For weeks I had been planning my escape. From where you might ask? From home. I couldn't handle it any longer. I hated being treated like a hunk of meat! It was ridiculous, I was almost 21 years old, and I refused to be treated like a child too. I wasn't bad looking, in fact, I was very proud of how I looked. I had Dirty blonde hair going down to mid back, I was in wonderful shape, but still managed to keep my curves and look semi like a lady. I had bright blue green eyes and a pretty good smile. I was rich though. My father was the CEO of a construction company in New York. He was in charge of building the Chrysler Building and the other enormous skyscrapers of our growing New York. My father insisted that I start looking for a possible suitor to take over the business, and because of that I had men coming from every part of New York, Chicago, Boston, and all those other big cities I didn't care about because I would rather spend my time learning about stuff I could use for the future or my adventures that I wanted to take. My grandfather was a Navy Captain and taught me a lot about ships. But more than anything I loved his stories. About adventure, much like R.L Stevenson's "Treasure Island".
I was growing bored with my city life and for quite some time I had slowly been preparing for my leave. I had gone through some trunks that had my older brothers clothes in them, from when he was younger. Some fit almost perfect, but some needed some hemming which wasn't that bad. I also found some suspenders that would help in disguise. Now the shoes were the problem. I had to convince my mother to loan me money. Enough so that I could get some men shoes that would fit properly without blistering, but enough money to get something feminine so that my parents would not ask questions. I had to work out the timing though. I was told that my parents would be leaving for Chicago to hopefully "merge" businesses with a fellow contractor. That was when I planned to make my escape final. "Bye Darling" my mother said as she kissed my cheek. "Bye mom! Please bring me back a Chicago dress! I heard They have excellent material" I said in a complete sugar coated voice. "Of course anything for my little debutante" my father said as he patted my head like a child. I waved goodbye and watched their taxi drive down a couple blocks and turn.
I had no time to lose. I quickly ran upstairs and grabbed some scissors. "Louise please come here" I called downstairs to our house keeper. "I will give you seven dollars if you cut my hair" I said giving her a pleading look. "Of course" she said as she grabbed the scissors from my hand. "You know we've all been wondering when you would be leaving us Miss Fritz" she said. "I know but I just cant take it anymore" I said as I sat at my vanity. "How short?" she asked. "Shoulder length" I answered. "I don't want to look too new and bold in England or where ever the boat may dock 1st, but I need it short enough to hide under a cap. I plan on working on a boat to earn my keep" I said as she finished. "My dear Rebecca" she said cupping my face. "Please be careful. Seamen are some of the toughest men in the world, but can also be the kindest. Take your time choosing a ship if you can" she said. "now change let me see what you look like" she said. I nodded and took a blue button up shirt a pair of trousers and the hat into the bathroom. I changed quickly and stuffed my hair under my newsboy cap. "How do I look?" I asked as I came back into my room. "your missing something" She said looking at me. She cocked her head to the side and looked at me. "Ah hah" she exclaimed. She rushed to my fire place and grabbed the soot bucket. She dipped her fingers in the bucket and smeared some soot around on my face. "There you look more like a street boy instead of a gentlemen" she said smiling. "good luck my dear" she said as she gave me one last hug. "Thanks" I said as I grabbed my duffle bag off the bed and headed down the stairs. I gave one last glance at my old home before taking off and running towards the docks.
I was now getting frustrated. I had been up the main docks, but none looked ready to set sail anytime soon. Until a small tramp steamer caught my eye. I saw a tall dark man shouting orders to crew and I thought he would be the captain and the one to speak to. I dropped my bag in front of him. "Hello Captain everything ship shape?" I asked in the most boyish voice I could muster up. "Ship Shape indeed, but I am not the captain" he said. "I'm sorry I just assumed since you were giving orders You'd be the man to talk to" I said. The man bent down slightly to try and look me in the eyes, but I tried to avoid eye contact. I knew if anything gave me away that would be them, I've always shone my emotions in my eyes. "Ah is that him over there" I asked nodding in the direction of a man in a white navy mans hat. "Indeed it is" he said while arching an eyebrow. "If it's passage you seek you best be getting over there to talk to him" he said. "Yes sir" I said as I picked up my duffle bag and headed in his direction.
