March Excerpt of Violets Are Blue

This is it — the final excerpt of Violets Are Blue. I have chosen one that I think will whet your interest quite a bit . . . enjoy!

I had been reading but ten minutes when I heard footsteps coming from the kitchen, and then Robert’s voice. 

“Mum!” he gasped. “There’s a big commotion down at the harbor! Something about the Titanic!”

My heart beat rapidly.

“Really?” Mum asked quizzically. “That’s strange. Now Vi, wait one minute—” 

But she was too late. I had already flown from the bedroom, through the kitchen, and out of the apartment door. My feet pounded down the stairs, my sides heaving. All I could think of was seeing Lilli.

The harbor had never seemed farther; my feet had never moved so slowly. The wind beat against me, holding me back. Despite the fact that it was April, the evening air was cool, but I paid no attention to the chilly breeze. I ran with lightning in my steps. People stared at me as I ran, but I moved right past them. 

Why were the roads so long tonight? Why couldn’t my feet move more rapidly? I couldn’t contain my excitement; this was the moment for which I had waited several months.

A large crowd had gathered around the harbor. I saw a ship docked, but it was somewhat smaller than the pictures of the Titanic Robert saved from the newspapers.

That’s odd, I thought.

But I was given no more time to speculate it. As people poured forth from this ship, I finally saw the name painted on the side: R.M.S. Carpathia.

How could that be? Was another ship to arrive; a ship of which I was not aware? Fear started to seep through my bones. What had happened to the Titanic?