On the first day of Christmas James Cameron gave to me:
The Blueprints to the RMS Titanic
Thomas Andrews was very glum this Christmas Eve, in the year 1912. Of course, he didn't let anyone else know he was glum, it wasn't like him to be glum, but here alone in his stateroom he let himself wallow in sadness. Nothing seemed to be going right on this voyage! Nothing at all! Titanic had been lost in the middle of the ocean for more than 8 months, and he hadn't been able to contact his wife or his uncle or anyone. The Marconi operators kept trying to contact someone, whether it be another ship or land or anybody! Yet they never received any response back! Someone knew where they were though, because they kept flying a plane overhead that dropped food! Yet the plane never led them to land, even when they tried to follow it!
His ship wasn't the only thing that was lost though. His blueprints were also lost! He'd left them on his desk and gone out on the deck for a little fresh air, and when he returned, they were gone. After questioning the ship's staff, it turned out one of the maids had cleaned up his room and thrown the blueprints out by mistake. He tried to get them back, but he was too late. Seeing as they'd burned through all the coal on the ship, they were burning garbage now, and his precious blueprints had been tossed carelessly into one of the fiery boilers, never to be seen again.
He blamed Mr. Ismay, the selfish man had merely laughed when Thomas had told him of the lost blueprints. He'd waved his hand 'You can always draw up new ones' he'd said. Mr. Andrews had never been closer to punching someone, and he hated the feeling. Mr. Ismay continued to laugh at him as he nearly cried, all his hard work gone! And what was more than that, Ismay was always after him to do something. Whether it was fix something, or send messages to the captain, or sound the ship even though everything was running perfectly smooth. Thomas loved his ship, but after being stuck at sea for so long, he was getting tired of being run around it.
Tonight he sat in his stateroom, on the verge of depression. No family, no blueprints, and his finger throbbed from when he'd cut himself fixing a passenger's light fixture earlier today. He not only felt sad that he had nothing to live for on this ship anymore, but he felt under appreciated. If something broke, the stewards would always say 'Oh don't worry, Mr. Andrews will fix it'. Sometimes he felt as though people broke things on purpose just to watch him fix it! The obsessive compulsive side of him couldn't just leave the object broken! No, he had to fix it the very instant he heard about it! Everyone knew this, it didn't matter if their heater mysteriously broke at 4 in the morning, he'd be right there in his pajamas to fix it.
Suddenly there was a knock on the door and Mr. Andrews stood, walking over and opening it. One of the stewards stood there "Sir, Mr. Ismay would like to see you right now" he said. Mr. Andrews smiled slightly and thanked him before closing the door and letting out a soft groan. The last person he wanted to see right now was Bruce! What could the pompous man possibly want on Christmas Eve anyhow?
Throwing on his overcoat and shoes, he headed down to B deck, and then to Mr. Ismay's stateroom. He knocked on the door and Bruce almost immediately answered, with a smile on his face "Thomas! It's good to see you! Please come in" he said, ushering the confused shipbuilder into his room. Thomas felt slightly unnerved by this behavior, what had Mr. Ismay so chipper? Last conversation he'd had with the ship's owner the man had nearly been in tears because he'd missed his wedding anniversary at the beginning of the month.
Mr. Ismay had Thomas sit down on the couch by the fireplace. Mr. Andrews fidgeted with his hands, suddenly finding them very interested. He wanted to go back to his stateroom to sulk. But perhaps Ismay would have something worthwhile to tell him, perhaps he would tell him that the Marconi operators had successfully contacted land, perhaps they'd found his blueprints! He suddenly directed all his attention to Bruce, hoping, praying that this was the reason he'd been called down here.
The ship owner paced all over his stateroom, organizing things in a strange manner. Finally a maid showed up with a tea cart and after Bruce had a brief conversation and handed her something, she was gone. Thomas thought nothing of the strange parcel he'd given her as Bruce poured him a cup of tea and handed it to him before pouring himself a cup and sitting down. He took a sip of the steaming liquid then spoke "Thomas, I've called you down here tonight for no reason in particular. So please, relax!" he encouraged. Mr. Andrews remained on the edge of his seat though, and instead felt inclined to ask "If you don't mind Mr. Ismay? Why have you sent for me then if not to fix something or inform me of something?".
To this Mr. Ismay smiled again "Well Thomas, I will honestly admit to you I was feeling rather lonely on this Christmas Eve. It is strange, not being home with my family. You must feel the same surely" he said. Thomas could only nod and take a delicate sip of his tea as Mr. Ismay continued "I wonder what your Uncle is thinking right now. Poor man must be worried sick. I do hope those Marconi boys can contact someone before the New Year. Don't you agree?". Thomas once again can only bring himself to nod and fidget in his seat. He doesn't want to make small talk with his boss! He still wants to return to his room to sulk.
