A sandwich, a beautiful glorious morsel, sitting right there next to the biggest ship in the world. The sunlight reflects off the half built ship, shining the dying rays of sun onto the half eaten delight that sits there, mocking me. I haven't eaten in almost a week and suddenly, as I make my rounds around the ship looking for food I see it, sitting up there! My only problem is, the sandwich is very, very high up, and I don't think I'll be able to reach it.
My name's Alice, though in my current situation I've been calling myself 'Al', a boy's name. Why? Because I'm dressed as a boy, hiding out in a boy's world! My hair is carefully tucked up under a cap I keep low on my face, so nobody will notice I'm a girl, I can't be discovered. My current location is Belfast Ireland, in some dry dock I forgot the name of. The only thing that brought me here was word of a big ship being built, a ship that when completed will be the biggest ship the world has ever seen. Its name is Titanic.
I figured this would be the perfect place to hide out, with a ship like this being built, nobody would notice me. The ship is large enough to avoid people, when they're working in one spot, I merely hide out in a completely different spot. It's like a game of hide and seek, only the consequences of being found are certainly not so fun. But I haven't been caught yet, and if I'm right I believe I've been hanging around here almost a month, maybe a little more. That seems to be a clear sign that it's safe for me here.
My day starts with getting up, usually after sleeping under the massive structure and praying that it doesn't fall on top of me. I begin wandering around the ship, waiting and watching as the workers begin to arrive, beginning their work on the ship. Around noon, it becomes clear where they will be focused on working, and those are the places I avoid for the day. The day passes slowly some days, quickly on others. When the whistle blows and the workers go away, that's when I quickly zone in on the places they'd been that day. More often than not, one of those foolish men abandons their lunch, or drops a piece of bread off the top of the scaffolding. This is my food for the entire day, a one course meal, I guess I don't mind. A little food is better than none at all isn't it?
Lately though, nobody has left anything! Not a crumb! Maybe they got yelled at that they need to pick up after themselves, the slobs. So one week without food and then today by chance, I see it! The beautiful sandwich that has caught my eye! I must have it! I must! My stomach has been paining me with the hunger! But it's so high up! Standing next to the ship, it doesn't look so high, the scaffolding platform it is perched on is not even a fourth of the way up Titanic's side! And yet to me, a small girl hardly 10 years of age, I believe I'd have an easier time climbing a 2 story house to get the sandwich than climbing this thing! What if I were to slip and fall?
But I'm so hungry, surely that sandwich would be worth the risk, and definitely worth the effort to climb up there! It looks like it's worth it! From where I'm standing it looks barely touched, like the worker never got a chance to eat it because he was called to do something. That settles it then, I'm going up there to get it! Grabbing onto the metal bars that support the high platforms, I begin to haul my way up towards it. As I climb, I repeat the words 'Don't look down' to myself, like a mantra. The sandwich is in reach now, I reach up and grab it, holding it in my hand. Oh it's such a sight to behold!
"YOU LAD! WHAT ARE YOU DOING THERE?" a voice yells. Startled, I jump, the sandwich falling out of my hand and plummeting to the hard ground below. And I, follow not far behind it. I try to scramble down as quickly as I can, and I'm almost there when my foot slips and I fall to the hard ground below. The sandwich splatters into oblivion the minute it hits the ground, and I believe I can almost say the same for myself. The breath has been knocked right out of me, I have to take a breath though! Oh god, that sandwich in my hand so looked worth it too. I feel something sticky and raise my hand to my head, realizing my cap which has been concealing me is gone, and when I bring my hand down front of my face, it is covered in warm red liquid, oh golly I'm bleeding!
I think that man who yelled at me is coming! I have to scram out of here fast before I'm caught! I get to my hands and knees quickly, but regret it in an instant as horrible pain rips through me! It feels like I'm being stabbed! I collapse again, taking deep breaths, I have to remain calm! But the man is coming closer! I see him out of the corner of my eye! I have to go! I have to go! I can feel the panic rising in my chest, urging me on despite the pain. Once again I get to my hands and knees, forcing myself to my feet. I barely make a step though before I'm on the ground again, rolling on my side and drawing my knees up to my chest, into fetal position. I've never been in so much pain before! All for that sandwich, that beautiful sandwich, which is no more. I can see it splattered not far from me, it's enough to completely shatter my heart.
The man is very close now, but my vision is getting a little dark around the edges. I have to get away though, if he catches me I'm done for! But I can't move, hardly a muscle! Defeated, I lie there and listen as his footsteps come closer and closer and closer. I close my eyes in fear of what is coming to confront me now, but I'm caught by surprise as a gentle hand shakes my shoulder. "Young lady? Can you answer me?" he asks. He doesn't sound angry. He doesn't even sound like he's going to throw me out. He sounds, concerned.
I swallow, there's a weird taste in my mouth but I ignore it as I try to answer him, "Yes sir."
