Ship of Dreams

Charlie O'Grady bought a 3rd class ticket on the Titanic, dreams of a new life in America with his fiancée who was already waiting for him over there.

Eight pounds one shilling and his journey would begin.

A new life in America; he had a job waiting at his future father-in-law printing company.

He wrote a postcard to his love as the ship traveled on its journey:

April 11th, 1912

Dearest Irene

Hope you are well, my love, this boat is a peach. She smashed into another boat leaving Southampton which was felt with great concern here in the stern. Shall be in Queenstown today. We shall be in New York next Tuesday . I will write again later. The seas are quite calm. My fondest love to you and our future. Xs and Os for you. And many regards to all there.

Charlie or "Mack" to his friends and enemies could hardly wait to be with his fiancée, to begin his life anew.

His old life of gambling and drinking was behind him, drifting away with each passing moment.

He could hardly contain his excitement as the journey was just beginning, a new life waiting for him, he joyfully sang a song his mother had sang to him as a child.

He sat on the edge of his bed; after a lovely day and an enjoyable night; the meal was fantastic and his conversation with a fellow traveler, his room mate for the journey was pleasant as well.

"Mack, what will you do the moment ya feet hit the solid ground of land?" Franklin had asked as they ate.

"I shall kiss my love!"

Franklin laughed.

"Aye, I can only imagine! I wish I had a lovely young lady waiting for me! All I got is a brother and my uncle, we'll be making our way to the mines of Butte, Montana to make our way and our fortune!"

"Sounds like you have a good journey on your way my friend! Shall be a fine life for the both of us!! A lovely fine life indeed!"

"Aye! Let us toast our journey!"

Two glasses of Irish whiskey were toasted.

"My father's stock!" Franklin laughed again pouring two more glasses.

The two drank till close to midnight and fell asleep.

The days moved quietly; Charlie made friends easily among his fellow 3rd class passengers, Franklin was introducing himself as "Brothers from a different mother and father" to all the young ladies who dare give him the eye.

Charlie avoided the young ladies but one; Alice did speak to him as more than just a friend.

Franklin laughed as Alice grabbed Charlie by the arm and escorted him to her room.

"I have something to show you!" she giggled as they moved together.

"I bet she does Ole Mate!! She'll be the death of you!!" Franklin laughed hard.

"Do you know what will happen tomorrow?" Alice smiled as she grasped his hand.

"Not a clue me dear!" Charlie replied.

"Neither do I."

Soon, her lips met Charlie's, a soft kiss at first. Charlie stepped back.

"I can't..." he stammered.

She pushed her body into his; he didn't resist, another kiss, this time Charlie did not step back.

The night was a passionate night; Charlie and Alice fell asleep in each other's arms, the words of love still fresh on their lips.

April 13th, 1912.

The early morning waking was grand; Charlie awoke, Alice curled into him. Then the realization of his fiancée there in New York waiting for him entered his brain, he felt sick to his stomach and slowly and quietly dressed and left the room.

"Oh Mack, what have you done?" Franklin smirked as he rose up in his bed.

"Oh brother, I have done a bad thing, perhaps cursed this whole ship last night!"

Both men laughed.

"Lets go to breakfast my friend, mayhap we shall reverse this curse with a good meal and good chat!"

Charlie didn't feel like eating; he had a cup of coffee and a bit of bread with some marmalade.

Alice sat quietly at another table; eyeing him, sadly. Neither said a word to each other that day.

Even with the drama of the two "loves", the day went well, turning into the afternoon, then the evening, Charlie had roast beef and boiled potatoes for dinner.

A sip or three of the whiskey Franklin had stored with him.

It was a grand day all around.

Shortly before midnight on April 14th, 1912, on the fourth day of its maiden voyage, the greatest ocean liner in the world, thought to be unsinkable, hit an iceberg.

In a few hours, on April 15th, 1912, the "Unsinkable" Titanic would sink.

Charlie awoke; almost falling out of his bed.

"Jesus O Mary! What the hell?" Franklin yelled stumbling out of his bed.

Screams outside in the walkways could be heard.

"WE'VE HIT AN ICEBERG!!" someone yelled!!

Panic.

Charlie heard a mother and child crying as he rushed outside. Franklin was behind him, pushing his way through.

Alice came running up to both.

"Will we..." she said, almost weeping, running into Charlie's arms.

He held her for a moment and then continued moving forward with her towards the lifeboats.

"Women and children only here..." some man in a dark suit said as the three made it to a life boat, already filled half way.

"I won't leave you!" Alice cried. "I just found you!"

Charlie sighed as he helped her into the life boat.

"Me and Franklin will find a way off this vessel!"

"Aye! We'll meet ya later, we'll have champagne!" Franklin said smiling.

All three laughed as the life boat descended into the night shaded ocean.

As the two men tried to make their way to the other life boats; other men sat and laughed, drinking whiskey, singing songs of old times.

"We're going to be okay, mates, we're going to be okay!" one of the men said, raising his bottle to the masses. "She's unsinkable!!"

The band played on, trying to keep a harmony of the masses.

And in two hours and forty minutes; all of them including Charlie and Franklin would be dead; both men lost to the sea, their bodies never recovered.

A postcard postmarked Queenstown April 11th, 1912 arrived to Irene.

She could not hold back the tears and emotions and fainted as her father read the postcard from her beloved.

Alice survived as was written and lived to be a grandmother.

The father of her only child perished on the Titanic April, 14th, 1912.