JOHN AND MIRIAM
Chapter Two
"It's all in how you present
yourself," Miriam explained as they walked through the steerage section of
Titanic, searching for their room. "That officer was used to obeying
people who considered themselves superior to him. When I acted like I was
superior, he was so well-trained to obey that he didn't have a chance to
realize that we're just steerage people."
"Just steerage people?" John
commented with a grin. "Now you sound like you think that he's superior to
us." He sobered. "Did you think you were superior to him?"
Miriam thought for a moment. "No,"
she responded. "I think all people are equal, whatever their position in
life."
They had found their room by this time and
hurried inside. Miriam looked around in dismay.
"Bunk beds! I knew I should have booked
passage sooner. Maybe we'd have been able to have a double bed that way."
She looked closer at the beds. "Although, I suppose that two people could
fit into one of them if they were very tolerant." She gave John an
innocent smile. "Do you think we could be that tolerant?"
John smiled, playing along. "Oh, I think
we could manage. But not until after Mary is asleep."
"Good point." Miriam noticed people
looking in at them and quickly closed the door. "Did you see how some
people were staring at Mary?"
John shrugged. "Well, I guess that they
don't expect to see a little girl dressed in Slavic clothes with an English
couple."
"I wish they wouldn't stare. Mary might
get the idea that there's something wrong with being different. Even though
she's little, she still knows her own mind, and I'd hate to see her convinced
that that is wrong."
John nodded in agreement. "She does have
a mind of her own. Still, you've got to admit that she might be a little easier
to dress if she didn't throw a fit when not allowed to wear the clothes her
Slavic grandmother made for her."
"Yes, it would. I allow her to wear them
though, because it makes her easier to handle on other issues, such as eating.
I think this is why it's called the terrible twos."
John laughed. "You're probably
right." He paused. "How about we put up our things and go out on
deck. The ship will be sailing soon, and I'd like to see the shoreline pull
away."
"That's right, you've never been on a
ship before." Miriam tossed her and Mary's things on the top bunk of
Mary's bed. "It is kind of fascinating, watching the shore disappear from
view." They headed for the door.