"How come I can't drive?" Jack whines. I personally don't care who's driving, as long as we make it to Southampton in one piece! The ruffian is totally focused on the task of staying in her lane while we navigate through some traffic caused by construction. She doesn't even glance at Jack as he continues to ask why he can't drive when he's the man of their relationship. She doesn't even roll her eyes, even though I'm sure she'd very much like to.
While I was suffering from my hangover, and I literally mean suffering, I took great care in watching the little couple. They seem more like children than adults, he is curious about everything new that he comes across, and she gently shows him how the world works today. I get a sense that if anyone else bothered her with such questions she would hit them, but not Jack. There is a certain way she looks at Jack, and at me. I'm not exactly great at guessing, everything I've ever had to predict usually had a mathematical equation, but the delinquent's reasoning behind her love for us, there is no equation for that.
So if I make a, rather well educated guess, I'd say we fill a void in her heart. I remember watching her, after the whole Titanic business, wondering why she isolated herself so much! She was so reserved, nothing like the girl I knew on the Titanic, who'd interrogate Mr. Ismay like it was some sort of game! Who'd wire other ships asking them the most ridiculous questions she could think of! The girl was really insane when she was with me, but in the presence of everyone in her own time, not a word! Almost as though she were afraid to speak, afraid of being rejected by her peers. But her peers never seemed to mind her, far from it, many of them seemed to love her. But she kept herself to herself, that hardly matters now though.
Suddenly Jack asks her how much longer it will be until we reach the dock. She sighs "About an hour" she tells him, he leans back in his seat "So what are we going to do when we get to New York?" he asks her. The girl shrugs "See my parents I suppose, I'm pretty sure they're still in the same house" she replies. She's pretty sure? "You don't know if they're still there?" I ask her, she shakes her head "Haven't spoken to them since I left for London right after High School" she answers plainly.
Jack is playing with a playbill he found on the floor by his feet "Why didn't you talk to them?" he asks her curiously. She huffs almost bitterly "I don't really, care to be in contact with them. We'll leave it at that". Jack looks like he's about to ask her something else but I kick the back of his seat and he lets out a little yelp "OW! Something bit me!" he says, rubbing his back.
"You got rats in this car?" he asks her, looking around. She shrugs "Dunno, haven't cleaned my car out in a while. There could be anything in here" she replies to him carelessly. He begins getting antsy in his seat and she glances over at him "Why don't you look at the scenery?" she asks him. He looks out the window "There's nothing out there to look at!" he tells her, she finally rolls her eyes, then quickly diverts them back to the road "Well you could watch another movie!" she tells him.
I don't know if me and Jack will be able to sit through another movie, honestly I haven't appreciated any of the movies she has shown us, especially all the ones having to do with the Titanic. Suddenly Thomas the cat lets out a pitiful meow, I poke my fingers into the door of his cat carrier and he being licking my finger tips and rubbing his head against them. Killian, who'd been asleep in my lap begins licking my pant leg in an attempt to get my attention back.
Jack looks back at me "Aw, look it's Dr. Dolittle!" he says, with a wide grin. I roll my eyes, that was one of the worst movies I ever watched in my life, but Jack of course loved it like he loved every other movie! Speaking of Jack, he's starting to mess with the panel in the car, which makes me nervous, what if he causes us to get into an accident? Images of Elba's accident flash through my mind and I quickly snap at Jack to stop touching things!
The delinquent of course laughs at me "Mr. Andrews just chill out ok?" she asks, still not taking her eyes off the road. Chill out? How does she expect me to chill out when she has the heat on in her vehicle! She glances down at the panel Jack was messing with "You guys want some music?" she asks. That depends on the music, she had me listen to some more modern music, and now it's even worse than the last time I was here! Even Jack hated the music, he said he wanted Katy Perry and the ruffian had to pull out her old ipod to play it.
Ramin the canary bird that I had no idea she even owned until this morning, begins chirping loudly and the girl quickly hits the play button on the panel to try and drown him out. I expect to be blasted by something terrible, but to my surprise I'm met with the soothing sounds of Cantique de Jean Racine. She curses under her breath and tries to get the music to stop playing "Why are you listening to that?" Jack asks as he tries to help her, she laughs "Nostalgia. I'm actually singing in this recording" she replies, finally getting the cd out.
"You sang works by Gabriel Faure?" I ask her, she nods "Yea, for an All County concert. It was my second favorite thing we sung. I've also played Pavane in my school's band" she replies nonchalantly. Wait, it was only her second favorite song to sing? What was her first favorite? Jack asks the question before I get to and she plugs her old ipod touch into the panel, scanning through her music. When she finds the song she was looking for she selects it "This was my favorite song" she tells us.
It's pretty enough I suppose, she tells us it's called The Seal Lullaby by a gentlemen named Eric Whitacre. This song makes me think of Elba, I would have sung this to her as a lullaby had it existed back in my own time period. I think Jack is trying to picture actual seals in his mind, but it's not going well for him. When the song ends she tells us she wants a little peace before we get to our destination, so she puts on the War Horse soundtrack and tells us to shut up.
