The Boy From Third Class

So far, the year of 1912 hasn't been a fair one for the Cross family. Joseph Benjamin Cross I, lost his job, then one week into his new job he became ill. For a month, he was working endlessly while sick, until April 8th, 1912. Joseph lost his life while at work. His wife, Annabelle Cross had decided to move back to New York, in America to gain help from her family. After all, it was only her and young Benjamin now.

Joseph's mother and father didn't want Annabelle to go, however, they wouldn't be able to help her get a job here. They owned no shops, nor had enough pull to get her a job anywhere. So, Annabelle had to sell their house and everything in it to have enough for a head start in New York. Titanic, The Ship of Dreams. Her dream was to start over, to forget the past here in England. That's why she bought two Third Class tickets to New York, not only to save money, but to make people onboard think that she wasn't anything more. She had enough money to buy a second class ticket at least, yet most of her money was in her sons name. She had hidden on her persons seven gold pieces that she would enter into the bank in New York.

It was Joseph's last gift to Benjamin as he died. The gold pieces would help Benjamin get ahead in life. Annabelle promised herself to never use the pieces. While she loved her Joseph and wanted to raise Benjamin in Southampton with the Cross family, the pain of loss was far too great. The memories in America was less prominent than here.

April 10th, 1912 Approximately 9:40 am

"Benjamin, gather your things. We leave now." Annabelle called from the kitchen. She was gathering the last few things and taking them to the car. Her mother in law had arranged for a car to drive them to the ship, She hurried to the car, her shoes clacking along the way.

A young boy in a older suit jacket with a high collard dress shirt. His pants had small tears in it, yet it was his favorite pair. His shoes were old and dusty, yet looked barely worn. His blond hair was neatly combed and his hat was in hand. Two small bags that had his clothes and toys in. Regret was following him around like a shadow. He didn't want to leave his home.

A tall woman in a purple plaid dress skirt that fell to the floor sweetly. Her white high collard shirt was tucked tightly into the skirt, showing her thin waist. Everyone was surprised she was a mother when they saw Benjamin and her waist. Her blue eyes were determined balls of fire shining in the shade of the entrance way to the car. "Come on Benjamin."

He sighed and placed his hat on, then grabbed his two bags. The streets were roaring with people excited for the voyage of Titanic. Annabelle shoved Benjamin in the car with his bags and got in herself. They were late. "Please, hurry."

It was the quickest ride Benjamin had been on. They had gotten to the docks just as the officers were yelling for last call. "YES, US." Benjamin flinched as his mother yelled while helping him out. The driver got the rest of the bags down and gave it to Annabelle. She thanked him and grabbed hold of Benjamin's hand. He felt so little in the crowd around him.

"Please, hurry ma'am," an officer said, rushing them aboard.

Benjamin barely had time to register his surroundings as his mother pulled him along holding their bags as best she could. "Mother, do you want me to carry something?" Benjamin looked up as they continued to walk the crowded halls. He almost wondered if his mother didn't hear him when she never answered.

"Where is it?" She muttered to herself going down stairs. She turned left then right down hallways until she reached a door that was open with three other people. Two women and a man, The man took his hat off and bowed slightly as Benjamin and his mother walked up. "Hello, Annabelle Cross," she introduced herself as the man smiled a yellow broken smile.

His moustache was peppered with white and large. It covered half his mouth as he talked. His suit was covered in ash and Benjamin could smell smoke on him, heavily. He tried not to couch rudely as he was brought forth to shake the mans hand. "Benjamin Cross, nice to meet you sir. Madams." Benjamin smiled his proudest smile and made eye contact with the younger lady.

"Helga Gutenhiem and this is my younger sister Olga." Helga looked very pointed and proper. Her sister on the other hand, looked like she would like nothing else but to run and make some trouble having fun. They both had tight ginger buns and their dresses were neatly pressed.

"I never told you my name, my apologies. My name is Victor Anders." The man bowed slightly again. "Wil your husband be along?"