Suddenly the clock on the mantel above the fireplace chimes and Mr. Ismay smiles "Ah, midnight!" he holds his tea cup out "Merry Christmas Tommy" he says. Politely and with a small smile Mr. Andrews clinks his tea cup against Bruce's "Merry Christmas Bruce" he replies. Once they'd both had a long sip of their tea Mr. Ismay suddenly chuckles "Do you believe you'll get anything from Saint Nicholas?" he asks teasingly. In response Thomas laughs, and it is a genuine laugh "While I do believe I've been good this year, I don't think the poor man will be able to find my ship . What do you think?" he asks.
Mr. Ismay leans back in his chair "Well I wouldn't doubt the man Thomas, I'm sure he knows where we are" he replies earnestly. Thomas hardly takes him seriously, chuckling "How will he come Bruce? Will he land on the roof over the officers quarters? Will he jump down the smokestacks? I certainly hope he chooses the false one to jump down". Bruce shrugs his shoulders before standing "Saint Nick probably watched you build her Thomas. I'm sure he can get in without a problem" he replies. Thomas stands up with Mr. Ismay, carefully putting his tea cup back onto the cart "Thank you for the tea Mr. Ismay, but I'm afraid it is late and I would like to turn in for the night" he replies.
The man smiles and nods "Indeed Tommy, I understand. Thank you for keeping me company. Perhaps I'll see you at mass this morning?" he asks. Tommy nods and smiles "Yes, I will meet you there. Merry Christmas Bruce" he says as he steps out the door. "Merry Christmas Tommy" is the reply before Mr. Ismay shuts the door and leaves Mr. Andrews in the hall. The shipbuilder begins heading back up towards A Deck, in a much better mood than he'd been coming down. As he walks he hums 'I saw three ships' cheerfully, occasionally wishing a maid or steward Merry Christmas when they crossed his path.
Finally making it to his stateroom, he stands outside and fishes for the key in his coat pocket. It takes him a few moments to locate it, but when he does he makes quick work of getting into his stateroom and shutting the door behind him. In the time he'd been gone his fire had gone out, and the entire room was particularly dark. Sighing, he turned on one of the lamps near his desk and his eyes widened in surprise.
Sitting on his desk, was a box of some sort wrapped in colorful paper and topped with a perfect bow. He looked at the box, settling his eyes on a tag that read 'To: Tommy Andrews. From: Santa. Do not open until Christmas'. From Santa? The box really had the builder's interest now! He picked up the box and shook it, it was incredibly light and it didn't really sound like there was anything in there. He was about to set the box down and return to bed when he realized, it was technically Christmas morning! Excitedly, he tore at the paper, and ended up uncovering a plain cardboard box.
Once again, Mr. Andrews shook the box next to his ear but still heard nothing. What could be in the box? Carefully, he lifted the lid of the box and peaked inside, before slamming it shut again and staring at the box wide eyed. Perhaps he'd seen it wrong, perhaps it had only been his imagination! With a flick of his wrist the lid of the box was ripped off and tossed to the side of the room, fully revealing the contents of the box.
He reached down carefully, as though touching the gift would cause it to disappear. His fingers gently wrapped around the blue paper and he lifted it out of the box, spreading it across his desk and putting weights on it to keep it open. These were his blueprints! He recognized every little note he'd written on the ship's plans, every addition or subtraction he'd made, even the extra lifeboats he wanted to add when they docked in New York City!
There were some coal smudges here and there on the paper, and the corner of the blueprints were burned. His eyes continued to comb over the blueprints, memorizing every word, every line on it. Suddenly his eyes caught on a message written in neat scroll at the bottom of the blueprints. He began to read 'Dear Thomas, I know you were very distraught when you could not find your blueprints. I tore the boiler rooms apart, and I managed to save them for you. I apologize for them being dirty and burned, they were just about to be put in the furnace when I intercepted. You have done such good work on my ship, finding these blueprints was the least I could do for you. Merry Christmas Thomas, and thank you for your excellent service. Your Friend, Joseph Ismay. P.S. St. Nicholas isn't real, you silly man. Were you excited when you read that tag on the box?'.
Mr. Andrews swiped the tear that had managed to slip down his cheek and he laughed lightheartedly. Yes, Mr. Ismay was pompous, annoying, and too proud of this ship for his own good. But he was indeed his friend, and a good man at heart. And why shouldn't he have been proud of this ship? Looking down at the blueprints, Thomas realized something very important. This ship, these blueprints, would never have come to fruition without Mr. Ismay. It was all his idea, his dream, and he'd had put his faith in Thomas to make his dream come true.
Heading to his bedroom, he changed before crawling under the blankets and shutting his eyes. Yes, Mr. Ismay was the biggest jerk he knew, but he was also the greatest friend he'd ever had.