Disclaimer: I don't own Titanic.
Historical Notes: The cinema wasn't considered a place for proper young ladies to visit in Edwardian England, but that was quickly changing. In 1912, Charles Dickens' book A Christmas Carol had been adapted into a silent film, which was shown around Great Britain.
Chapter 10 - The Accident
Later in the day, the family had dispersed throughout the house, and this is when the real trouble arose. Loud voices were heard from Samuel, Sr. and David Murdoch. This was something that Jeanine was keen to keep the children away from, especially when Carrie went in search of her Grandfather, who had agreed to come and find the children who were playing hide and seek in the house. But after twenty minutes of waiting, she came out of her hiding spot. Jeanine stopped Carrie, and for the sake of the family and the rest of the holiday, she came up with a quick, improvised plan. "Carrie, play the piano for us, dear," Jeannie asked.
Carrie made her way to the piano, and shortly the voices beamed with a new tone of anger. Playing the piano was a new challenge, since Carrie hadn't played for the past several months. Worries were high that she had neglected her musical lessons. "Go on, Carrie. Play for us please. Just play as well as you can," Margaret urged. She knew all too well the look of neglecting musical studies since she'd done the same several years earlier.
Seeing his son storm from his office, it was quite clear something was wrong. The choices he and Olivia had made were now coming back to haunt him. Samuel Murdoch, Sr. knew it was the case, and right now this was the right option in sight. Henry sat and listened to the music being played and the women singing around the piano in delight until he was summoned by Captain Murdoch. "Mr. Wilde, might I have a word with you?"
"Of course," Henry replied, leaving his chair by the fire to follow the captain into his office to talk in more detail. Something was bothering the elderly man. It was clearer than he'd seen it before. Carrie was happy, and they couldn't tear her away from a happy home. No one could, not now. Even if it was what Mr. Lightoller wanted, Samuel Murdoch just couldn't ask Carrie to start again. She need stability, and Henry gave her that of what a parent gave to his or her child.
Once the men reached Samuel's office, and the door was closed. Samuel knew his line of questioning was for the best. He knew it was what Will would have wanted even though all of the family members might not agree. "Do you love my granddaughter, Mr. Wilde?" Samuel Murdoch questioned, facing the window that looked out towards the sea.
"I love her as my own child. I'll hate the day Mr. Lightoller demands custody. I can't think about that now."
Samuel turned to face the man who'd volunteered to care for the Will's daughter even in his own darkest hour. The loss of his family was a great one, Carrie brought a side of joy back for the widower. "Would you adopt Carrie and make her your child with our consent?"
"Adopt Carrie!?" Henry replied, looking rather shocked. Even though the thought had crossed his mind, he hadn't thought it could be possible with her relatives and Mr. Lightoller who'd have the right to care for the child before he would.
After he had a chance to rethink his heated words with his father, David Murdoch returned. When he entered the office, it was clear his father was still unmoved by their discussion earlier. "Father, no!" David Murdoch yelled, storming into the office, not caring what the men were discussing.
"Yes, David. Carrie needs a permanent home, and we can't provide it. This is what William would want! I told you never to interfere. You promised, William!" Samuel, Sr. yelled at his son.
"How dare you bring my brother, my dead brother, into this. He wanted Carrie to be with his best friend, and when he couldn't take her, I offered. That's right. My wife and I did, but everyone told us no. I won't stand for it because -"
"DAVID MURDOCH, YOU WILL HOLD YOUR TONGUE!" Samuel yelled, drawing Carrie towards the voices in the office. After the abandonment of her playing music since she'd heard her grandfather raise his voice, it lead Carrie towards the office door.
"Or what, Father?" David asked.
"You gave up every right to-" Samuel said before he stopped speaking when Carrie was seen by the Murdoch men.
Carrie stood outside the door, and when it squeaked open, it was clear Henry didn't feel it was his place nor Carrie's to hear the extent of harsh or otherwise painful words of what Will wanted for his daughter.
"Carrie, come with me," Henry ordered.
