Beyond the Shadow of War (35 page)

39

THE WISTERIA WAVE

The Ship’s Daily Newspaper

Saturday, 2 February 1946 

Ship’s position as of noon today: 49° 40’ N. Latitude; 20° 30’ W

A Word from our Captain

By now, as we continue steaming along these waters to the shores of America, I hope those of you who have suffered from seasickness have at last found relief. We have made every effort to make you as comfortable as possible, thanking Mother Nature for doing her part to smooth the waves upon which we now travel. A tremendous thanks to the medical staff and the Red Cross personnel on board who have worked diligently to aid those affected. Please do not hesitate to ask for help if you are still under the weather.

We look forward to seeing more of you at our evening events. The onboard staff have worked tirelessly to provide nightly entertainment for your journey. You will find a list of those activities on the reverse page.

In addition, the Red Cross continues to offer a wide range of classes to help you adapt to your new life in America. You will find them listed on the reverse page as well. I hope you will avail yourselves of these many opportunities.

If we may be of further assistance, please let us know by contacting any of the stewards on board.

May God grant us smooth sailing ahead,

Captain Neville Masterson

* * * * *

And Now a Word from our Chaplain

What a grand privilege and honor it is to sail with all of you on your inaugural voyage to America! Please join us for daily services at half past ten each morning in the ship’s chapel, B Deck, Aft, Portside, next to the ship’s Library. We sing hymns, pray, and read a brief passage of Scripture. All faiths are welcome.

Vespers over the ship’s public address system are offered each evening at half past seven.

As we sail ever closer to America’s shores, many of you may find yourselves second-guessing your decision. Perhaps your seasickness is accompanied by an overwhelming wave of homesickness. For those with children, you may worry for your little one’s health and happiness as he or she is carried to a strange land amongst a new family of strangers.

Whatever your lot, I am available to help, and I welcome you to stop by for a visit. My office is located on B Deck, next to the Chapel in Cabin 236. My office hours are 8:00 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. daily.

Wishing you God’s richest blessings,

Chaplain William Traverse

* * * * *

From the Editor

As we continue our historic adventure across the high seas, I would like to take this opportunity to remind you of the ongoing classes and workshops available to you each and every day. As Captain Masterson mentioned, you will find them listed on the reverse page along with a map showing classroom locations.

For the musically gifted, it’s not too late to join the Wisteria Orchestra or the Brides’ Chorus as both rehearse American tunes for our nightly concerts as well as the patriotic concert scheduled for our last night together. Come one, come all!

For the beauties amongst us (don’t be shy!), don’t forget to enter our Beauty Contest to be held Friday evening, 8 February. Consolation prizes for the two runner-ups and a grand prize for the lucky girl crowned Most Beautiful!

But wait! Move over, Mummy. We haven’t forgotten the darling babies on board. On Saturday afternoon, 9 February, we’ll all enjoy our Beautiful Baby contest. Categories determined by age: newborn to 18 months; 18 months to 2 years; 2 years and above. Is your baby the cutest? Find out Saturday!

I’m quite confident that every bride on board will enjoy this headline from America:
“Hundreds of Yankee Husbands Await War Brides’ Arrival.
” The SS Argentina, the first official “War Bride Ship,” which departed from Southampton on 26 January, is scheduled to arrive at New York Harbor on Monday, a day late due to a fierce storm encountered approximately 1,000 miles from American soil. The Argentina charts the course with 452 war brides and 145 babies on board, commencing “Operation Diaper Run” which will transport thousands of English, Scottish, Irish, and Welsh brides to their new homes in America. These anxious American husbands will be joined by the Mayor of New York, a band, and hundreds of news reporters and cameramen.

Let’s hope they’ll give the Wisteria the same warm welcome when we arrive next week!

While the Americans prepare for the arrival of the Argentina, back in Southampton today, the Queen Mary will board her first war bride passengers, expecting over 2,400 to follow our voyage across the icy Atlantic.

Now for a final word. We’re all anxious to see our husbands and explore our new land, but until we do, let’s all make a special effort to get to know each other. If one of your cabinmates is a bit shy, include her in your activities. If she’s feeling ill, do the right thing and help her out. If she’s a bit fatigued from caring for her child, why not give her a break by offering to watch her little one for a while or suggesting she take little Robert or Mary to the ship’s nursery? We’re all in this together, ladies, so let’s be good neighbors to one another.

Elizabeth Corbett, Editor

* * * * *

Have You Made Your Appointment?

The Wisteria Beauty Shop still has a few openings for hair styling and manicures before we dock in New York. Look your best for your American husband! Let the professionals help you look “shipshape” when you step off the Wisteria!

Today’s Lectures and Workshops

Sewing Basics

Cooking American Style

American Fashion

Raising Children in America

Understanding the Government of the United States

“What Did You Say?” A Study of English vs. American English Colloquialisms

“Where’s That?” A Brief Overview of the American States

Books Available in the Library

And Now Tomorrow by Rachel Field

A Tree Grows in Brooklyn by Betty Smith

Leave Her to Heaven by Ben Ames Williams

The Robe by Lloyd C. Douglas

Mrs. Miniver by Jan Struther

An Atlas of Infant Behavior by Arnold Gesell

I Never Left Home by Bob Hope

Our Hearts Were Young and Gay by Cornelia Otis Skinner and Emily Kimbrough

Tonight’s Movie

The Bells of St. Mary

Starring Bing Crosby and Ingrid Bergman

By Monday, most of Anya’s cabinmates were feeling better, growing more accustomed to the ship’s constant motion. Ruth still fought the dreadful nausea, unable to keep anything down. She insisted on staying in bed, moaning as she turned over and pulled the covers over her head. Worried about the fragile wisp of a girl, Anya promised to bring her something bland to nibble on.