At the mention of Joseph, she froze in the doorway. "No, just me and Benjamin." There was an awkward silence until Benjamin sighed heavily and pushed his way inside. "Benjamin, say excuse me."

Victor and Olga laughed while Helga looked sour after Benjamin. Benjamin didn't pay attention to them as he looked over the room. Four beds in a room that was as small as their bathroom at home. "Which bunk is mine?" Benjamin asked.

"Well," Victor started, walking over to Benjamin and kneeling down beside him, "as men, the gentleman thing to do is give the women the first choice." He gave a sharp nod to Benjamin and they both looked at the three women.

"Ms. Gutenhiem, which beds shall you and your sister want?" Benjamin asked straight. Helga pointed to the right side top and bottom. Benjamin nodded and looked at his mother. "Well, Mother?" Annabelle smiled and said, "How about we take the bottom and let Mr. Anders take the top." Benjamin nodded and looked quickly at Mr. Anders, who gave his approval with one last sharp nod.

Benjamin then took his bags from his mother who was still holding tight to them and her other bags. He set his bags on the bottom bed and turned to take his mothers however she had already put hers under the bed for storage. Benjamin hoped that when they went to sleep, he didn't keep his mother up by sharing the bed. He'd gladly sleep on the floor if it meant his mother could finally rest peacefully for the first time in months.

Annabelle gave a small cough then sat down on the bed with a deep sigh of relief. Victor had put his bags on his bed above her and looked down at her. "Alright ma'am?"

"I think so, I'm just feeling a bit hot all of sudden. All the excitement probably." She sighed again, dabbing her forehead with a cloth she pulled from her sleeve. She coughed again.

Benjamin took his carved truck out of his bag and went to play with it on the floor. However the floor wasn't that big. He kept on hitting Helga in the foot. "Boy, could you go play with that on the deck?" She looked down at him with disdain.

"Helga, darling, he's a young boy. Let him play next to his mother," Victor scolded gently. Helga looked at him angrily.

Annabelle looked at Benjamin and nodded for him to go outside. "You three are related?"

"Yes, Victor is our Uncle, we're going to America to find a better life." Olga smiled at Benjamin who had grabbed his truck and started walking out. He looked back at his mother. She was still dabbing her forehead and listening to Olga tell his mother about their plans.

"I'll be on the deck, mother."

A steward passed Benjamin talking to a second steward. He mentioned the deck, so Benjamin quickly followed behind them. They turned so many times that Benjamin hoped that he would be able to get back to his room. However he didn't worry about that just yet. He was already lost, might as well continue to the deck to play. His mother would come and find him.

The stewards didn't even realize that Benjamin was behind him the whole way. They went down a corridor that only stewards and stewardess were walking down. It was confusing but he continued to follow. Benjamin was very shocked that the adults didn't realize he was there when he was guessing he wasn't supposed to be there.

They went up a few set of stairs until Benjamin could hear the laugh of some kids and the clashing of the ocean. The deck was finally there. Quickly, he slipped away from behind the stewards who where way too into talking to themselves as Benjamin looked back. He shook his head and readjusted his truck as he walked quickly out the door to the sunshine. A lady in a fancy hat laughed as he passed her outside the doorway.

He did a doubletake. She had fancy clothes, probably showing off to people that she was on the Titanic. Several other women were wearing fancy hats or dresses as they walked by Benjamin, walking with pride and laughing with their friends and family. A black haired boy was playing with a spin top near the fence. Benjamin smiled and went to him.

"Hello, I'm Benjamin." The boy looked up as the top stopped spinning.

He nodded and looked up and down at what Benjamin was wearing. Then his eyes landed on the truck. "Travis. Nice truck there." He motioned to the truck.

"Thank you, would you like to play together?" Benjamin asked. Travis nodded and the swapped toys.

The sun was high in the sky when Travis gave a small gasp. "Oh, no, mother will be so upset. I was supposed to be back at lunchtime."

"Oh, okay. Well, it was nice to meet you," Benjamin said as his smiled. He went to hand the spin top back to Travis.