He turns me over so I'm lying on my back, facing up at him. The movement causes pain to rip through my and a cry escapes my lips. Immediately he apologizes, and I crack open my eyes to see just what this kind stranger looks like. If I wasn't hurting so much, I'd be admiring how handsome he is, even with concern etched all over his features. "What do you think you're doing here?" he asks me.
Once again have to swallow as I try to speak with him, for some reason I can't get the words to form, it seems so difficult. "Starving," I reply. It is the good honest truth, I was starving here, and my eyes wander to the poor remains of my failed effort.
His eyes follow mine and he looks at the sandwich briefly before looking back down at me, "You couldn't buy a sandwich? You had to come to my shipyard and steal a sandwich from my workers?" he asks. I manage to nod, though immediately regret it as a wave of nausea ripples through me. I have not a penny on me, otherwise of course I would buy my own sandwich! And I'd buy a new dress since I outgrew my only one a year or two ago, and I'd buy a place to stay for the night too! And a nice bath! Oh the things I would get if I had money!
Everything is beginning to grow fuzzy, but I try my very hardest to fight it. If I answer all the questions this man feels the need to ask, maybe I won't get in as much trouble. Besides, who knows what will happen to me if I were to blackout. Would they throw me in the ocean? Would they hand me over to the police? I whimper in pain as he touches my head, "You've got quite a gash there. Where are you parents?" he asks.
It's getting harder and harder to answer his questions, I can hardly breathe. "No family sir," is all I can manage to reply.
The man says nothing for a while, as if he's trying to decide what exactly to do. I glance over at the ship, he said this is his shipyard. That would make this his ship wouldn't it? I swallow again before trying to choke out a compliment, "Your ship is..." I pause as pain rips through me again, "the most amazing thing I've ever seen sir..." That's all I can say, it's getting harder and harder to breathe. I can't say anymore, I just can't say anymore.
He hushes me, "You'll tell me more later, for now you need some medical attention."
My vision is darkening some more, I can't let this happen! I must stay awake! The man gently picks me up and another cry escapes my lips, I can't help it! It hurts! Why couldn't I have the sandwich? Why? It was such a nice sandwich! I'm forced to close my eyes, the pain is too much. I just wanted a little food, just a sandwich, only a little bite of a sandwich! I would have been happy I swear! The world goes dark on me and my last thoughts are not on the sandwich, or the mysterious person who has taken me captive, but are directed towards Titanic, this will be my first time not sleeping under her in a long time. I bid her goodnight before I lose my senses completely.
Mr. Thomas Andrews, that is the man's name. Apparently he designed that big ship I've been calling home. He has been nothing but nice to me since I woke up, apparently quite a while after my tumble. I tried to say I was sorry for trespassing, but before I could say a word he hushed me and said HE was sorry for scaring me and causing me to fall, and lose my meal. Since that moment I've decided I quite like Mr. Andrews, I like him a lot.
He told me I was quite lucky, although breaking ribs isn't exactly what I'd consider lucky. He gave me a bowl of broth in exchange for information about myself. I would have told him even without the food, but the prospect of a warm meal overwhelmed me and I ate like an animal the minute the bowl was placed before me, as if he would suddenly change his mind and take it. My father used to play cruel jokes like that on me, giving me food after a hard day of working then he'd take it from me and give it to the animals if I said or did something wrong. Usually I didn't really understand what I did, I still don't.
When the broth is polished off, I look up at him and sigh, "Ok, I'll tell you how I got to your ship now. You see, my Mother had been sick for as long as I could remember. About a year ago she finally passed away. My father, he never liked me much, said he didn't like payin' to feed and take care of a mistake. He always forced me to do work around the house like cleaning and feeding the animals and such. Well after my Mother was gone he pulled his shotgun on me hardly a day later and told me to get out of his sight, get off his land. He told me if he ever saw me again he'd shoot me dead right on the spot. My father is a man of his word, and he didn't have to tell me twice to scram. I left. Then I traveled a while, and I heard talk that they were building the biggest ship ever. I decided I wanted to see it for myself, so I traveled here to Belfast. Sure enough, I met your lovely Titanic, and I've been sleeping under her and living off her for almost a whole month!"
The man looks really disturbed by my story, and frankly, I don't blame him. It's not really a nice story. I've already cried all my tears over it though, and now what happened just seems to be a fact. It happened, and I have to live with it. I don't get a choice in the matter. Deep down inside though, I wish for a family. During my travels I saw lots and lots of children, with mothers and fathers that loved them. I have never known that, never. And I would love to know what it feels like to have someone care about me like that. Maybe Titanic was my guardian for a while. Gave me shelter, food, everything I could need to be happy. And I was!
Mr. Andrews looks down for a moment before looking back up at me, "I don't want you to sleep under my ship anymore," he says.
I sigh sadly at this, I won't cry! I won't cry! I feel my eyes water but I'm, oh, ouch sobbing hurts! I can't help it though! Not be able to sleep under the Titanic anymore? Where am I supposed to go? On the road again? I hate the road! I hate it! Food is harder to find! People are mean to me!
