What a beautiful day! Not a cloud in the sky, it’s all sun. I took the opportunity to do some drawing outside. Like my father, I am known to be an excellent artist. Not of people, but of landscapes. When you’re living in a lakeside community, you get surrounded by beauty year-round.
While I was in the middle of doing the landscape of the ocean, a young man next to me commented, “that is really good! Who taught you?” When I turned towards the man speaking, I saw a man that could be up my alley: blonde hair, blue eyes, charcoal in hand while a sketch pad is on his lap. He must be steerage, but that’s ok. I know that steerage passengers are well taken care of, especially when the majority of them are immigrants.
“Oh,” I chuckled with a smile, “I taught myself actually. Especially when you’re from a lakeside community.”
“Where are you from? Chippewa Falls,” the man asked. I’m suspecting this is my dad because mom mentioned one time that he’s originally from there.
“No, South Haven Michigan,” I replied. “what’s your name, sir?”
“Jack, Jack Dawson,” he replied as he shook my hand.
It’s him! I thought. I am really meeting my dad!!
“Ellisa Dawson, but call me Ellis,” I introduced.
“Ellis Dawson, huh” Jack replied.
“Before you say anything, no I’m not named after Ellis Island. It’s a name my mom likes. And two, there are many Dawson’s out there. So for us to be cousins is one in a thousand,” I stated before he said anything.
We continued the rest of the afternoon drawing and chatting until my mom showed up on the balcony above us. Jack was just looking at her, like a snipper about to shoot. Me, along with some of Jack’s friends, Fabrizio and Tommy Ryan, were looking all so perplexed. Ryan said something along the lines of “forget about it,” Fabrizio waved his hand in front of him, but only a hand clap from me worked. By that time, the douche followed her out and she went back in. “If you have a camera, you could take a photo of her, it’ll last longer,” I pointed out. Jack shook and blushed in embarrassment. After he shook his head, we carried on the conversation.
April 12, 1912 7:30 pm stern poop deck
Jack and I have been hanging out a lot these last 36 or so hours, quite impressive if you ask me. I’m glad I’m taking this opportunity to really get to know my dad. He is not only youthful, but vibrant, funny at times, and just a wonderful person. Despite him being a steerage passenger, he has a positive and realistic aspect on life. I told him I wish I could be that way.
“Why couldn’t you,” Jack asked.
“Well, times are hard where I’m at and my mom met this guy and wants to marry him. She has never had an interest in dating my entire life,” I sighed.
And it’s true about the hard times. I didn’t want to tell him that I’m from the Great Depression of the ’30s. All we ever read since the Stock Market crash in 1929 were people getting laid off, businesses closing down, food being, in a way, scarce and probably expensive. It’s like we’re in a financial drought; no money, no jobs, no nothing.
As we were talking about stars and looking at them, a distraught woman ran passed us, it’s mom in her red dress that’s covered in black lace. Jack immediately stood up on the bench with a concern look on his face, we know what she’ll do. “I’ll try and talk her down to not jumping,” Jack responded
“Ok, I’ll secure the area leading down here,” I mentioned. I remember mom saying something about cops and her rescue, it’s better for another woman present to calm things down. I went up the ladder to the one of the upper decks where the aristocrats, the wealthy and the snobs (excuse me, I’m not a huge fan of most rich people). A man struck up a conversation with me, turns out it’s John Jacob Astor, the richest man on the ship and the great grandson of a well known fur trader in Oregon. He and his young bride just got married, expecting their first child and on their way home. It’s interesting talking to one of the most famous people aboard the ship. I didn’t take up too much of his time, so he went on his merry way.
Then a scream from below…
I ran down there as fast as I can. Even wearing a long skirt down to my ankles, boots, and a green shirt that looks like I am wearing a corset underneath, I managed to get down to where mom and Jack were hanging on for dear life. Jack was having a hard time getting a good grip on mom, so I went over and got her other hand. “I GOT YOU,” I shouted. Despite her being confused, she’s relieved that she’s not going to fall in the grip of my father. I looked over to Jack and commanded, “on the count of three, let’s pull her up.” He nodded; after THREE we pulled her up and out so hard that all three of us fell on the deck. We laid there for a while, but I had to get mom up from the ground so I hoisted her up using her hand. I don’t remember what happened afterwards but mom’s fiancé got in the middle of it.
This little serpent started accusing my father of something he did not do. “HEY,” I shouted as I pushed Hockley out of the way. “BACK OFF!” How do I know his name? Mom told me a long time ago when talking about boys and what to watch out for. “If you’re gonna get to my brother, you’ll have to get through ME, Hockley.”
“Ellis, what are you doing,” Jack whispered
“Jack, play along,” I whispered back
When Hockley started accusing me of this plot, I cleared it up by saying we were saving her instead of partaking in any crime against her. Luckily, mom backed us up. After she explained what has happened, referring to us as the “Dawson Twins,” Hockley and his assistant Lockhart, lightened up and wanted to offer us some money. “We don’t take money for our own reward,” I stated. “Me and Jack would prefer other means of giving thanks.” Then mom stepped in to coax her fiancé into inviting us for dinner tomorrow night. We both accepted the invitation; if food is involved, we’ll come. As they depart from our view, I warned Cal one thing: if he crosses me again, he’ll get a broken nose, no doubt.
Back home, I was a known nose-breaker in my community. By the time I graduated from senior high, everyone in my graduating class knew to never cross me or even double-cross me or they’ll get a broken nose. How did I learn? Not from mom of course! I’ve never seen her hurt a bumble bee!
After the aristocrats departed to their rooms, Jack turned to me with this stern look on his face. “Brother,” he asked, “What made you think of that!”
“I mean look at us! We can pass as siblings,” I stated.
“I guess you’re right.”
After meeting Jack, I noticed how similar we are. Our facial structures are the same, our blue eyes are the same shade, and my medium length hair does have a bit of blonde in it, I prefer to call it “strawberry blonde.”
After we parted and said goodnight, I decide to go down to mom’s stateroom. Luckily, when I got there, no one was there except mom in her vanity, wearing The Heart of the Ocean in her white nightgown. I walked over and said a simple “hi.” She turned around quickly, she is definitely my mother! The difference is she’s younger and her red hair was darker, curlier, and longer. In those green eyes, I see innocence, a little girl, wanting to speak out but couldn’t.
“Oh! hi,” mom gasped. “You must be Ms. Dawson.”
“No one calls me that,” I said as I walked next to her. “Call me Ellis”
“Rose Dewitt Buckatter.”
“Rose,” I nodded; “quite fitting because of your rose colored hair.”
After getting consent to brush her hair, we had a bit of a girl-to-girl moment. She told me that she feels trapped in her life and doesn’t know a way out. I assured her that she will find a way out and the people around her doesn’t care about her well being at all. When she notices the small heart-shaped necklace I am wearing, I told her it’s from my mom, so that her heart goes everywhere I go. Little by little, Rose got comfortable with me; I don’t know why but maybe it’s just how we clicked or maybe in my time, I’m already close to her.
As I depart, I told her I’m here for her whenever she needs me, and she can find me in the second class section or wherever. Fortunately, that frown turned upside down.
We’ll see how tomorrow goes…
The NEW Life 