Travis looked at Benjamin. "Would you like to come and have some lunch with us?" As Benjamin nodded, Travis set off with Benjamin hot on his tail. They laughed together as they ran up some stairs. These walls seemed a bit different than around Benjamin's corridor. They were textured white instead of plain white. It seemed way too fancy.

"Mother!" Travis opened the door to his cabin and went in. Benjamin gasped as his stepped in. Their cabin was twice the size of his at least. The flowered walls were so sweet he could almost smell them. The furniture was nicely places near the windows so that they could look out.

A stewardess gasped as she set eyes on Benjamin and ran to grab him. However Travis stopped her. "No, he is with me." He looked at her sternly. She looked at Benjamin then at Travis and nodded.

"What was that about?" Benjamin asked. He was never privy to the hierarchy of the world. His mother and father wanted him to treat everyone with the same amount of respect.

Shock crossed Travis' face. "Don't you know about the Classes? I'm from First, you're Third. Aren't you?"

"Third Class? You mean the way I'm dressed?" Benjamin looked at his clothes. After looking closely he could tell that, while they were wearing nearly the same clothes, Travis' was obviously new.

"How didn't you know that?" Travis asked sitting on the couch. Benjamin shrugged, sitting beside him.

"Mother and Father wanted me to treat everyone with respect, so I suppose the Class system hasn't been embedded into my brain. I don't see money or fancy clothes as anything but looks. Many people I've seen today, they wear the fancy stuff and they seem empty. Yet, the lesser people, where I am staying, I suppose, seem full of happiness." Benjamin explained.

Travis grabbed a slice of bread as the stewardess set a tray down of meats, cheeses, and bread. Benjamin thanked the stewardess and ate a slice of meat. Travis, following Benjamin's example, thanked her too. When Benjamin thanked her, she nodded politely, but when Travis thanked her also, she had to smile shyly.

After she had left the room again, Benjamin asked, "Did you see how, when you thanked her, she smiled?" Travis nodded. "That was probably the first time a First Class child had ever said a polite word to her. Not to offend you or your Class." Benjamin hurriedly added.

He tilted his head to the side, thinking for a moment. "I'll have to start. It made me feel warm inside." Benjamin didn't get a chance to respond as the door to the cabin opened again. A black haired woman with her hair in tight bun walked in. She had on a white fancy hat and a purple and white satin dress that fell to the floor perfectly. She looked pleasant at Travis, then confused.

"Hello, who are you?" She walked around the couch to face Benjamin. Her green eyes went wide as she saw Benjamin's clothes. He felt ashamed for the first time of his class. She looked so pleasant moments ago, now she looked disgraced.

"Mother, this is Benjamin. He's my friend. We played together on the deck." Travis smiled at his mother. She looked from her son, to Benjamin, who was looking at his clothes ashamed. Travis nudged Benjamin. "It's okay. You're my friend." Benjamin smiled a little.

"What about your father, Travis?" She sat on the couch opposite of the boys. Travis shrugged, grabbing an apple and biting into it. Not more than ten seconds later, the door opened and a tall, sharp, shiny man with peppered hair.

"No, I want the painting wrapped and sent to to the safe. I am selling the painting in New York," he trailed off as soon as he saw Benjamin. Before his father could say anything, Travis ran up to his father and hugged him.

Benjamin's heart both dropped and soared with happiness for Travis. "This is my friend, Benjamin. We were playing together. He let me play with his truck his father carved for him." Travis grabbed the truck and showed it to his father, who turned it in his hand closely.

He walked over to Benjamin and knelt down beside the couch. "Your father made this?"

Benjamin nodded. "In his last days. He died a few days later. Mother hasn't slept in several days, so she's in the cabin sleeping." As Travis' father was opened his mouth, a knock came at the door.

"Yes." A steward walked in with his back straighter than the walls around them. His nose was turned up in his polite service way.

"Pardon me, sir, but is there a Third Class child here?"

"Why?" Travis' dad asked in a suspicious voice. The steward seemed unfazed by the slight harsh tone in the man's deep voice.