The rest of them enjoyed a hearty breakfast including actual chilled oranges which they hadn’t seen since the war began, and real eggs instead of powdered. Sautéed potatoes, pancakes with real maple syrup, and an assortment of flaky pastries rounded out the morning meal. Most of those who’d been especially ill took a pass on the sausage and bacon, but Gigi and Anya indulged themselves.

Afterward, they returned to their stateroom briefly to don coats and scarves before heading to the deck for some fresh air. Anya noticed Ruth’s empty bunk, hoping that was a good sign. Maybe she was taking a hot shower or bath. With no more water rationing, everyone on board was raving about the sheer luxury of soaking in a nice hot bubble bath. Hopefully, Ruth was finding some relief. Anya left a wrapped pastry and orange for her on her pillow.

As they stepped out on the windy deck, Anya gazed up at the puffy white clouds dotting the perfect azure sky as the
Wisteria
cut her way through the rolling waves. She took a deep breath, savoring the tingling bite of frigid air as it filled her lungs.

Gigi joined her at the rail. “Don’t you wish we could sleep out here instead of that smelly old stateroom?”

“Apart from the fact we’d freeze to death the first hour, I would say yes. It’s a relief to breathe clean air again.”

“Let’s walk, shall we, girls?” Helen said as she came alongside Agatha. “Who knows if we’ll have another chance to enjoy a pretty day out here.”

“I’m so glad we weren’t on the
Argentina,
” Agatha said. “I heard the seas were so rough, a baby was knocked out of its hammock. Rolled across the floor and back again before his mum could get to him.”

“How awful,” Kate said, glancing down at Joss in the pram. “That must have been ever so frightening. Did the child recover?”

“Just a bad bruise on his head, last I heard.” Agatha arched her brows. “Want to know what else I heard?”

Gigi took the bait. “Do tell. What have you heard?”

“Well, rumor has it the girls on that ship have had to fight off the crew from unwanted attention, if you catch my drift. Apparently those guys have been at sea too long and were starved for female
interaction,
so to speak.”

“Sounds like my kind of ship,” Gigi teased.

Agatha’s eyes widened. “No, not
that
kind of attention‌—‌against your will? Lots of assaults, from what I heard. Some happened right in broad daylight! They have so many crewmen locked up in the ship’s brig now, there’s hardly anyone left to help the girls disembark once they reach New York.”

Anya stopped in her tracks. “That’s the most ridiculous thing I’ve heard since we boarded this ship. Who told you such rubbish?”

Agatha stiffened, picking up her pace as she passed Anya. “I have my sources. And every word of it is true. You’ll see. There are scads of news reporters on board with them. They’ll spill the beans. Just you wait and see.”

Anya slowly caught up with the others. “I doubt that seriously. The Army Transport would never put up with behavior like that. You shouldn’t spread such rumors.”

“Anya’s right,” Helen added. “You read the ship’s paper this morning, Agatha. The
Argentina
is the first war bride ship to sail, which means they’re in a publicity spotlight. My guess is the captain would nip that kind of behavior in the bud before it ever got out of hand.”

Agatha’s ample backside and short strides reminded Anya of a fairy godmother character in one of her favorite childhood books. A little busybody, bustling along, trying to keep up.

“I’m only telling you what I heard.”

“Oh, don’t be getting your knickers in a twist,” Gigi teased. “Probably just some harmless flirting.”

“Look there.” Kate shadowed her eyes and pointed across the starboard bow. “Are those icebergs?”

The rest of them turned to look. “I’ve never seen one before, but what else could it be?” Anya said. “Smaller than I imagined.”

“That’s because all you’re seeing is the top of them,” Helen said. “What lies beneath the water’s surface is massive compared to what you see there.”

“Maybe, but don’t say the name of that other ship again,” Kate cautioned. “No need to court a demise such as theirs.”

“What ship?” Agatha asked. “You mean the
Titanic
?”

“Shush!” Gigi elbowed the girl’s ribs. “Kate’s right. Even uttering the ship’s name could reap all sorts of peril and despair on us. I’ll kindly thank the rest of you to guard against such thoughtless chatter.”

Agatha snapped a salute. “Whatever you say, Captain Gigi.”

They walked two full rounds of the deck before heading back inside for classes. Kate and Joss joined Helen for the “Raising Children in America” class. Gigi and another girl from their cabin chose the class about American fashion, while Agatha attended the study on British versus American colloquialisms. Anya decided a course on the layout of the American states might be helpful, hoping she might learn more about Chicago. The Red Cross workers made the classes fun and answered as many questions as the brides might ask.

The girls regrouped for the midday meal, dining over a choice of broiled salmon served with a lemon butter sauce or sugar-roasted ham with all the trimmings.