Brave New Mouse: Ellis Island Approved Immigrant Book #5
Without warning the boat rode over another large wave The time machine securely fastened to the luggage did not budge A large wooden trunk with metal buckles rested next to Maximilian It must have been fairly heavy because when the ship turned violently the trunk stood firm This chest must have belonged to an owner who had endured much in order to be on this boat Its straps were worn and its finish was faded Boldly stamped on the side beneath the key lock was a bright red seal Maximilian was still feeling the effects of the time machine's spinning He braced himself against the trunk to read From Dublin Ireland To New York City U S A October 9 1920 General Fare Paid in Full Maximilian felt as though he was being toyed with The month and day were close
to the ones he had set into the time machine's panel But the year was off He slammed his paw against the trunk in frustration He had landed less than twenty minutes ago and had already found himself in a scary situation The time machine was damaged and he was no closer to Tanner's Glen Before he could vent any more his sensitive ears picked up something He paused to determine where the sound was coming from Carefully climbing between two crates and over a box of supplies Maximilian found the source of the noise He saw a girl sobbing Maximilian watched quietly from a safe distance The girl wore a long brown dress with ankle high leather shoes Her dress was simple and plain It was nowhere near as fancy as the dresses Maximilian had seen on the Mississippi steamship or even in Silver Springs The girl's red hair was in a long ponytail When she removed her hands from her face she exposed rose colored cheeks and fair skin
The girl's eyes were swollen from crying A few stray tears still ran down her face She removed a handkerchief from her side pocket and dabbed under her eyes Maximilian thought the girl was eleven or twelve Although he was sure she had been through more than most children her age Maximilian knew nothing about this girl He wondered why she would be this emotional At the same time he felt for her On more than one occasion on his trip he had been in her situation The girl dried her eyes some more She sat on a crate labeled Oslo Maximilian wondered if that was the name of a place or a family Maximilian navigated his way around a number of boxes to get closer to the girl From only a few yards away he saw that she had the most beautiful green eyes he had ever seen Looking over her shoulder she glanced back at the other passengers crowded into the vessel Maximilian followed her gaze to a middle aged couple with a boy no older than
five Like the rest of the families huddled in the ship they looked tired and scared The man looked as though he had not slept But he had a reassuring arm wrapped around his wife Maximilian looked back at the girl She now played with her handkerchief nervously He could see her pain Who are all these people Maximilian wondered aloud He was not quite sure how he should feel One thing was for sure he was stuck here for at least twenty four hours Hopefully no longer than that considering the crack in the time machine The girl gathered herself and prepared to return to her family Just then something made Maximilian freeze Fear pulsed through his veins Just when the girl straightened her legs and got to her feet Maximilian's watch chimed its familiar chord His watch's hymn sang softly from inside his pocket The timing could not have been worse