"Excuse me captain" I said. I mentally smacked myself in the forehead because I hadn't remembered to cover up my voice, but I had hoped with all the racket that he would fail to notice. He turned around to face me, and my breath caught in my throat. He had the most stunning piercing blue yes I had ever seen in my whole entire life, and I had met some pretty good looking people. He was white, half a head shorter than the black man, but still half a head taller than me. "Yes?" he asked irritated. "I was wondering if I could have passage aboard your ship" I said as I looked down at the dock. "No" he answered as he turned around. "Please" I begged, once again forgetting my boy voice. "It's just that" I started, and then I stopped. I realized I hadn't even came up with a story to tell the Captain. "Well?" he asked sounding more irritated than before if possible. "My mother and father just died I have relatives in England and would like to travel there" I said while fiddling with my fingers. "I have no intentions to going to England right away, or knowing when I will be going that way boy" he said. That's when I noticed he had a German accent. "Please. I have no money, but I… I can cook" I said. "We have a cook" he answered. He shouted something at the sailors. "I cannot help you! I have no use for scrawny boys such as yourself. Ships are for men" he said. " I am a man. I'm 21 years old. I can learn the ways of your boat… ship! Please I'll pull my own weight! I promise" I pleaded. "Mr. Hayes" he shouted causing me to jump a little. "Do you have use for another cabin boy?" he asked. The man from earlier walked up behind me. The man looked at me with compassion and gave the captain half a smile. I turned and looked at the captain. "Fine. Don't get in my way or you'll regret it" he said as he took out a cigarette.
"What's your name boy" Hayes asked. "uhhh… I'm uhhh… ummm…" I stuttered. "Englehorn" a man shouted causing me and Mr. Hayes to turn and see who was talking. "Cast off, Hoist the Main Sail, Raise The Anchor, Do whatever the hell it is you do, we gotta leave" this man said. "I'm new to this whole sailing experience thing but isn't it the captains job to decide when we are going to leave" I snapped at the chubby man. He scowled at me while the captain looked over at me. "I wasn't talking to you 1st of all and second if I want advice from the crew I'll ask for it not that I'll come to you for advice anyways boy" he snapped. "We are waiting on the manifest" the captain said diverting this mans attention away from me thank god. My temper was my worst trait. Don't treat me bad and I won't treat you bad is how I believed things should be. "English please" the man said snapping his fingers as he walked towards the captain. "Paperwork" the Captain, Hayes, and I said at the same time. "I'll give you another thousand if we leave right now" the man said in a hushed voice. "you haven't given me the 1st thousand yet" the captain replied in an obliviously irritated tone. "Can we talk about this later can't you see we are in the company of a VIP guest" the man said while turning the spotlight on the young woman standing a few feet away from me. The captain took the cigarette out of his mouth and walked over to her. "maam" he said while sticking out his hand. "Anne Darrow" She greeted as she shook his hand. "So you are ready for this voyage Miss Darrow" captain asked her. "Sure" she answered. She sounded as if she were still trying to convince herself to go. "Nervous?" The captain asked as he lit the cigarette. "Nervous? No why? Should I be?" she asked. I was interested in what he was going to say. I had a funny feeling in my tummy that not only me, but everyone else on this ship was about to go on the biggest adventure of our lives. "It isn't every woman that would take such a risk" he said while exhaling his cigarette. The chubbier man nodded to a skinnier man to the side and if on cue he butted in. "Why don't I show you to your cabin" He said as he led Miss Darrow away. She gave me a small smile and I smiled back.
"Who's that?" I asked Hayes as I nodded to the chubbier fellow writing the captain a check. "I still have to figure out who you are" he said. "Oh I'm uh… Ray. Yeah Ray Fritz" I said while sticking out my hand. "1st Mate Benjamin Hayes" he said while taking my hand. "Ah good firm handshake that's what I like" he said smiling making me feel a tad more relaxed. "As for that man over there. That's Carl Denham a movie producer, if you ask me he's bringing no good on this ship" he started. "the younger thinner man was his assistant Preston. Also aboard is his crew: a camera man, a sound man, and the actor Bruce Baxter. No doubt you've heard of him" he said. " I have sir" I said as I followed him onto the ship. "Hayes will do. no sir" he said. "I'll have you bunking with Jimmy he's about your age. He's another one of my cabin boys" Hayes said as he led me down the narrow corridors of the ship. He continued talking but I didn't quite hear him. My mind was drifting off to the captain and his steely blue eyes that pierced my heart. "you can have the night to rest. I'll have Jimmy get you up with him, and then I'll put you to work" he said as he gave me a pat on the back. One of the beds that was unmade I assumed was Jimmy's so I took the one next to the window. I threw my duffle bag on the floor and flopped on the hard bed. I couldn't believe how tired I had felt already and soon was drifting off to sleep.
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