"There is a missing child in third class and the stewardess from earlier mentioned there was a child here from third class, and the other boy wouldn't let her take him back to his class deck. Nonetheless, his mother in in the infirmary." The steward didn't move a muscle as he told them.

Benjamin jumped up at the mention of his mother. "What do you mean? She's asleep in my cabin."

His eyes softened a bit as he responded, "Victor Anders called for help in the hallway outside the cabin. She fainted and hasn't woken up just yet. We need to find your father."

Benjamin looked down in shame. "My father's dead. I'm here with my mother only."

"We will take care of him until his mother is better, wont we?" Travis said to the steward then his parents. Benjamin looked down at the carpet, twisting his jacket, shyly.

Travis' parents looked at each other and nodded. The steward looked shocked, yet didn't say anything more than, "I will keep you informed of your mother's recovery then sir."

With a heavy nod, Benjamin smiled and waved bye to the steward as he bowed and left. Travis followed with a small wave. "Thank you for taking me in, I will go get my things and sleep on the couch. Thank you."

Travis laughed, "No, you will sleep with me. We will go have a steward help us get your things, and then we will go back to the first class deck and play more." Benjamin smiled a bit and nodded. They both left the room to find a steward to help them. They barely heard his mother tell them to be back to change for dinner.

April 14th ETA 1140 pm

The next few days for Benjamin were fun. It was hard to get used to not doing chores in the morning, going to breakfast and dinner in fancy clothing that Travis' mother helped pick out of Travis' clothing. Benjamin's mother hadn't gotten any better, although she did wake up on the evening of April 14th.

It was well after dinner and Travis' mother, who Benjamin still had a hard time calling Harriet, or really anything other than Mrs. Golding, were going to the infirmary to see Annabelle. Benjamin would not go to sleep without telling his mother for the first time in days goodnight. Halfway to the lifts, a severe thud could be heard, jostling Benjamin and Harriet.

"What was that?" Harriet asked an officer walking by worriedly.

He was sweating in the cold, as he said, "Nothing, go back to bed."

"No, we're heading to the infirmary to see his mother."

The officer gasped and swallowed, then cleared his throat, trying to cover his gasp of shock. "Not now, tomorrow. Lifts are closed."

"Stairs it is then, right Harriet?" Benjamin chimed in. She nodded with a warm smile.

"NO! Go back to your cabin and someone will be along to give out life vest for a night boat drill." He didn't still around to see if they complied before rushing off.

Benjamin looked worried at Harriet. "Well, I promised for you to see your mother, and we're going. There's two thousand people on this ship, they can last without two single people." They left and made several turns while people were starting to rush around confused.

Some were saying the boat will sink, others that they didn't want to go do the life boat drill or go to the decks in the cold. They headed D deck where the infirmary was and ran across some third class passengers, slightly damp. It had taken them around twenty minutes to avoid people to even get close to D deck. Harriet and Benjamin looked the third class shoes squishing on the floor as they headed up to the deck above them.

"This ship can't sink, can it?" Benjamin asked.

Harriet thought for a moment. She originally believed the ship was unsinkable, however she had to think logically for a moment. "I suppose yes, it can."

Not the answer Benjamin hoped for. He swallowed in fear and headed to catch up with Harriet who had started to look at the doors. She opened one on the right and entered. "Here."

Several beds were empty, yet one at the very end had a familiar body in it for Benjamin. The room was very much like a mini Hospital on a boat. They did a wonderful job on the building of this place. Really the whole ship. Harriet looked around, nodding in approval.

Benjamin rushed to his mother. "Mother."

She didn't look so good. Her pretty features were wreaked with sweat and pale skin. She looked like she hadn't eaten in several days, which was most likely the case. Her hair was messy and she still had on her dress from when they boarded. Yet, when she turned her dull eyes to see her son, she smiled a weak defeated smile. "Benjamin, hello. Sorry I couldn't be with you right now. I've been a bit under the weather."

The boy shook his head as he gave his mother a hug. "Don't worry. I've made a friend. They've let me stay in their cabin in First class. They're really nice. When we get to New York I'll introduce you after your better."

