Classes and Lessons.

Clara had stayed mostly in the third class areas of Titanic and generally staying in either the general room, where everyone in third class got together during activity times to relax and speak with new and old friends, making friendships. Other times she was on the deck spending much time as she could in the fresh air. The skies were still warm and clear and very beautiful.

Not that Clara wanted to be apart from Josephine, ever, she figured she would just take an hour to herself. Just a simple hour for this trip. A fellow mother offered to keep watch over Josephine during the hour Clara was gone.

Clara stood on the side of the ship, arms crossed and dangling over the side, gazing as the waves below made rapid moves that splashed across the water. She inhaled the ocean oxygen and kept thinking about returning to her old life. Then it hit her. She would physically return to her old life, but mentally and emotionally she wouldn't be the same Clara.

The old Clara was nice and a bit timid at times and helpful around her mother-in-law's cafe while sewing aprons and fixing other articles of clothing. She was young, widowed and courted Jesse.

The new Clara was nice, not as timid as before, still helpful in some ways or another and continued to sew when she could. She was young, widowed and divorced and had a little girl to care for from now on as a single mother.

Her life wasn't the same as before and she knew it wouldn't be the same almost ever again.

She found herself staring at a lifeboat that rested adjacent to where Clara stood. She had counted some of them earlier and made out at least five. There had to be more, right? With so many passengers and crew members on the ship; there hard to be at least one hundred for everyone to be saved, if something were to ever happened on The Unsinkable Ship.

"Enjoying the view?"

Clara, a bit startled, whipped her head and found Carl standing there with a smirk. "Yes, a bit. It's a nice day."

"Sure is, miss."

"Are you going to keep addressing me as Miss? My name is Clara." She smiled.

"My mother taught me to call a unmarried woman Miss, and a married woman Ma'am." Carl said. "I know you explained that you are widowed, but I don't see another gold or silver bang on the married finger."

"Can you please call me Clara?" She asked. "I feel like I am older than what my mother would be right now if she hadn't died."

Carl thought for a moment. "Meet me in the middle? Miss Clara?"

"Okay."

"Good." Carl said with a grin. "So, Miss Clara, where is Miss Josephine?"

"With one of the woman I share a room with. I have never been apart from her for this long, ever, since she was born. I just wanted an hour to myself."

Carl shrugged. "We all need a bit of alone time here and there to collect thoughts." He said. "Want a better view?"

Clara looked at him oddly. "A better view?"

"Sure Miss Clara." He said. "Follow me."

Clara followed the young man to a set of stairs and walked up. It wasn't until he opened the gates that Clara read the sign. "We can't go up here."

"Why not?"

"The sign says that only first and second class passengers can be up here." She said as she pointed to the sign. "We're third class."

"Oh it is just a sign. Probably just there to remind the loopy old and new money carriers aware that there is a gate here." Carl laughed. "We'll be fine. Just act like you belong up here."

Clara did not want to go, but she did want to see a different view of the ship, at a higher level. She followed him up and her heart race with worry.

They made a left turn and came across officers that worked on the ship along with several passengers from first and second class. She held in her breathe and prayed that they weren't caught. They couldn't be thrown into the water for this, could they? Clara had no idea how to swim. She tried to focus on something else.

"Carl? How many boats are on the ship? I counted at least five today."

"Twenty." Carl said. Then paused and thought for a moment. "Actually, I think I heard one of the boiler managers speak about Titanic being able to carry at least thirty or thirty five, but someone decided at the end to keep it at twenty."

"Why?"

"The more boats they would add, the more repulsive the Titanic would have appeared."

"This beautiful ship would be called ugly if it carried fifteen more than what it already carries? That is a bit strange."

The duo followed to the near top of the ship at the highest deck where passengers walked upon. He lead Clara to the front of the desk where the front of the boat was and pointed out to the open sea. "I said this was a much better view."

The view's only change was that Clara felt like she was almost flying at this level. She stood in front of Carl and felt the winds kissing her cheeks and blowing her hair back and smiled. The felt the corners of her mouth turn upwards as she gazed at the beautiful view. It was much more beautiful up here. Clara felt herself sticking her arms out, letting the wind push them back a bit, and inhale more ocean oxygen. Now she truly felt like she was flying in the skylight.

"Come Josephine in my flying machine," She sang softly. She turned to Carl. "This is so exciting!"

"Plenty more where that came from Miss Clara." Carl said.

The two young adults made their way around second class and took the elevator up to first class where the first thing to be spotted was the grand staircase. The beautiful artwork and colors of the grand staircase room were more wonderful than Clara could even picture. The pillars that held up the ceiling were probably had carved by woodsmen. The little statue that stood in the middle at the bottom of the staircase looked like an angel, almost.

Many of the passengers walked by, too busy with their own conversations to see that two, third class passengers were in a section of the ship that they usually wouldn't be. They walked about for some time checking out each of the activity rooms and the dining room and other rooms of the ship. The final room they entered was where the church mass was to be held fairly soon. The two sat down looking at the front of the room.

"You'd think we get this sort of room downstairs?" Carl pointed out. "Don't get the wrong idea, Miss Clara, I like the gathering room for masses, but I do sort of wish we had something as pretty as this."

Clara nodded. "I do. But my mother told me something once when I was younger. You can be in the most angelic church or the most rotten looking church, but your voice can still be heard by angels."

"Well don't you have a smart mother?" Carl smirked.

"She was pretty wonderful." Clara smiled. "She and Abigail are so much alike."

"Abigail?"

"My mother-in-law."

"She a nice woman?"

"One of the most."

One of the back doors opened and an officer that worked on the ship stepped into the room. "You two, stand up at once." He ordered.

Clara and Carl stood up instantly.

The officer eyeballed them up and down. "You two do not belong up here."

"What gives you that idea, sir?" Carl asked.

"I know for a fact those are boiler mans clothing, sir." He stared at Carl. "And you," he looked at Clara. "I have seen you in third class since England."

"Sir, I may work in the boiler room, but I also find myself walking around to make sure that the ship stays together. No cracks or leaks anywhere." Carl said. "She's my sister."

Clara found herself looking straight at Carl. He was lying to an officer? In a church?

The officer cleared his throat and said, "Neither of you look a like."

"I take father, she takes after our mother."

"In any case, you both belong below deck with the other rats." He said. "Now leave." His voice was almost stern and demanding.

Carl and Clara made their way back to third class of the ship. Clara was still stunned about Carl lying. "I can't believe you lied."

"Not honestly. I do like walking around to make sure nothing is broken and you do look a lot my own mother, Beth Elmer."

"You still lied." Clara said. "I don't like liars."

"I apologize Miss Clara," Carl said. "I'll make it up tonight at the party."

"A...party?" She asked.

"Yes Miss Clara. A couple of buddies of mine are playing their instruments and dancing the night away with friends." Carl answered. "Miss Josephine is welcome to join too. She'll be queen of the party."

Clara shrugged. "I don't know." She lingered her thoughts. She did want to have fun as much as possible during the trip. She smiled. "I guess that could be fun."

Well, the people on the ship aren't too nice to a couple kids, aren't they?

Parts of this chapter (the flying and the party) were inspired by scenes from the movie Titanic.

What do you think of Carl? He's a pretty good guy.