A Battle On The Seas

Chapter 2

When I wake up the next morning, Charlotte is snoring peacefully away in the bed across the way. I turn over in my bed and look up to the dark, ornate wood panels on the ceiling. My father comes into the room, looking spiffy and clean and well put together.

"Good morning, sunshine." Father says to me as he kneels down next to my bed. I turn to face him and smile softly.

"Good morning, Father." I respond. "Is it time for us to get up already?" I ask, not really wanting to start the day.

"I'm afraid so, Grace." He says to me. I sit up and stretch. My dress from last evenings dinner has been set up next to the dresser, to remind me not to wear it again until we have it laundered the next time we are on land permanently.

"I'll wake Miss Lightoller to let her know that other passengers will be boarding soon. That and her father wishes to see her on the bridge." Father says. He stands up from my bed and moves over to Charlotte's canopy bed. I stand up and make my way to the wardrobe that holds my clothes. When I open the door, three life jackets fall out onto me. I yelp lightly as I catch each one.

"I should have known that's where those were." I scold myself as I neatly stack them on the shelf above the rack holding my clothes. Little did I know that one of those life jackets would save my life later that week. Father and Charlotte seem to not notice my troubles with the life jackets since they were busy having a small argument.

After I got fully dressed, I turned to my father.

"Father, I'm going to the boat deck. I want to see how crowded it is down on the quay." I told him so that he would be aware of where I was going. He nodded.

"Just don't get in the way of any crew members. Especially the captain and the senior members. I'll be escorting Charlotte to the bridge." He told me. I nod and say goodbye before making my way through the mini maze that is first class to the Grand Staircase. I rush up the marble stairs, making my way to the Boat Deck, where the 16 regular lifeboats are held. The 4 other collapsibles are held on the officers quarters towards the bow of the ship. I run to the edge of the port side where no lifeboat can get in my way of being able to reach the railings.

"Wow." I say to myself, making note of how far I could see. I hear another girls voice next to me.

"I know. It's extraordinary. She's everything that I imagined her to be, although mother had her misgivings about the voyage." The girl said. I look over to her and notice that this girl is considerably younger than I am and she doesn't look to be in first, nor third class. Her dress is nice, but not overly flamboyant like the rest of the rich women in first class.

"I'm sorry, where are my manners. My name is Ruth Becker. I'm 12 and in second class. I assume this isn't where I'm supposed to be." She says, rather embarrassed at herself.

"I don't think so." I respond. "I'm Grace Andrews. I'm 15 and here because my father is the master shipbuilder." I say. Ruth's eyes widen.

"So you're Thomas Andrews' daughter!" She says. I nod sheepishly. "I keep hearing so many things about you and your family and the rich history you have in the shipbuilding industry." She says.

"Yeah, but I'm planning on becoming the first female captain for the White Star Line." I tell her. "Being on ocean liners and being around them is my life and it's everything to me. I guess you could say that this is me." I tell her. We talk for a while longer. The loud blast from the ships horn scares us both.

"It's 11:50. That's the last call for passengers." I say to Ruth.

"My mother, brother and sister might be waiting on me to find my way back to F4. That's my cabin if you ever want to come see me and talk more. I like you. You're not like the girl I ran into down on the docks." She says. I'm tempted to ask more, but I know that I shouldn't pry.