he didn’t? These thoughts plagued me for the remainder of the day. Not wanting to seem desperate I didn’t ask the captain about it at lunch or dinner. Seamus knew something was wrong, but he didn’t say anything about it. He quietly did his work. That night I tossed and turned. I woke up early the next morning and showered and arrived in the kitchen early. Seamus came in at his usual time and found breakfast already ready. He began setting the table with plates and then he came and sat down next to me at the preparation table.

“Alright what be the matter Irean. Ye ‘ave ‘ardly spoken a word since our walk about the ship yesterday. Did I say something that be offending ye?” he asked in a kind tone.

“No it wasn’t you. I am worried about what is going to happen once we reach Ireland. What if Captain Crawley tells me to leave? Where will I go?” I said, and began to tear up.

“That be all that be troubling ye? Well why don’t ye just go an ask the cap’n if ye be allowed to stay?” he said with a bit of a chuckle.

“I don’t want him to think that I am selfish, and a moocher,” I said a bit frustrated.

“Cap’n won’t be thinkin that. Ye be trusting me on that,” he said serious. He paused for a bit and remained quiet. Just as he opened his mouth the men started to trail into the dining hall. Hurriedly we began to lay out the dishes of food onto the tables, them Captain Crawley walked in and blessed the food and everyone began eating. Suddenly Seamus stood up and walked over to the captain and whispered something in his ear. Both turned to look at me and my face began to burn. Seamus walked over to me, and the captain waved me over to him. I sat down in the seat next to him and he looked at me.