Annabelle sighed. "Benjamin, my son. I love you." He smiled and hugged her again and she kissed his head. "Take my rings, keep them safe for me."

She had a necklace that she placed hers and Joseph's wedding rings on. Holding a shaky hand out, Annabelle placed the necklace into Benjamin's small hand. She smiled at him and shooed him into the hallway for a moment.

"We don't have long. The nurses were in here just before you were. They told me what was going to happen. Titanic is sinking." She coughed heavily. Blood came shooting out onto her handkerchief. "Take Benjamin with you. If not, he will die. I'm not going to make it, we both know it." She started coughing again and wouldn't stop.

Harriet decided that she was going to have to go. She and her husband truly loved Benjamin, and he was teaching Travis a lot about manners, something that Harriet loved seeing. "I'll take care of him." With that she left Annabelle coughing a thank you.

On the way back to their cabin, the ship seemed to have gone crazy. Third class was wet and panicking, Second class was aware and prepared, First class didn't seem to care. They were acting like they were coming back to the boat after the "drill". Harriet quickly told her husband what she knew while she'd forced the stewardess to help dress Travis and Benjamin.

"Titanic is sinking. We need to get to a lifeboat," she said to her husband with slight worry in her voice.

He was tromping around getting things together that was small enough to fit in her several coats he was forcing her to wear. "Here, take my coat also."

"No, you will need it." She looked at him. He looked back at her. The look they shared was enough for them. She kissed him and took the coat. Then the stewardess hurriedly took them to the deck where the women and children were boarding a life boat.

Benjamin and Travis held hands tightly, while a stewardess held their shoulders tightly. People were clambering about as if it were a celebration to worry about. Crew were offering blankets and some coffee or tea, some passengers were yelling at the crew for getting them out of bed for a lifeboat drill.

"Women and children first!"

Before Benjamin and Travis could blink or question why Harriet was coming with the stewardess but not Mr. Golding. He stood there helping his wife into the boat then turned to them. "Don't have much time, but you two will be the men of the house. Remember your manners, and remember I love you both." He had looked at both of them in turn as he said the last three words, but his eyes laid on Benjamin for a long moment before he gave Travis a hug. Then he helped him into the boat. Turning back once more to Benjamin, he gave a hug to him also. "These last few days have been a blessing. Go and love your life. Don't stay in the past. Remember there are people you haven't loved yet." He pushed a bag of loud items into his hands, taking the truck away.

Benjamin fought it for a moment then realized, his father wasn't in the truck. He got in the life boat and waved good bye to the closest father his had in days. As the lifeboat was lowering, Mr. Golding could be heard shouting 'I love you' at the top of his lungs. Once they were in the water, Travis and Benjamin sat next to the stewardess and Harriet, who clung to both of them.

Once the boat had starting getting lower into the water, Harriet told Julia, the stewardess, to shield Travis from the view, keep him warm. She had done the same with Benjamin. He was still holding the bag of items tightly as he had previously held his truck. Once Benjamin could hear some shouting going on and a loud crunch and splashing, Benjamin buried his head further into Harriet's lap, crying.

Silence followed for several hours until one of the officers on a boat nearby saw the lights of a ship. Being in shock, Benjamin couldn't remember the name as the officers of the ship welcomed him. He stood still, looking around, yet not grasping any information. Harriet and Julia talked with the officers for several minutes trying to get information.

"Sorry, almost forgot, could I get your names?" The officer looked at Harriet.

Without a single second of hesitation she replied, "Harriet Golding, Travis Golding, and Benjamin Cross Golding."

Until the next morning, Benjamin didn't remember much. He knew that Harriet had claimed him as her son, he lost his mother, and he had a letter from her in the bag of items, which had happened to be their fortune. They reached New York safely after that and life went on. Benjamin tried his best to life by what Mr. Golding had told him throughout his life.

Every 15th of April, Travis and Benjamin meet at their home in New York to spend it with their mother, and Julia, who had moved in to care for them after the sinking. They simply remembered the day, and thanked God that they had made it out so well.