The Wrong Right Way

Belfast streets at this moment in time were just that bit easier to make your way around then they would be in the years to come. The 2nd of April 1912 in Ireland, the country on the brink of divide politically which would ultimately lead to decades of war. A year that would directly lead to riots on the very streets this story takes place, currently on standstill.

Because of what? The largest vessel to grace the waters on Earth. With 20 fully grown horses needed to transport the main anchor only a week before this very day, heisted on to a cart after days of endless work in production and eventually attached to the ship, one of the final pieces in what the world had viewed as a magnificent creation that had taken two years to build.

"Aye ma I'm going to see who's out down the corner and then pass on to see the Titanic drive off." Senan shouted into the sitting room as he opened the front door.

"It's sail off Senan. A ship sail's.. Be back before them street lights are on. Supper be ready for you and bring a jacket!''

The front door slammed before she could finish. Senan took a step out on to a quiet street. He took off running, the line of houses stretched far enough for him to lose breath. On the other side of the corner at the end of the street that joined up with interlocking roads of similar design the odd newsagent shop and corner pub scattered about. As he approached the carpark to the corner pub he seen his friend Cillian, they had planned the day before to meet and head over to the docks.

"Cillian!" he shouted as he slowed down and strolled across the street with such a swagger.

"Did you have any luck?" Senan asked as he sat on a wall that circled the pub entrance.

"Nah there was a bloke walked passed what asked how old I was and sure I said old enough and he laughed and told me to fuck off and play football or something."

Still underage the two boys were accustomed to having to hustle their drink for the weekends and try sneak into parties and clubs they had no business being in. "Fuck it come on we might find a bottle of something on the ship!" Senan said beckoning Cillian to continue on with him.

"What are ye painting mister?" Senan asked. Belfast which is known for its wonderful street art and murals even in the 1900's to see an artist painting on a wall wouldn't have been an unusual sight.

"Sure can't ye read?" the man replied as he applied pressure to the top of the spray can.

Cillian took a few steps back and read out ''United Ireland.''

"Nice colours!" Senan followed up with as they carried along down the street. Crowds had gathered in massive numbers and the noise of footsteps and chatter could be heard a street or two over. While queues began to form for the passengers. Ticket wardens had almost finished running the first class on while they had their bags put on to trolleys. The two boys had hustled themselves in behind a large crowd that had been making there way to see the spectacular launch.

''Do you reckon we're going to get to get there it before it leaves?'' Senan said. The man in front of them turned around, ''Sure it's only around the corner lads it wont be gone for another short while.''

"Thanks mister!" Senan said then turned to speak to Cillian, ''Aye I've to head back for the supper in a bit. Have ye had anything to eat?''

''Naw, I'm starvin', sure we can get a bit of grub on the ship too.'' Cillian replied.

"We wont get on we've no ticket's'' Senan said under his breath.

''Ah there has to be a way.'' Cillian said as he matched the steps with the speed of the crowd that they had huddled along and after passing the gates at the dock had began to disperse as the Titanic came into view at the end of the pier. "There's always a way!"

''Passengers this way! Passengers this way!'' a police man shouted as he stood in the back of a wooden horse pulled carriage so he could see over the crowd. The queues split as spectators lined up. "Spectators this way! Spectators this way! and passengers tickets or work passes ready!''

''Which way should we go?'' Cillian said

"Here look..'' Senan reached into his pocket and took out two pieces of paper.

''If he says anything to us just tell him we have tickets and wave these in the air really fast.'' he said. ''And we can stand in with the next big crowd..''

The two boys walked in behind a group of people as they approached the copper. "Senan these tickets are cut outs from a bloody cereal box."

"He might not even ask to see them, I don't see you with anything better so just wave it fast if he asks and seem real excited."

"We're going on the titanic Mr!" Senan shouted to the officer as they passed him.

The boys clothes were a slight bit raggy compared to what surrounded them.

"Aye you know the way to the workers entrance don't yous?'' the police man replied.

"We sure do!" the boys said as they were scurried along with the moving flow of people.

"We must look like the workers!'' Cillian said. Their shoes worn and clothes the same since the start of the week.

"Aye, why don't we be workers on it.'' Cillian replied.

