A Pocketful of Dreams They were sisters yet strangers: realistic sixteen-year-old Alfreda Anderson and fanciful ten-year-old Erna, divided by hardship but united in the adventure of sailing to America. Alfreda dreamed of new beginnings, far from the drugery of life with her aunt and uncle on a small islad off the coast of Sweden, while Erna already missed her home and feared the journey to Chicago and the father they hadn't seen in years. Papa had sent tickets for Mother and their sick little brother, Karl, but only the girls would make the journey -- on the splendid new ship Titanic.