Without a fight in her, Henry took Carrie's hand, guiding her away from the fight being had by father and son. "What's going on, Uncle Henry?"
"Carrie Hannah, be still and don't ask me any questions," Henry ordered, giving Carrie a stern glance that said not to ask anything further. With a simple nod of the head, Carrie complied and followed Henry to join the rest of the family in the parlor again.
"Margaret, I think it's time for some more carols," Samuel, Jr advised, knowing the fight could become heated with more angry words bound to be exchanged between the father and son.
"Yes, I think that's a marvelous idea," Jeannie replied, trying to sound upbeat when her daughter sat down to the piano ready to play some of the much loved Christmas carols.
"Deck the halls with boughs of holly,
Falla, lala, la. 'Tis the season to be jolly...
Falla, lala la, la ... Join the yuletide chorus, Falla la la la..."
The music played, and the family sang around the piano while the argument kept going until a slam of the back door ended all joy full on. At least where music was concerned. Something was bothering David, and didn't let on. At least to the family he didn't.
26 December 1912 - Boxing Day
"Where are you all off to this early?" Olivia Murdoch asked. It was just pushing eight o'clock; the rest of the family were still in bed. But it was clear Henry had a special activity planned for himself and Carrie that morning.
"I'm taking Carrie to Glasgow to the cinema. We're off to see Charles Dickens' new adaption of A Christmas Carol," Henry replied.
"I see," Olivia stated with a hint of disappointment.
"We'll be back later, Aunt Olivia to help with the boxes, and for the skating on the pond," Carrie chi med in.
"I don't approve of a child going to the cinema, Mr. Wilde, but since it's your gift, I see no need to object," Olivia announced, feeling unpleasant with the thought of Carrie in a cinema where proper young ladies didn't appear. But it was clear Henry was keen on taking Carrie, so there was no stopping him now.
"We'll be back later this afternoon," Henry commented. "Are you ready,Carrie?"
"Yes, sir."
With that said, Hen ry opened the door with Carrie, and they left for the station. Going to Glasgow was an adventure for her since she'd never been to the large city her father spoke of at times.
The family had eventually learned of Carrie's adventure to the cinema but chose to hold their tongues about the adventures since it had been a very difficult holiday thus far. It was the joy of seeing Carrie smile when she told them of her adventure and the silent moving picture in Glasgow.
After this, the family went out for the remainder of the afternoon, handing out Christmas boxes to the poor and needy within their community, before the much cherished event of the church skating social.
Ice skating was the height of any Christmas time for the Murdoch household. With the new pair of ice skates Henry had bought for Carrie, it was going to be a real treat. Skating on the same pond her father did as a young lad. Boys and girls of all ages came from around Dalbeattie the day after Christmas for the church skating social.
"Come and skate with me, Grandfather!" Carrie called out, doing circles around the other family members. Even Henry had a difficult time keeping up.
Samuel put his hands around his mouth before he called out his own reply. "I'll be there in a moment's notice lass. Let me help your grandmother first."
"You go and skate, Samuel Murdoch. Enjoy your grandchildren before they out skate everyone here," Jeannie told her husband.
"I don't want to leave you alone, my dearest," Samuel replied.
"I know you too well, and the shine comes to your eye that ye want to skate with the children. We don't get to see Carrie often enough. Go on and skate with the lassie, she reminds me of her father. So free on the ice," Jeannie recalled. .
"Aye, I'll be back in the blink of an eye," Samuel replied, tipping his hat towards his wife before stepping onto the ice. "Mrs. Murdoch."
"Have fun," Jeannie called, watching her family and friends enjoy the after Christmas skate.
"Carrie's fast," Henry remarked. Margaret Murdoch nodded her head, knowing it was great fun as a child to learn from her brother how to skate. Both Margaret and Carrie had the greatest ice skating teacher in the world. "Will taught her everything she knows about skating, excuse me," Margaret stated before she left Henry's side to catch up with her niece.
