Coming to America by Stephen M

December, 1903, New York City
We arrived at the port early in the morning. It was a long, treacherous sea voyage to this new land called America. On the way into the port of New York, my mother and I saw large buildings that seemed to touch the sky and a multitude of people that seemed to never end. The air smelt of smoke, as all around us there were factories unloading smoke stacks through their chimneys. This land of opportunity is nothing like Italy, from which we hail. Here, it seems to be over crowded and no real beauty in this society. Mother had said it would be beneficial for us to come here to work, and I do hope she is right in her judgment.
My mother and I, after registering with American customs, travelled to the borough of Brooklyn, where my Mother had relatives that we would live with for a short time. I had learned that New York City is composed of five smaller cities or boroughs. A man on the ship had explained this fact to me. I could not understand how such an already large city like New York incorporated five other cities. This journey to America was more of a culture shock than I had expected.
Our relatives in Brooklyn were extremely polite and courteous, and even spoke in our native o\dialect of Italian as we could not yet understand one word of English. Our rooms were extremely cramped, as I had to share a bed with my mother. While walking around this unexplored area, it came of great shock to me the variation in faces I saw around me. This was truly a melting pot, people descending from all lands for an opportunity to make a living. This type of urban living was also new to me, but I had heard on the ship that there were areas of America that were just like the Italian countryside.
My mother had finally found work!! The relatives we were staying with owned a florist shop a few blocks away and my mother had earned a position as an assistant there. This was joyous news for us two, as this was a new step towards our American dream. She was making very little, but it was a start. Things in America were not starting to turn our way. My mother was ecstatic, as her idea to come to America seemed successful. By the end of the month, she will have saved enough for us to move out and for me to attend a public school! New friends and adventures await me.
Horrible news as struck my mother and I. Our relative was forced to close the florist shop, and my mother has not been able to find other work. The florist shop was forced to close because of slow and lagging business. The owner had said that not enough business was being generated and costs were too high. This was heartbreaking news to my mother and I. we are still staying with our relatives in Brooklyn, but they said they do not know how much longer they can keep us. With little money to our names, my mother and I might be forced to poverty in the new world if she does not find a job soon. I have faith, however, in the land of opportunity and soon we will be out of our predicament.