susan
04-30-05, 11:11 PM
this is an original story that i wrote for a contest on another forum and i just wanted to share it with you all...
Through the Eyes of the Littlest Stowaway
Darkness enveloped her and surrounded her. The sound of footsteps and voices had awakened her from a sound sleep. She popped up, wondering where she was at first, and then she remembered and settled back down. She felt around for the half eaten homemade bread with the canteen of water that she had taken with her.
This wasn’t the first time that nine-year-old Annie O’Hara had run away from home, but it was the first time she had stowed away on a ship, especially one as large and beautiful as the Titanic. Annie had left the tiny apartment she shared with her aunt and walked the three blocks to the Southampton docks where the ship was berthed. Her fifteen-year-old brother, Sean, had gone to New York to accept a job offer. A whole year had gone by with no word, so she decided to take matters into her own hands. Annie promised that she would stay with her maiden aunt and when the time was right, he would send for them both, but she knew that would never work, and besides, she missed him terribly.
Not wanting to return home, she climbed on board, looking for somewhere she could hide when she saw a lifeboat. No one had noticed and no one had been paying attention to a nine year old playing around the boats. And so she slipped in and had remained hidden in the darkness that surrounded her undisturbed for the three days.
She was about to peek out from under the tarp that covered the boat, when she heard voices. Two voices loud and clear, they seemed to be right next to her.
“You’ve got to slow this ship down, Captain. You are placing everyone in danger and putting lives at risk, including your own. We are venturing into frozen waters and you will have to contend with icebergs. This ship was not designed nor intended to see how quickly you could put in at New York Harbor.”
“Please, Thomas,” the other voice said. He seemed to be pleading. ‘This ship is unsinkable. If an accident should occur, the watertight doors will close. There is no chance that water can or will flood this ship. I do not intend to slow this ship down, Mr. Andrews and that’s my final word on the matter.”
“But you don’t understand Captain. I’m not so sure that all is safe. Should a disaster occur, there would never be enough lifeboats for every single passenger aboard this ship. We can’t take that chance!”
The voices were moving away now, but Annie had no idea what it had all meant. She tried to think about it, but the darkness and the gentle rocking of the ship made her sleepy again.
A sudden jolt had woken her this time. This time the voices were louder. Annie could hear screams and a sudden rush of footsteps. This time she pushed the tarp back and saw some of the men kicking something around the deck. Why, it looked like big chunks of ice.
Then she heard another voice, a male voice, pleading with the passengers to put on their life jackets. They would be getting the lifeboats ready soon and wanted women and children only on deck.
Not wanting to be discovered, Annie waited until a sizeable crowd had grown. She climbed out quickly, hoping that no one would notice. She made her way through throngs of people to the first lifeboat she saw.
“Come, little miss,” one of the officers called out to her. He was waving his arm, motioning her to come closer. “There is still room enough for a pretty little girl like you.”
He smiled as he reached out for Annie and placed her on the lifeboat. He looked over the crowd and decided that the half filled boat was full.
“All right,” he called out. “Lower away.” Annie watched as the officer used his arms to direct exactly which way the boat was going. She heard a little splash as the boat connected with the freezing water. She could feel the boat pulling away now and watched until it was safely out of harms way.
She remained on that lifeboat in the middle of the freezing water and watched the unsinkable Titanic slowly break apart and slip to the bottom of the Atlantic where it still lies to this day.
As for lucky little Annie, not one soul had ever asked where her parents were, who she was or where she was from. She remained in the lifeboat until another ship arrived to pick them up. When the ship finally arrived in New York, she was able to seek out her brother through references and all enjoyed a happy ending
But this is not the end of the story; rather it is just the beginning.
Through the Eyes of the Littlest Stowaway
Darkness enveloped her and surrounded her. The sound of footsteps and voices had awakened her from a sound sleep. She popped up, wondering where she was at first, and then she remembered and settled back down. She felt around for the half eaten homemade bread with the canteen of water that she had taken with her.
This wasn’t the first time that nine-year-old Annie O’Hara had run away from home, but it was the first time she had stowed away on a ship, especially one as large and beautiful as the Titanic. Annie had left the tiny apartment she shared with her aunt and walked the three blocks to the Southampton docks where the ship was berthed. Her fifteen-year-old brother, Sean, had gone to New York to accept a job offer. A whole year had gone by with no word, so she decided to take matters into her own hands. Annie promised that she would stay with her maiden aunt and when the time was right, he would send for them both, but she knew that would never work, and besides, she missed him terribly.
Not wanting to return home, she climbed on board, looking for somewhere she could hide when she saw a lifeboat. No one had noticed and no one had been paying attention to a nine year old playing around the boats. And so she slipped in and had remained hidden in the darkness that surrounded her undisturbed for the three days.
She was about to peek out from under the tarp that covered the boat, when she heard voices. Two voices loud and clear, they seemed to be right next to her.
“You’ve got to slow this ship down, Captain. You are placing everyone in danger and putting lives at risk, including your own. We are venturing into frozen waters and you will have to contend with icebergs. This ship was not designed nor intended to see how quickly you could put in at New York Harbor.”
“Please, Thomas,” the other voice said. He seemed to be pleading. ‘This ship is unsinkable. If an accident should occur, the watertight doors will close. There is no chance that water can or will flood this ship. I do not intend to slow this ship down, Mr. Andrews and that’s my final word on the matter.”
“But you don’t understand Captain. I’m not so sure that all is safe. Should a disaster occur, there would never be enough lifeboats for every single passenger aboard this ship. We can’t take that chance!”
The voices were moving away now, but Annie had no idea what it had all meant. She tried to think about it, but the darkness and the gentle rocking of the ship made her sleepy again.
A sudden jolt had woken her this time. This time the voices were louder. Annie could hear screams and a sudden rush of footsteps. This time she pushed the tarp back and saw some of the men kicking something around the deck. Why, it looked like big chunks of ice.
Then she heard another voice, a male voice, pleading with the passengers to put on their life jackets. They would be getting the lifeboats ready soon and wanted women and children only on deck.
Not wanting to be discovered, Annie waited until a sizeable crowd had grown. She climbed out quickly, hoping that no one would notice. She made her way through throngs of people to the first lifeboat she saw.
“Come, little miss,” one of the officers called out to her. He was waving his arm, motioning her to come closer. “There is still room enough for a pretty little girl like you.”
He smiled as he reached out for Annie and placed her on the lifeboat. He looked over the crowd and decided that the half filled boat was full.
“All right,” he called out. “Lower away.” Annie watched as the officer used his arms to direct exactly which way the boat was going. She heard a little splash as the boat connected with the freezing water. She could feel the boat pulling away now and watched until it was safely out of harms way.
She remained on that lifeboat in the middle of the freezing water and watched the unsinkable Titanic slowly break apart and slip to the bottom of the Atlantic where it still lies to this day.
As for lucky little Annie, not one soul had ever asked where her parents were, who she was or where she was from. She remained in the lifeboat until another ship arrived to pick them up. When the ship finally arrived in New York, she was able to seek out her brother through references and all enjoyed a happy ending
But this is not the end of the story; rather it is just the beginning.