LestatLuvr - Thank you! And your story "A Life's Tragedy" is brilliant!
Chapter 2 Aboard the Titanic
Jack Dawson had decided not to stand on the viewing deck and wave to the people on the dock; it would be improper for someone of his class. He was instead sorting out his rooms aboard the ship, which were the best money could buy.
Jack had decided to go to America to make a new business since he had inherited millions. He was a single young man, travelling alone, but he knew he'd have plenty of company on the ship, especially young ladies and possibly their mothers, hoping to suitor him to their daughter.
Back up on the viewing deck Ben was pressed against the railing, gazing down at the faces below him. He suddenly realised how lucky he was, he had won his ticket aboard Titanic in a game of dice the night before.
Ben felt a shudder as the propellers started up and before he could trigger what was happening, the ship was moving, the Titanic was setting to sail and he, Ben Wood, orphan and gutter rat of three years on aboard it. Aboard the biggest ship ever made in the history of man and which was unsinkable. He was leaving the country!
Soon the crowd up on the viewing deck started to disperse, everyone heading below to find their cabins. Ben was suddenly struck by the thought that he'd be sharing with people he didn't know. He didn't know anyone on board, but he'd probably make friends. All the steerage passengers where probably packed in together anyway, as per usual.
Ben stayed up on the viewing deck, even after the crowd had dispersed. He went right up to the front of the ship and simply sat and looked at the waves and the water, which stretched out in front of him.
Finally he stood up and stretched. He knew Titanic was going to dock in Belfast to pick up more passengers before heading out to sea and across to America. He checked his ticket and managed to make his way down to G deck and cabin G60. It was empty and he guessed and his fellow travellers must be getting on at Belfast.
Decided that there wasn't much else to do he claimed a top bunk and settled down for a quick nap, he hadn't slept well curled up in a ball in a corner of the dock last night. He was too worried about his ticket aboard the Titanic and freedom being stolen. Waking up feeling refreshed, Ben grabbed his rucksack and headed back up on to the viewing deck and made his way to the front of the boat.
He sat crossed-legged with his back against the railings and leaned his rucksack beside him, looping his arm through one of the straps so he didn't lose it. He then opened one of the schoolbooks he had got at Master Brenning's place and opened it on his lap. He did want to learn, although he didn't particularly like some subjects.
The book he had grabbed was his Maths book, which was one of his worst subjects and with a groan he settled down to study, knowing he'd need to at least know some things if he would stand a chance of getting a job in America. Although he didn't think that anyone would hire a twelve year old, he'd probably be back to forging on the streets again, but it would be better than life in England, in Master Brenning's orphanage or whatever you could call it.
Ben read through some of his Maths text and decided not to try the exercises set in the book, they could wait until later. Since he was once again heading off into the horizon he decided that he might as well do something he enjoyed. He replaced his Maths book back in his rucksack and took out his sketch pad and some charcoal. Then he settled back and drew what he could see of the Titanic. The smokestacks, the deck and the people wandering about.
He was absorbed in his drawing and only when the wind picked up and dusk began to fall did he realised that night would soon be falling and that they would soon be docking in Belfast before heading out into the open sea, with nothing around them but ocean.
Deciding to skip eating anything and save his money Ben went back to his cabin and sat on the top-bunk that he had claimed for himself. Once more he settled down cross legged and drew a sketch of the cabin, putting in amazing detail, which not many other people seemed to notice. Ben's sketch book consisted of a leather holder with lots of pieces of paper inside, in a rough order because they weren't fastened in properly. Also the leather holder was very thick because of the number of drawings it had in it. Ben remembered everything by drawing pictures of them, he didn't particularly like writing things down that had happened, and he preferred drawing them.
Ben had felt the ship dock at Belfast but hadn't bothered to go up to the deck to see the people getting on, it was getting late now, almost time for the first class to be going in for what they called dinner and then afterwards, for the men, cigars and brandy while the women had tea.
Since they had been docked for a while Ben knew that they would soon be leaving and heading out for the waves, next stop America. He decided to stay in the cabin and see what his fellow roommates where like. He hoped that they were a decent sort.
Soon there were voices in the corridor; some with strong Irish accents, and some seemed to be getting closer to the door. Ben ducked his head and concentrated on putting the final touches on his drawing when the door swung open.
Finally looking up he saw three men getting settled in. He knew that they had probably noticed him and were deciding to ignore him, he was used to it. One man, however, noticed him looking at the three of them, he was the one who had the bunk under his. He didn't appear to know the other two, who left the room without saying a word to either of them. With his sketch book tucked under his arm and a piece of charcoal in his pocket Ben swung himself down from the top bunk.
He was heading for the door when the man called after him with an Irish accent, "You travelling alone, kid?"
"Yeah," Ben turned round to answer.
"Tommy Ryan," the man told him while sticking out his hand. "Looks like we're going to be bunking together for a while."
"Ben Wood," Ben told him whilst shaking the hand offered. And with that, Ben left to go back up onto the viewing deck and to sketch by starlight and watch the fist class passengers go into dinner and then a few taking walks on the deck.