The skating drew to an end for other skaters, but the younger crowd of the Murdoch family remained behind, enjoying the frozen pond to themselves for a few more cherished memories. "Come and catch us Uncle David!"Carrie called, wishing to be chased around the pond until someone was caught and declared the winner of the day to outlast the ice-skating monster.
Some of the adults sat around on the park benches at the pond's edge, watching the two girls try to out skate their uncle and avoid all cost for possible capture at all cost. "What's this game called?" Henry asked.
Margaret chuckled, placing her hand over her mouth to avoid the unlady like laughter she'd have if she allowed it to be heard. "The game's called Skate Monster. Wlliam invented it to help us learn how to skate. Father was the skate monster until he fell and broke his hip four winters ago. Now mother forbids him from participating in the venture. The game is a basic idea of hide and go seek. Instead of hiding it's simply trying to avoid the Skate Monster. The last child not caught wins a prize he or, in this case, she must share with the rest. The children will be having a game this year. Mother made some gifts for the children. They're hidden at home. The winner must find it or forfeit the win to the person who was last caught. First pick from the box."
Henry found the family game to be rather interesting and how the Murdoch's used it to teach the art of speed in skating as a family game. "It seems like a strange game,
but it looks to be amusing to the children."
"It is, and for the adults who wish to participate- " Margaret remarked before they shortly heard a scream come from the children. Cracking ice in the pond took both girls into the freezing water.
"HELP! HELP!" both girls cried out in unison.
"DADDY!" Loraine cried out, struggling to keep her head above the freezing water. David Murdoch rushed to his daughter's side, seeing her father race to her side.
"HELP!" Carrie called. The fear of drowning scared this child much like her cousin. With the adults rushing around, Carrie's cousin was pulled out first before they tried to reach Carrie, who had begun to struggle even more.
"GET THE RAILING!" David yelled, Since he was trying to have Carrie reach for his hand.
"CARRIE, TAKE THE RAIL. TAKE THE RAIL!" Shouts came from Henry and other adults,who called various commands to the children. Carrie took the rail and was pulled to safety shortly after her cousin was.
"Uncle Henry," Carrie cried out, cold and shivering from the ice water.
Henry quickly removed his overcoat and placed it around Carrie to offer some warmth. While her cousin had been lifted from the ground and placed in the sleigh with blankets around her, Carrie soon followed. "We'd best get the children home and into bed," Margaret informed the men who followed them into the sleigh and quickly home. At least as fast they dared run the team through the snow.
Upon arrival back at the Murdoch residence, the men carried the two shivering children indoors. The nip of the cold bit at everyone after arrival home.
"Mother!" Margaret called out, frantic worry lacing her tone.
Jeannie Murdoch came down the stairs and saw her two granddaughters soaking wet. With the numerous possibilities running through her mind, Jeannie sprung into action like any mother would do. "What happened?"
"The girls fell through a thin patch of ice. We need to warm them up and get them to bed," Margaret replied.
"Gentlemen, take the girls to the bathroom and then leave us to attend the children," Jeannie ordered.
Quickly, efforts were taken, and both young ladies were warm yet again. Now much to their distaste in bed. Warm under the blankets, the two cousins shared favorite pasttimes. Being caught in a fit of laughter could gave a reason to separate the two from the bedroom now
filled with giggles.
"I can't believe we both fell in through the ice," Carrie stated, trying to shake the feeling of near death from her mind, wondering if the pain she felt and fear of what her father went through or even her guardian. With the amount of pain the ice cold water created.
"It happens. We were lucky I could say," Loraine responded, turning to face her cousin. She was thinking what everyone had wondered about since the Titanic sank. "Do you think Uncle Will was in pain from the water when he died, Carrie?"
"I don't know. Please don't mention what happened to Daddy on that horrid ship ever again. He's dead!" Carrie replied before she turned to face the wall. Memories flooded back of the news when her life fell apart. To the day Charles Lightoller took Carrie to Scotland to hear that he wouldn't be her guardian. The memories flooded back, causing a day of happiness to end in bitter sorrow.