Jack falls asleep after the first five minutes, I'm not tired so I stroke Killian's head and listen to the music quietly. It's, it's quite good actually. By the end of the soundtrack I'm almost lulled to sleep myself when Thomas the cat lets out another meow. I feel for the poor cat, he just wants a little petting! Quietly I open up the door to his carrier, thinking maybe I can just stick my hand in and pet him, but before I can even blink he's out of the carrier and jumping around the car.
The orange monster leaps onto Jacks head and begins attacking his hair. Jack practically jumps out of his seat as he wakes up "GET IT OFF! GET IT OFF!" he shrieks "IT'S A GIANT RAT!". Killian begins barking madly and he jumps up after the cat, pouncing onto Jack's head and then launching himself towards the ruffian as Thomas tries to make his get away. When he jumps on her she swerves a bit and I cling to the seat like my life depends on it. My heart is pounding! Please don't let me have a heart attack right now!
Killian continues pursuing the stupid cat around the car, suddenly they knock into the bird cage and upset poor Ramin who was napping on his perch. The bird begins squawking as Thomas tries to break into the cage to eat him. I try to get him off but I'm still white knuckle clinging to my seat as Gabby tries to refocus herself on staying on the road. I can tell she's incredibly tense because she's leaning very close to the steering wheel and gripping it rather tightly.
Jack is panicking about his hair and his semi-bleeding scalp, and I can't help but feel sorry for the lad. Suddenly Thomas comes within reach and I grab him by the scruff, stuffing him back into his carrier and slamming the door shut! He lets out a mournful meow and I ignore him, that's the last time I do anything for that cat! He always does nothing but cause trouble for me! Killian quietly pads over and settles himself on my lap again. All the chaos has made me feel rather tired and I rest my head back, I'll just close my eyes for a moment to rest. That was terrifying!
Suddenly I feel myself being shaken awake "Thomas! Tommie wake up we're here!" I hear the delinquent call. How could we be there already? I open my eyes and everything is a little dark, where are we? This doesn't look like the Southampton dock! The ruffian smiles gently at me "We're going to be late, come on. Get your suitcase out of the back of the trunk" she tells me. I step out of her vehicle and look around, we're rather high up! I can see the street from up here. Jack grins at me "Have a nice nap old man?" he asks me teasingly. I growl at him, I'm not that old! And he shouldn't be talking, he sleeps almost every time we're in the car!
Gabby takes Killian's leash, her rolling suitcase, and Ramin, while I'm stuck carrying Thomas the cat and my own suitcase. Jack got off easy, only having to bring his own suitcase. We walk through this odd building and to a lift, which takes us down to the street. As we walk the ruffian tells us that she managed to get us a room in first class at last minute, and she managed to get it at a discount since she was working and since she'd been saving for this trip practically since the day she first heard about it.
I don't understand why she didn't just buy her own first class ticket if she'd been saving, but I suppose the only way she's able to afford first class is because she's working. I don't very much like the fact that Jack and I will be enjoying our time on the ship while she has to work. I at least hope they treat her as good as White Star treated their employees originally.
My heart stops in my chest for a moment as we come around a corner and finally see her. I have to stop dead in my tracks just to take her in. She's beautiful! Just like I remember! It's as though it's some kind of terrible dream, that I'll run up to the ship to find it is not really Titanic, but a figment of my imagination. But oh, she really is real isn't she? I feel tears welling up at the sight of her, I never thought I'd see Titanic again, not looking like this! Jack is awestruck just like I am "Well would you believe that? Looks just like the bloody original!" he says in disbelief.
The delinquent ushers us along "Come on, we still have to go through baggage check" she tells us. The closer we get to the ship, the more amazed and emotional I feel. It's really here, it's just like the first one! Only this time I know she won't sink! I know she won't! Oh and they built her from my designs! Here in the year 2016, over 100 years after my death and they built one of my ships again! Nellie and Elba would be so proud of me, I wish they could see this! I wish Nellie were here with me so I could show her the new Titanic! I'd show her all the modern things that I'm sure are on it, the televisions and the internet! I bet she'd enjoy the cupcake show too!
We reach a point where security stops us and begins going through all our belongings. She hands one gentlemen a paper showing that Killian, Thomas, and Ramin have been cleared to travel in first class with Jack and I. The man nods and waves us all through, and now we're on our way up the gangplank. She looks back at us "Alright boys, I'm going to help you settle into your cabin then I have to go get my work schedule and stuff" she explains to us. As we walk through the hallways on A deck, I'm actually quite impressed. Everything so far seems to be exactly the same, from the carpet to the wallpaper, to the light fixtures! Of course, that means that all my little things that I had a problem with before, won't be fixed here!
