The American Dream Short Story

The heat was overwhelming, as Edward was standing in between hundreds of families wishing to accomplish the “American Dream.” As him and his wife, Maggie, wondered what their future would hold, they were stuck on a gigantic ship for months waiting for their moment to arrive. With this so called “American Dream,” there were obstacles that got in their way. Edward and Maggie had no idea what they were getting themselves into once they stepped on to the ship. Their adventure started on a boat full of Europeans.

As they were at the end of the long journey to America, Edward heard a loud, distressed scream. He was concerned for whoever was so terrified, he pushed through the crowded deck and followed the voices. Edward was scared himself to see

what might be happening. As he was rushing to the scene, a mysterious man was running away from where the sound originated, he sped up immediately. The voice got closer and closer and Edward finally found the room. He slowly walked in and found an emaciated woman lying in a puddle of blood. He tried to help the woman, but it was too late. Edward was determined to go and report what he had just witnessed. Just as he was leaving the room, a crew worker found him standing in the doorway with blood on his hands. His whole body shivered in fear, immediately the worker blamed him for the scene. Edward was shocked, he was speechless. Without asking or even wondering, the crew worker forcefully grabbed his arm and accused him for the murder.
A few days later, they all arrived to the processing station, Ellis Island. Edward hadn’t seen his wife since the day he was indicted of killing a woman. He was worried about Maggie, she was 9 months pregnant and was due in any day. Edward was immediately taken to holding area where he would find out if he was going to prison or not. On top of everything that was going through his mind, he was thinking about what he was going to do for a living. Edward’s plan was to work in the meatpacking factory in New York, but that all might change. Shortly after Edward was contemplating what might happen next, a short and stubby man came up to him and forcefully said, “Follow me!” They approached a colossal doorway, it had excellent architecture and gold artwork above the doors. As they slowly walked in Edward spotted a wooden table with two chairs sitting across from each other. The man gestured his hand toward the chair and said, “Take a seat.” The man gradually sat down as well, he said “Now Edward, you have to give me the honest truth.” Edward wondered how he knew his name, but he didn’t bother to ask. He cleared his throat and gave him all of the details on what had happened. After an intense conversation, the man gathered his things and walked out of the room to plan the final thought. Edward waited for hours and the man finally came back in and said “I’m sorry to tell you this, but you are going to prison.” The man continued to explain that Edward was the one who killed the woman and that it is all his fault.
Edward didn’t know what to do, he just stood there in shock, he felt like his world was tumbling down. He came to America to pursue his “American Dream,” but instead he is getting sent to prison. The man told him that he could say goodbye to his wife, but can only be with her for a few minutes. Edward waited impatiently for Maggie to come walking through the door, he was pacing back and forth and just wanted to hold her in his arms. Finally the door opened and she came running to him, she was crying and said “ I’ve been worried sick about you!” The man told Edward “you have 5 minutes,” Maggie began to cry even harder. She wouldn’t let go of him.
She started screaming “THIS ISN’T FAIR, YOU CAN’T DO THIS TO US!” Edward told Maggie to stay in the hospital at Ellis Island because her baby was to be born in any day. Then Edward said something that Maggie will never forget.
He said “never forget to tell our child, to always follow your dreams and to never give up.” Edward had lived by this his whole life, he never gave up on anything and always followed his goals until they were reached. Edwards goal was to become successful in life, he wanted to the man with all the money, the man who everyone knew by name. But this goal of his could no longer be met because of what he has been accused of something he didn’t do. The couple stood there and hugged for the rest of the time they had together. Their time came by way too fast, and the man broke them apart and dragged Edward away. Maggie wouldn’t even look at Edward, she started walking in the opposite direction weeping. She heard the door slam behind her and she immediately started crying even more.
20 years passed and Maggie grew old, her son James, was 20.

James was working in New York at the Meatpacking Factory. Edward, James’s father was still not out of prison. He has been in prison for 20 years, for something he didn’t do. James knew that his father was a good man, even though he never met him. So, James raised up to the expectations that his father had and start working at the meatpacking factory in New York. The Swift & Company had just arrived in Albany, New York. James had been working there since he was 16, he always thought about his dad and wondered what type of man he was. He knew from stories his mother told him that he was a honest, work driven, and a respectful man, but James wanted to actually know him. Which made him work even harder. When James first started at the Swift & Company he was working as a slaughterer, which is the lowest position. He had several days where he wanted to go up to Henry, his boss, and quit. Every time he had that feeling he would say to himself “always follow your dreams and never give up,” which his mom told him when he was a child.

A few years went by and James kept moving up to the highest position in the factory. He became a very successful man, and he never gave up on himself or others. James became the boss of the factory, and he was in the middle of branching out the company further into country. He had already taken it to Buffalo, New York and Brighton, Massachusetts. He had become one of the most successful men in

New York. James pursued his father’s, dreams even when he never met him.
As James sat in his big rocking chair, by the fire, he prepared to tell a story of a lifetime.

He said, Now I’m telling you this story because it means an awful lot to me. I never met my father, Edward, but I know that I would make him an even prouder man. I took his dream and turned it into a reality for myself. Even though I am a fortunate man, which I have my mother and father to thank, I still work harder than I really should. My mother, Maggie work hard too. She worked in the hospital as a nurse for a few years, but she had to take some time off because she became deathly ill with pneumonia. Maggie and I were very close and it was amazing watching her helping and caring for others when she had such a hard time caring for herself. I miss my mother immensely, but I know that she is with me every step that I take. Everyday I think about how lucky I am to be where I am today, and it all because of my parents that thought be a very important lesson. “Always follow your dreams, and Never give

up!”