Please, please, please, review, whether it's good or bad! Please!
Chapter 2 Aboard the Titanic
Jack Dawson had decided not to stand on the viewing deck and wave to the people on the dock; it would be improper for someone of his class. He was instead sorting out his rooms aboard the ship, which were the best money could buy.
Jack had decided to go to America to make a new business since he had inherited millions. He was a single young man, travelling alone, but he knew he'd have plenty of company on the ship, especially young ladies and possibly their mothers, hoping to suitor him to their daughter.
Back up on the viewing deck Ben was pressed against the railing, gazing down at the faces below him. He suddenly realised how lucky he was, he had won his ticket aboard Titanic in a game of dice the night before.
Ben felt a shudder as the propellers started up and before he could trigger what was happening, the ship was moving, the Titanic was setting to sail and he, Ben Wood, orphan and gutter rat of three years on aboard it. Aboard the biggest ship ever made in the history of man and which was unsinkable. He was leaving the country!
Soon the crowd up on the viewing deck started to disperse, everyone heading below to find their cabins. Ben was suddenly struck by the thought that he'd be sharing with people he didn't know. He didn't know anyone on board, but he'd probably make friends. All the steerage passengers where probably packed in together anyway, as per usual.
Ben stayed up on the viewing deck, even after the crowd had dispersed. He went right up to the front of the ship and simply sat and looked at the waves and the water, which stretched out in front of him.
Finally he stood up and stretched. He knew Titanic was going to dock in Belfast to pick up more passengers before heading out to sea and across to America. He checked his ticket and managed to make his way down to G deck and cabin G60. It was empty and he guessed and his fellow travellers must be getting on at Belfast.
Decided that there wasn't much else to do he claimed a top bunk and settled down for a quick nap, he hadn't slept well curled up in a ball in a corner of the dock last night. He was too worried about his ticket aboard the Titanic and freedom being stolen. Waking up feeling refreshed, Ben grabbed his rucksack and headed back up on to the viewing deck and made his way to the front of the boat.
He sat crossed-legged with his back against the railings and leaned his rucksack beside him, looping his arm through one of the straps so he didn't lose it. He then opened one of the schoolbooks he had got at Master Brenning's place and opened it on his lap. He did want to learn, although he didn't particularly like some subjects.
The book he had grabbed was his Maths book, which was one of his worst subjects and with a groan he settled down to study, knowing he'd need to at least know some things if he would stand a chance of getting a job in America. Although he didn't think that anyone would hire a twelve year old, he'd probably be back to forging on the streets again, but it would be better than life in England, in Master Brenning's orphanage or whatever you could call it.
Ben read through some of his Maths text and decided not to try the exercises set in the book, they could wait until later. Since he was once again heading off into the horizon he decided that he might as well do something he enjoyed. He replaced his Maths book back in his rucksack and took out his sketch pad and some charcoal. Then he settled back and drew what he could see of the Titanic. The smokestacks, the deck and the people wandering about.
He was absorbed in his drawing and only when the wind picked up and dusk began to fall did he realised that night would soon be falling and that they would soon be docking in Belfast before heading out into the open sea, with nothing around them but ocean.
Deciding to skip eating anything and save his money Ben went back to his cabin and sat on the top-bunk that he had claimed for himself. Once more he settled down cross legged and drew a sketch of the cabin, putting in amazing detail, which not many other people seemed to notice. Ben's sketch book consisted of a leather holder with lots of pieces of paper inside, in a rough order because they weren't fastened in properly. Also the leather holder was very thick because of the number of drawings it had in it. Ben remembered everything by drawing pictures of them, he didn't particularly like writing things down that had happened, and he preferred drawing them.
Ben had felt the ship dock at Belfast but hadn't bothered to go up to the deck to see the people getting on, it was getting late now, almost time for the first class to be going in for what they called dinner and then afterwards, for the men, cigars and brandy while the women had tea.
Since they had been docked for a while Ben knew that they would soon be leaving and heading out for the waves, next stop America. He decided to stay in the cabin and see what his fellow roommates where like. He hoped that they were a decent sort.
Soon there were voices in the corridor; some with strong Irish accents, and some seemed to be getting closer to the door. Ben ducked his head and concentrated on putting the final touches on his drawing when the door swung open.
Finally looking up he saw three men getting settled in. He knew that they had probably noticed him and were deciding to ignore him, he was used to it. One man, however, noticed him looking at the three of them, he was the one who had the bunk under his. He didn't appear to know the other two, who left the room without saying a word to either of them. With his sketch book tucked under his arm and a piece of charcoal in his pocket Ben swung himself down from the top bunk.
He was heading for the door when the man called after him with an Irish accent, "You travelling alone, kid?"
"Yeah," Ben turned round to answer.
"Tommy Ryan," the man told him while sticking out his hand. "Looks like we're going to be bunking together for a while."
"Ben Wood," Ben told him whilst shaking the hand offered. And with that, Ben left to go back up onto the viewing deck and to sketch by starlight and watch the fist class passengers go into dinner and then a few taking walks on the deck.
Please, please, please, review, whether it's good or bad! Please!