*Chapter 21*
Clara made her way up the Grand Staircase, and headed to her room.
Upon arrival, she slammed the door shut, and gathered up all her dresses, jewellery, and other possessions. She hauled them all into a huge trunk, and put it aside, in case she wanted to go back outside.
Then, she flopped onto her bed, and lay there, going over thoughts in her head.
"I can't do my job if you're hanging off me all the time!" Clara frowned as she recalled Lightoller's words in her mind.
"Well, if you don't have time for me, then I don't have time for YOU!" Clara yelled out, hauling her hand mirror into the wall.
She broke out into tears, her face buried in her pillow.
Clara had fallen head over heels for Lightoller in four days. It was, for her, love at first sight. Now he was pushing her away, but for her own safety. The thought that Lightoller was trying to save her didn't even cross her mind.
"There's no use in staying here," Clara mumbled into her pillow.
She dragged herself up, off the bed, and moved towards the mirror.
She looked a mess, with lipstick smeared all over her face, and her hair was standing out on end.
She washed her face, and brushed her hair. She then headed out to the elevators, slowly.
Out on the boat deck, the officers, and other crewmembers, were trying to load the lifeboats with only women and children. Men were pushing in, and the lifeboats were being launched half full.
Mr Andrews noticed this, and started off to Lightoller, who was preparing to lower a nearly empty boat.
"Mr Lightoller! Why are the boats being launched half full?"
"Not now, Mr Andrews."
Andrews pointed to the boat Lightoller was about to lower.
"Look, there, a boat with 20 or so, with room for 65! And I saw one boat with only 12!"
"Well, we weren't sure of the weight, Mr Andrews. These boats may buckle." Lightoller tried his best to keep a straight face.
"Rubbish. They were tested in Belfast with the weight of 70 men! Now, fill these boats, Mr Lightoller, for god's sake, man!"
Lightoller sighed, and turned to face the crowd.
"Please, I need more women and children please," He shouted.
Clara made her way up the Grand Staircase, and headed to her room.
Upon arrival, she slammed the door shut, and gathered up all her dresses, jewellery, and other possessions. She hauled them all into a huge trunk, and put it aside, in case she wanted to go back outside.
Then, she flopped onto her bed, and lay there, going over thoughts in her head.
"I can't do my job if you're hanging off me all the time!" Clara frowned as she recalled Lightoller's words in her mind.
"Well, if you don't have time for me, then I don't have time for YOU!" Clara yelled out, hauling her hand mirror into the wall.
She broke out into tears, her face buried in her pillow.
Clara had fallen head over heels for Lightoller in four days. It was, for her, love at first sight. Now he was pushing her away, but for her own safety. The thought that Lightoller was trying to save her didn't even cross her mind.
"There's no use in staying here," Clara mumbled into her pillow.
She dragged herself up, off the bed, and moved towards the mirror.
She looked a mess, with lipstick smeared all over her face, and her hair was standing out on end.
She washed her face, and brushed her hair. She then headed out to the elevators, slowly.
Out on the boat deck, the officers, and other crewmembers, were trying to load the lifeboats with only women and children. Men were pushing in, and the lifeboats were being launched half full.
Mr Andrews noticed this, and started off to Lightoller, who was preparing to lower a nearly empty boat.
"Mr Lightoller! Why are the boats being launched half full?"
"Not now, Mr Andrews."
Andrews pointed to the boat Lightoller was about to lower.
"Look, there, a boat with 20 or so, with room for 65! And I saw one boat with only 12!"
"Well, we weren't sure of the weight, Mr Andrews. These boats may buckle." Lightoller tried his best to keep a straight face.
"Rubbish. They were tested in Belfast with the weight of 70 men! Now, fill these boats, Mr Lightoller, for god's sake, man!"
Lightoller sighed, and turned to face the crowd.
"Please, I need more women and children please," He shouted.
