Early the next morning, Arthur shook D.W. awake. She rolled over. "Five more minutes, Mommy."
"Wake up, D.W!" said Arthur.
D.W.'s eyes opened halfway. She was looking up at Arthur. "Arthur? What are you doing in my room?" She shut her eyes again. "Mom! Arthur's in my bedroom!"
Arthur shook her again. She opened her eyes and sat up quickly. "Where am I?" she asked, looking around the room.
"We're on the Titanic," said Arthur. "Remember?"
"Oh yeah," said D.W. She got out of bed and pulled her nightgown off over her head. She opened the closet and took out a dress. She put it on. Mom and Dad were still in bed. D.W. climbed up on their bed. She jumped up and down.
"Wake up, Mother! Wake up, Father!" she said. They stirred. Arthur pulled her off the bed.
"Let them rest. Come on, let's go up on deck," said Arthur.
When Arthur and D.W. got up to the deck, they found many children running and playing. Francine, Brain, Buster, and Sue Ellen were playing tag. Muffy sat on a bench, brushing her long red hair. Arthur looked up at the morning sunrise: the orange sun, pink clouds, streaks of gold and crimson in the sky. It was breathtaking.
D.W. yawned and stretched. "I had a bad dream last night," she said. "I dreamed that we all drowned in the ocean."
"Don't worry, D.W, we won't drown," said Sue Ellen, running up to them.
"Everyone knows this is the best ship ever built. Nothing will happen to any of us," said Muffy as she braided her hair. "Oh, my goodness!" she said, jumping up.
"What is it?" asked Sue Ellen.
Muffy pointed. "It's the Countess of Rothes!"
Across the deck there was a young woman, wearing a long elegant dress, long white gloves, and a hat covered in white roses. She wore pearls and diamonds. The countess was an aardvark woman. Behind the countess, another woman followed, walking the countess's white poodle.
Muffy strolled over and curtsied. "How do you do, your Ladyship?"
The countess stared at Muffy. "Who are you?"
"Muffy Crosswire, daughter of Lady Millicent Crosswire."
"Oh yes. I am Lady Rothes and this is Roberta, my maid." Then the countess walked to the rail and watched the sun come up over the horizon. Lady Rothes' auburn hair shined in the early sunlight.
"I assume you'll be staying in an appropriate suite for the voyage," said Muffy.
"Well, Muffy, I was originally assigned to a basic cabin, so we upgraded to a more commodious suite," said Lady Rothes.
"Why don't we dine for breakfast together?" said Muffy. "We Crosswires always appreciate the company of royalty." Muffy walked away with Lady Rothes.
Mom came through a door. "Arthur and D.W. come down to the restaurant. We're going to have breakfast."
"Be there in a minute, Mom," said Arthur. He stood up against the rail and gazed out at the endless, sparkling water. He lifted his face up to the sunshine as his jacket fluttered in the breeze.
"Are you just going to stand there all day?" said D.W. "Or are you going to take me to the restaurant so we can eat?"
Arthur turned to D.W. "Why did you have to ruin the moment?"
Arthur and D.W. walked down to the restaurant, where there were very many round tables. Arthur spotted many of his friends with their families. Arthur and D.W. found their parents seated at a table in the middle of the room. D.W. stroked the smooth, cream-colored tablecloth.
"Don't spill anything on this tablecloth, Arthur," said D.W. "I remember you spilling your milk on the red gingham tablecloth we have at home."
"That was you," said Arthur, folding his napkin.
"Well, you made me."
"Hey, there's Buster and his mom!" said Arthur. "Let's ask them to join us. Hey, Buster, over here!"
During breakfast, Arthur's mom chatted with Buster's mom. Arthur and Buster talked to each other. D.W. scooped spoonfuls of blueberry jam into her small purse.
"D.W, what do you think you're doing?" asked Dad.
"I want Grandma Thora to try some of this," said D.W. "I also have some soap in here from the bathrooms." She closed up her purse and took a sip of milk from her glass.
Buster slapped butter on a piece of toast. "I talked to the captain today," he said. "Did you know that Captain Edward James Smith has been a White Star seaman for thirty-eight years?"
"Well, Muffy has become pals with the Countess of Rothes," said Arthur. He pointed across the room. "That's her at the table with the Crosswires. I think the other lady there is her cousin, Gladys Cherry."
Baby Kate took a handful of her oatmeal and threw it across the table.
Arthur and his friends spent the rest of the day looking around the huge ship. On deck and down below, in the many rooms. On walls in the hallway, there were many paintings and other ornaments. Down a hall they looked over a long, study railing. Below there was a large room, where many dressed up people stood talking. On the floor there was a large, fancy designed rug. High above them was a sparkling chandelier.
Later that evening, Arthur and all his friends stood at the rail. They gazed up at the pink and purple clouds. Arthur noticed George sitting on a bench with his sister.
"Hey, George, come look at the clouds with us," said Arthur.
"Look at those pink clouds," said Muffy.
"Looks like scoops of strawberry ice cream," said Francine.
"It makes me hungry," said Buster. "What do you say we all go to dinner?"
"Sounds good," said Francine. "Are you coming, George?"
"Um, not just yet…we're going to stay on deck a while longer," said George.
"Suit yourself," said Francine. "Come on, guys."
"The rest of you ahead," said Arthur as he walked over to George.
"Are you okay?" asked Arthur.
"I'm fine," said George.
"Are you sure?"
"Well, I'm a little nervous," said George.
"About being on a ship?"
George nodded. "My family has never been on a ship before."
"This ship is perfectly safe. There's nothing to worry about," said Arthur.
"I know, but…" George stared out at the ocean. "I just have a feeling…"