My subconscious heard a knock at my bedroom door. The sound came again, now accompanied by a voice. "Hey sweetie, wake up," It was my mother. I slowly opened my eyes. "Did you sleep well?" Mum was standing in the doorway. "I slept good, yes," I answered. Mum walked over to my bed and sat down. "Alright. I set up breakfast for you, take your time though," She said as she ruffled my hair. I smiled as she did this. As mum left my room I stepped out of my bed and opened my dresser. It was Sunday, I'd be wearing simple clothes. I took out some cotton trousers and my favourite blazer. I closed my dresser and stepped out into the hallway. In the kitchen, mum had indeed set up breakfast. I took a piece of bacon, a piece of toast and some honey. As I started eating, mum came in with the milk. "Here you are!" She smiled as she put down a cup of milk. She then sat in front of me and started eating too. "What are your plans for today?" Mum suddenly asked. I thought for a second as I ate. "James and Will getting together in the park today. I was going to go too," I finally answered. "Okay, don't stay out too late though. Tomorrow is school," Mum answered with a piece of toast in her hand. "I'll remember!" I said as if I'd never stayed out too late before. "Anyway, have fun," Mum smiled.
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I entered our backyard and took my bike from the shed. I rode past a few people, one of them was a girl I liked, Mary. About twenty minutes after I'd left home I arrived at the city's park. As I placed my bike against the wall I heard a voice call to me. "Hey, George! Over here!" I surveyed the park for a few moments to find James and Will sitting on a tree branch. "Hey!" I called as I ran to the tree. I took James' arm and sat next to him. "How are you?" James asked. "Good, you?" I replied. "I'm good too," James said, a little absentmindedly. I followed his gaze to find a girl of about our age sitting on a park bench. "Who is she?" I asked. James didn't reply but Will, one of our other friends, did. "That's one Elizabeth Field. She's twelve like us. James saw her when we arrived. He's been transfixed ever since," I nodded at Will's explanation. "At least I'm not the only one who fancies someone," I said, forgetting I was actually speaking. James instantly snapped out of his transfixed state. "You like someone?" He almost yelled. "Yeah," My cheeks filled with a blush. "Who? You have to say!" Will questioned. "Well. Umm. Mary Hill," I admitted. "Mary? You like Mary?" James said enthusiastically. "Where is she?" James added, looking around the park for her. "Found her!" Will said triumphantly, he was pointing to the park entrance. Mary stood there with some of her friends. "I'm going to her!" James said, getting ready to hop off of our branch. "Don't! Or I'll go to Elizabeth!" I threatened as I took James' collar to stop him from telling Mary. "Alright," James said, the prospect of Elizabeth scaring him a little. "I'm going to Mary," I said, hopping down from the tree. "So I'm not allowed to go, but you are?" James said, an annoyed look on his face. "I'm only going to her if you go to Elizabeth," I added. James shook his head fiercely. "I don't think so!" He said. "Well then I'm not going to Mary," I said, trying to hold in laughter. "Why don't I take James to her. Then you can go to Mary," Will intervened. "Good idea, keep James close though!" I said, turning to leave.
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I approached Mary as she was separated from her friends. "Umm, hey, I'm," I started, stuttering over my name. "You're George Tutton, aren't you?" Mary finished for me. "Yeah," I said. "How are you?" I asked, trying to keep our conversation afloat. "I'm good, you?" Mary said with a warm smile. My blush, which I hadn't noticed yet, grew more noticeable with that smile she gave me. "I'm good too. So, umm, you've got a nice dress," I said, pointing out her blue dress. Mary's smile grew as I said this. "You think so? Thank you!" She radiated happiness now. "I like your blazer too. I've seen it before," Mary said. I nodded at this. "It's my favourite," "So, umm, I have to tell you something," I started. Mary looked at me curiously. "What?" She questioned. " Lately, I've been thinking of you. I think, well, I think I'm in love with you," I said, getting my confession out of the way. Mary's cheeks now also sported a blush. "I don't know what to say," Mary said, appearing flustered. She stood still for a few moments before looking right at me. "Same," She whispered. Before she could say anything else, I rushed forward and hugged her. "Thanks!" I smiled. As I hugged Mary, I saw James still talking nervously with Elizabeth.