''I've to be home for me supper don't start all that we'll be on have a look about it and be away off home.'' Senan said as he swung his ticket in the air really fast. "Swing it like this you mean? What did you bring these for? Just another bright idea isn't it. Should I go back and topple the cart?" Cillian replied.

The first class were easily distinguished with their fancy clothing, eye catching broaches and unique jewellery. The women sporting elegant hairstyles and men with their top hats and canes. Their bags taken from them and placed on to large gold armed carts that were pushed by uniformed cabin crew. The two boys watched as the rows of carts were hauled on to the ship by larger bridged platforms to the ones the passengers were using to board.

"We can hide in between a stack of cases in the queue.''

"We have to be quick though there has to be a security guard due!"

"Are they looking are they looking?"

"I don't know just keep running"

The two boys were ever so cunning.

They climbed up and over and into the middle of the baggage,

"Shhhh.. Shhhhh.... I hear someone coming!"

The carriage started to rattle, Not to laugh they had to battle.

People cheered and flags waved in the air.

Faces filled with delight as they watched in amazement, just happy to witness the event unfold.

This ship was about to sail to the other side of the globe, as the Capitan approached in his freshly pressed suit and well shined boots. "I still think it needs a missile launcher, just encase we have to shoot."

He said as he firmly placed his hat on his head. Well equipped for the job his closest crew followed. While the two boys on the trolley were pushed into a cabin holding.

"Pull this open with me." Senan said as he toppled over the case that had been shielding them.

"What? Why?"

"What do you think is going to happen when they see us? We don't dress like all these money loaded pretty boys, my runners are the same from last year and you've got half your breakfast all over your t-shirt.''

Senan pulled at the cases clasps and it snapped open. "Here you can wear this." he said as he threw a dress at Cillian

"Fuck off Senan!" Cillian said as the two boys laughed.

After searching through a couple of bags and cases they eventually found some clothes that would fit. They changed and peered around the door that lead to the staff corridors. "Let's find the kitchen there's got to be loads of food and booze.”

The two boys walked along the fantastically designed carpet. "It's like walking into a different world." Cillian said as he ran his hand along the patterned wallpaper. The lights dotted above their heads all the way along held in place by gold and silver coated shaped metal with engravings of a brilliant artist.

As they reached the next walkway a service lady appeared through a door way. "What are you guys doing back here?" she asked as she pushed an empty trolley."

"We're looking for the food hall misses.." Senan replied as they approached closer to her.

"And where are your parents?" she asked as she stood now blocking the door.

The two boys looked at each other. "They're unpacking aren't they misses."

"And ye are just off wandering by yourself?" she replied.

"We look after ourselves." Senan said. "Can we get past you there?"

"Lads ye don't even know where you're going do you? And what about seeing the ship leave the dock do ye not want to watch?" She asked as she stood aside.

"We've not had nothing to eat all day. Sure were on the ship aren't we. Were not missing nothing misses." Cillian said as he walked passed and down the corridor ahead of him.

"Funny because that's the way to the bin room."

Senan laughed as he turned to ask the woman where to go.

"Can ye show us the way please?"

"Stand out the way of my trolley there and I'll walk ye up."

Senan seen an opportunity to take a bit of a break and sat on the front of the trolley.

"Full steam ahead there misses!" he shouted.

Cillian followed behind as they walked through the next few corridor's. The woman had taken them as far as she could as they reached a flight of steps. "I can't bring the trolley up lads but just follow that on and take the door at the end of the hall."

"And that's the food room or what?" Senan asked vaulting himself up off the trolley and up the stairs.

"Wait for me Senan feck sake!" Cillian said as he wished the woman well and said goodbye.

"Thanks a lot."

"Be good lads, I'm sure I'll see ye again over the next few days'' she said turning away with her trolley.

"Yea definetly!" Cillian said running up the stairs behind Senan.

As they reached the top of the steps Senan stopped to sarcastically emphasise how they would definitely see her later. Knowing themselves they were set to fill some bags with food and drink and get a quick escape.

At the top of the stairs they reached two massive doors,

Push indicated, and pushed open,

Senan and Cillian walked into an open room,

With tables and chairs.

The room was empty, it looked like no one cares what they do here they thought to themselves.

All lined up for dinner that evening, the two lads were ready to go thieving.

