When will it end,

the moment it began,

I have waited,

and waited,

for a chance to leave,

this place,

when did this journey begin?

The moment I got here?

Or the moment I will leave?

I am waiting,

for the journey,

to honor,

of my family,

to, the gold rush!

I am waiting,

for monotony to end!

I feel monotony,

monotony come to life,

I have had enough of this!

I might go mad,

this must end!

I feel this is creepy,

the interrogator,

it pressures me,

the questions.

Monotony,

it feels like stone being cut the same length, same size, just the same thing over and over.

Drip, Drop,

I cannot go outside today,

it’s a rainy day.

I must leave now, to the interrogation,

the white devil taps his foot impatiently.

The white devils feel like they own the place,

and they’re arrogant in that way.

The Luk Yi think this too,

that they own the place.

 

Alon

 

Dear Grandpa,

 

When I first got home it felt so disappointing, to think that America would be fair to everyone, apparently people are really unfair about housing. Dad found this house on 212 Mott street, the Scottish neighborhood. Together, me as a newsie, and dad as a carpenter, we can pay the rent and have food and an extra $1.75. At the dinner table we always talk about what is in America and how our life is going. We have a lot more money that we used to have. Dad’s job is a carpenter, I’m a deliveryman as well as a Newsie. We can afford the rent because it is really cheap, $4.50 a month. The house was really bad so we haggled and won. I never went to school.

 

In the tenement, the living conditions were horrible. It was damp, musty, and dingy all the time. But now our landlord is now forced to follow the law and build windows in all houses and build indoor toilets, finally, I don’t have to go outside just to use the bathroom. Our apartment is not a sweatshop luckily. We never had to take on boarders to. The tenement Inspectors told us that they would inspect the tenement and we passed inspection. What they do is come into the tenement and inspect certain things like, no rags allowed, and no keeping feces and urine. Also, once Jacob Riis came and took a picture of our tenement. His book really helped convince the government to pass a law about tenements.

 

One day I saw women picketing a shop, it was like when we were Striking with Kid Blink against The world and The Journal. Kid Blink encouraged us with speeches, one was “The time has come when we must either make a stand or be down ridden buy the disciples of avarice and greediness. Is you all still with us?” The women were striking against bad working conditions. One was small, crowded rooms, another was short bathroom breaks, and also the last one was humidity and no windows opening. This was also the condition in sweatshops. After the strike though there was more pay, and the conditions changed over time to cleaner and more safe places.

 

We generally eat fish and potatoes here, though it is not as good as in Scotland. We really miss beef because you cannot get it here. But, we discovered a new food that we really like, it is called chicken stew, it tastes like beef stew but the only different thing is the meat, it is chicken. I shop on the way home from work, I shop from Phillippe who is my friend peddler and gives me the lowest prices from all of the peddlers, and he is my neighbor. I usually eat rolls for breakfast, a sandwich for lunch, and fish and potatoes for dinner. I like buying whatever mom tells me to buy from peddlers. I really like to buy potatoes a lot from peddlers because it reminds me of Scotland.

 

So basically, we achieved our goals and and have a better life, a good life, I wish I could see you again I miss you so much, you have no idea how much I wish you were here, when we were back in Scotland I felt like I could tell you anything, you were my best friend even though you were family. During my free time I play stickball, a new game I learned in America, it is what a lot of boys play and I think it is very fun to play. So, I really miss you and I want you to come to America.

 

Sincerely,

 

Jack

 

12/4/1905

 

Dear Grandpa,

 

We were travelling in steerage but it was okay because we made it out alive. I saw some rich people and lots of poor people. The rich people were higher off the water because they paid for first class tickets. The poor people were with me in steerage. The worst part of the journey was when people got colds. The germs would spread very quickly. But otherwise the journey was good. The best part of the journey was when we saw the Statue of Liberty. When we entered the harbor I was relieved the cruel journey was over. But now it was inspection time and everyone was scared. Steerage was cruel and everybody hated it. We all feared the inspectors, they were scaring every immigrant without even being there.

 

We got to Ellis Island. I had my luggage and was going into the Great Hall and I saw the inspectors. The doctors were first, but then, were the much feared intelligence inspectors. It struck a lump in my throat. The doctors are very strict with the immigrants. All around people were either relieved because they passed, or sad because one or more members of the family did not pass. I heard sobs and sighs of relief all around me. The air was hot and stinky. I was waiting in line when I heard Everything about this. In the Great Hall it smelled hot and sweaty.

 

I finished waiting, and the doctor was ready to inspect me. I was examined closely and carefully. The doctors were strict and annoying but I got through. The mental tests weren’t very hard on me, 1. Tell happy faces from unhappy ones,2. simple math: ” The doctors embarrassed me by telling me to add 5 and 5″  and 3. put a puzzle together. It was very easy, and I didn’t get detained.

 

The legal inspectors asked 3 questions. The questions were: Where are you going to? Who will you stay with? And how much money do you have? My name did not get changed either.The Staircase of Separation brought tears and hope for new life. I was not a detainee and I did not have to wait for them to further test me. I was sad for those people who had to go to detention and be separated from their families, or just did not have the chance to live new life in the USA.

 

I was very happy to see my dad after so much time! I was so excited I ran down the stairs, bought myself a ticket for the ferry, and then wrote this letter. I will miss you and grandma a lot. It is like the Staircase of Separation in miniature.

Sincerely,

Jack

(ALON)

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