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I stayed with Mary for the rest of my day, we got to know each other better and we hugged multiple more times. Eventually, as the sun was setting, I took my bike once more and rode home. As I entered the kitchen I called out to mum. "I'm home!" I yelled. Mum's head appeared in the doorway leading to the sitting room. "Had a fun day?" She asked as she entered the kitchen. "Yes, I have a girlfriend now," I said, once again blushing. "Really? Who?" One of mum's friends called from the sitting room. I walked to the door and said. "Mary Hill, madam," As I said this, I noticed Mary's mother was the person who'd asked. "Well I'm glad for my Mary! Such a nice boy," Mrs Hill smiled. I felt mum's hands on my shoulders. "Why don't you get a bath?" Mum suggested. I nodded and took a large bucket outside to our tap. I filled the bucket and moved inside again. In our bathroom I filled up our bath, we were some of the first in the city with a porcelain bath, dad had bought it. When the tub was filled sufficiently, I took off my clothes and steppedinto the bathtub.
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After my bath I entered my room and took out my wooden sword dad had fashioned for me. I played with it outside for a while until mum called me in for dinner. "So, finally found the courage to ask out Mary?" Mum teased. I smiled at her. "Yes, James almost forced me though," Mum laughed. "Of course he did," Mum then pointed out a letter. "This arrived this afternoon. It's from your father," She said. I opened the letter excitedly.
'Hey buddy,
How are things back home? The views we get on the ship are beautiful, I wish you and your mother could see them. And the Titanic itself! It's wonderful, the ballroom is enormous and as fancy as you'd imagine. The rooms are good too, but I didn't expect less, for that much money. I'll see you next month, alright?
See you,
Dad'
I smiled as I put down the letter. "What does he say?" Mum asked. "The views are nice, he wants us to see them. His room too," I explain quickly. Mum nodded as she also read the letter. A few minutes later I finished my dinner and went to my room. I took out my pyjamas; just an undershirt and some old shorts, I didn't like nightgouns. Before I put on my pyjamas I yelled downstairs. "Goodnight, mum!" Mum answered with "Good night, sweet dreams!" I stepped into my bed and drifted off to sleep.
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I awoke the next morning right as the sun was rising. I put on my school uniform and descended the stairs. I entered the kitchen to find mum preparing breakfast. "Good morning dear," She smiled. "Mum," I said. I took the toast she offered me and sat down. We ate in silence as we listened to the radio. In the middle of a song the news jingle played. "We have an interruption," The newsman's voice said. "It is with great sadness that we announce that today, Monday april 15th, 1912, the RMS Titanic has sunken to the ocean floor. Today will be a day of mourning for many. Thus, all events are cancelled and schools are closed. Thank you for you attention," The man explained. As he did so, mum started softly crying. I didn't say a word as I stood up to hug her. Sadness crept its way into me as I hugged mum. "D-dad was on that ship," I finally managed to say. Mum let out a louder cry. "Indeed," She said. I grabbed her tightly, letting tears flow freely. A few minutes we stood there, sobbing over dad. Then a knock was heard at our door. I ran to open the door and saw Mary, her pretty face full of worry. "George," She said. Behind Mary stood her mother. "H-hey," I sobbed. The girl sepped forward and hugged me, just as I'd done the day before. "I'm sorry," She said. I didn't say a thing back, but I knew she understood. From behind me, mum called Mrs Hill and Mary inside. The two entered, Mary not letting go of me. I faintly heard Mrs Hill say something about the problems of such a tragedy at a young age. For a moment I was annoyed, twelve wasn't young! Mum sat me and Mary on one of our couches as Mrs Hill comforted my mother. As I sat there, I thought. 'This is a day to remember,"