When we reach our room the ruffian pulls out two keys, one for me and one for Jack. Jack insists on opening the door first, and he takes his time doing it. My heart is racing, I just want him to open the door already! Finally he pushes the door open and what greets me makes me what to cry tears of joy. It looks just like it did before! I enter the room and look around, the paneling on the walls, the fireplace, everything looks exactly the same! Only, there are added things now! There's a flat screen television hanging over the fireplace, and outlets on the lower parts of the wall. It doesn't take away from the room though, far from it! I wish we could have provided such luxuries back in 1912!
Killian bounds into the room excitedly, sticking his nose to the ground he begins sniffing around the room curiously, disappearing into one of the bedroom as he explores. Thomas the cat steps out of his cat carrier and stretches before following Killian's example and exploring the rooms. We place Ramin's cage on the desk in the sitting room, and he quietly stares around the room with his beady black eyes. Jack looks around the room "So this was first class huh? Definitely a step up from the quarters me and Bride had to share" he comments. Oh great, I've got to train Jack to be a first class gentleman! Hopefully he won't be as uncivilized as the delinquent was. I wonder what first class will be like in modern times? I certainly hope their taste in food hasn't changed, I don't think I would be able to stay on this ship if I found out cheeseburgers and french fries were on the menu.
Gabby tells us she must be going. She pats all her little companions and tells them goodbye, before giving Jack a kiss on the lips. I miss Nellie, I wish she could see all this with me, suddenly the girl is hugging me and she smiles gently "If you get upset during this voyage, you come and find me ok?" she asks. I don't understand why I would get upset, I'm quite the opposite of upset. I love this ship! But I nod to her anyway and she leaves the room. Jack immediately flops onto the couch and turns on the television. We're on the Titanic again and all he can think to do is sit and watch television? Well I for one am not going to just sit here and do nothing! I want to see my ship! I tell Jack I'm leaving and he waves me off, his eyes never leaving the glowing screen.
It may have been a while since I last went around my ship, but I still know every inch of her. And I've brought my notebook along just to make sure that every detail is in fact correct. My first destination, the grand staircase. They must not have gotten it wrong, if they did, I will be absolutely furious! My heart is racing faster and faster the closer I get to the staircase. All the way there seems so familiar, yet I know that I've never walked this way before, not on this ship.
As I make it to the grand staircase, I can feel tears welling in my eyes. I finally realize what the ruffian was talking about when she told me I might get upset. The staircase is beautiful, it looks just like it did before! The glass dome, the clock, everything! But my heart aches knowing this is all just a replica, this isn't really the grand staircase, it's just a copy. The real staircase lies in pieces at the bottom of the Atlantic ocean, my stomach turns over as I think about the people getting caught in this room as the water poured in, dying a horrible painful death on my beautiful staircase. I turn away from it and take a deep breath to steady myself, maybe I should return to the stateroom for a little while to settle my nerves. I'll come back and explore with Jack, yes, I'll come back with someone!
I look at the staircase one last time, I can almost see the first class passengers going up and down the staircase. I can see them, the women in their long flowing gowns and the men in their brand new custom made suits. Now the staircase will be populated by a much different crowd, and I don't think I want to see that. I finally manage to tear my eyes away from the staircase and I rush back to the safety of our stateroom. Jack looks up at me as I reenter the room "I thought you were going exploring?" he asks. I swallow back any emotions that linger from my confrontation with the grand staircase and sit on the couch beside him "Nah, decided I was feeling a little tired" I tell him.
He shrugs and flicks through the channels, we both end up watching a show about a glee club or something. Neither of us are really invested in the show though, we're both too busy thinking about the ship. I can tell now sitting next to Jack that he doesn't want to see the rest of the ship because he's afraid of what he might find. What ghosts he might have to face, now that I've faced some I don't blame him for his fear. I certainly hope the delinquent returns soon, I don't like being on this ship without her being around. My voyage on the original Titanic was so much better with her insanity, she made me forget the tragedy that would strike. I know this ship won't sink, but I need her to keep me reassured. I never thought I'd say that, that I need her. I must be losing my mind in the future.
So uh, I don't really have much to say in this authors note, I think it's kinda hard for me to think of something to say because it's 2 in the afternoon and I haven't eaten anything all day so I'm starving. Well now that we're on Titanic, there is going to be some SERIOUS chaos! You know how much I LOVE chaos. Now if you excuse me, I'm going to go get me a sandwich...
Today in the review gift shop, we have Titanic calenders! Every month has a different person. Pretty sure the people are as follows. In January-Captain Smith, February-Mr. Ismay, March-Officer Murdoch, April-Officer Lightoller, May-Thomas Andrews, June-Molly Brown, July-Officer Wilde, August-Officers Lowe and Moody, September-J.J. and Madeleine Astor, October-Phillips and Bride, November-Ida and Isador Straus, and in December we have a picture of Titanic herself. So if you want one of those nifty calenders, REVIEW PLEASE!
Thanks for Reading!