Mr. Andrews hushes me and reaches a hand out, taking mine in a firm yet gentle grasp. His hands are rough with callouses, but they're warm and comforting too and I find myself feeling slightly calmer at his touch. "I want you to stay here with me for a while, until you are well again," he tells me. My tears intensify, he's being so nice to me!
I nod my head though, "I'll do whatever you want! I'll scrub the floors! I'll dust! Anything!"
He merely shakes his head and smiles kindly, "You just rest. You don't need to do anything for me," he tells me. I thank him repeatedly, he's a good man! Such a good man! The man I wish my father could be! A gentleman! Yes! That's the word! Gentleman! I never thought I'd ever meet one! I was convinced such a person didn't exist but here he is, there is a gentleman in this world and his name is Thomas Andrews!
It's been almost two months since the incident. I feel like Cinderella, like this is a fairy tale or some kind of dream that I'll wake up from. But it isn't! This is all real, and I couldn't be happier. I have my own room, all new clothes just for me, and I get a hot meal every day! What more could a kid ask for? All good things must come to an end though, and Mrs. Andrews, Mr. Andrews' wife, she just had a baby. Her name is Elizabeth, but Mr. Andrews and I call her Elba for short.
With a new baby for them to take care of, I don't want to overstay my welcome. Mr. Andrews has been very kind to me, but I feel better now. I really do! So I think tomorrow it would be best if I hit the road again and found a new place to live for a while. I've even packed my suitcase and everything. There's not much in it, I decided it would be rude of me to take all the dresses they bought me, so I only have some bread and things I've been sneaking from the dinner table the past few nights. I'm a little worried though, it's December and it's snowing outside. It looks awfully cold and I don't have a coat, but I'm sure I'll manage! I made it this far.
I'm sitting on my bed playing with some ribbon after dinner when I hear my name called by one of the servants. They don't have many, only five, one of them was hired right when Elba was born but she takes care of me too. She pokes her head in my bedroom door, "Alice, Mr. and Mrs. Andrews would like to see you downstairs."
Did I do something wrong? Nervously, I climb off my bed and head down the staircase and to the glass door on the left, which leads to the sitting room. Mrs. Andrews is sitting near the fireplace with a book in her lap while Mr. Andrews is standing beside her. He smiles gently when he sees me, but he looks almost as nervous as I am for some reason. What's wrong? Did something happen?
"You called for me, sir?" I ask, standing as straight as I can. I've made an effort to be as well behaved as possible, but sometimes it's hard. Mrs. Andrews has had to correct me and teach me a lot of things that I didn't know before. She's also talked about stays to make my waist smaller. I don't know what that means but I'm a little scared. Is that what this is about?
Mr. Andrews nods to me, "Yes Alice, there's something I'd like to ask you." He motions to a chair and I sit down in it carefully, looking up at him. A question for me? I glance over at Mrs. Andrews but I can't tell what she's thinking. "Alice, you've been a very well behaved and sweet little girl. I'd like to thank you for trying to do everything we've instructed."
Is he throwing me out? This sounds like a throwing me out speech. I swallow uneasily, my throat feels uncomfortably tight. I know I need to leave but suddenly, I don't really want to. I don't want to be a burden, but I love Mr. and Mrs. Andrews as though they were my real parents! "You're welcome sir, I know you've been trying to help me. I'm very grateful to you," I reply.
He continues, "Mrs. Andrews and I have grown very fond of you, and we don't feel comfortable with the thought of you being in the streets alone. I don't know what I'd do if anything ever happened to you." Where is he going with this? Is he sending me to an orphanage or something? That's not such a bad thought, but I'm not really an orphan. What if they tried to send me back to my father?
At this point Mrs. Andrews looks up, smiling at me in that soft motherly way she usually smiles at Elba. What's going on? I'm so confused. Mr. Andrews steps forward and kneels down in front of me so he's down on my level. "Alice, we would like you to stay in our house, permanently. I want to adopt you, and make you part of our family. Would you consider it?"
I don't know what to say. Be part of the family? "Are you sure?" I ask. Mrs. Andrews actually lets out a laugh from where she sits and Mr. Andrews chuckles as well.
"Of course I'm sure!" he replies, smiling brighter than I've ever seen him smile before.
"Mr. Andrews, I think I'd really like it if you were my father."
He's absolutely beaming as he wraps his arms around me and hugs me tightly. I hug him back, feeling tears prick my eyes. I'm so happy! I can't believe it! Now I really am living in a fairy tale! He stands up and I run over to Mrs. Andrews, who also takes me with open arms, even planting a little kiss on my cheek. I turn back to Mr. Andrews, who ruffles my hair, "Well Miss Alice Andrews, would you like some help unpacking that suitcase?"
I gasp at him, "How did you know about that?"
He chuckles again, "Father's intuition?"