"The kitchen is where all the best bits would be" Cillian said as he grabbed a table cloth.

"You can fill this up with me."

They walked to the kitchen, quietly to listen,

For anyone on the way that might catch them in the act.

The kitchen was empty, the food did temp thee.

Stuffing with chicken, vegetables and roast potatoes,

Beef burgers and pastry's, tasty bites, and all sorts of sauces.

The stood in amazement with no one around after a few moments there was just a munching sound.

The table cloth lay out on the floor with tea cups and food. Cillian had found the bottles of the stronger stuff. "Here you have a swig see what it's like.."

"It smells like petrol or something." Senan replied taking a sniff from the top of the bottle.

"It's not it has whiskey written all over the front of it. Sure I'll try anyway."

Senan took a mouth full of the liquid and let out a gasp after swallowing it. "Agh yuck thats bloody rotten." he scrambled over to the table cloth and looked for something to ease the burning in his stomach while Cillian proceeded with his turn in trying it. "Aghhh your not wrong what the fuck it feels like I've been punched in the tummy."

"Do you want more?" Cillian asked. "Were going to end up drunk and wont be able to.... get off Cillian the ship is going to leave soon we have to get off." Senan said.

"I know okay, okay, grab some of them cakes there and we can tie up this table cloth and make our way back."

With the table cloth slung over Cillians shoulder they proceeded to walk back to the food court. As they approached the now pull doors Senan called Cillian. "Here look at this.." Senan laughed reaching into his pocket and pulled out his middle finger. "Stop messing and come on wont ya before.."

"What are ye doing in here?" a voice called from the other side of the room.

The two boys turned to see a security man giving them a look like John Wayne had just seen some Indians.. "What do we do?" Senan said under his breath.

"Ah how are ye sir?" Cillian shouted back across the room.

"Answer the question lads what are ye doing in here?" The security guard began to walk across the open space.

"Ah sure were not even in here!" Senan shouted turning to pull the door open. "Fucking run Cillian run!"

The two boys rattled down the stairs. "Stop!" the security man shouted as he appeared at the top of the stairs just in time to see the lads disappear around the corner.

"Do you remember the way?" Cillian asked as they reached the end of the next corridor. "Ehhh this one.." The security guards shouts echoed through the what seemed endless maze of corridors. "He's a big fucker Senan do you reckon we would take him?" Cillian said as he turned to the next row of cabins. "I'm hiding under here.." Senan said as he pulled up the bottom of table cloth that hung over a unit used to hold books the passengers could pick from and leave. Cillian had already passed him and been ahead as he stopped to turn back seeing Senan disappear under the table.

I wish I could tell you it lead to something like Narnia, and in the stack of books on the table there very may well have been something similar. But as Cillian walked back towards the table at the end of the corridor once again, appeared the security guard. Cillian stopped walking and the guard stood opposite to him.

"What did you take from the kitchen?" the guard said as he walked up the corridor. He had lowered his voice hoping he could close the distance between himself and the already back stepping Belfast boy.

Bursting out onto the deck of the boat he ran along the board through crowds of people waving goodbye. Pushing people along the way as he reached the walk on he looked back over his shoulder, in the distance the security guard stumbled along shouting to alert the men at the entrance about to remove the wooden walk bridge back to the dock. They turned back to hear what the noise was about. As they did Cillian pushed through the middle of them and sprinted along the bridge. The guard paused as he realised the second boy was no where to be seen. "They shouldn't have been on the ship." he said to himself as he watched Cillian pushing through the crowds on land. The ships engines had began to rotate and pump smoke through the chimneys. Ready to propel itself towards the ocean.

"He got past you!'' the guard said to the men as they looked out over the harbour.

''Shift that bridge off and help me find the other one the guard said as the captain in the control cabin directed the team to prepare for full steam ahead.'' The two men on either side of the bridge dropped it and in sync so did the other bridges on to the ship that were used for the baggage trolley. Falling to clatter off the water and still hooked onto the dock as they were reeled in by the non parting crew still on land.

The ships fog horn sounded as Senan peered out from the bottom of the table cloth.

Cillian continued on out of the docks and through the streets. "Oh no oh no oh no" he muttered to himself the crowd had began to increase in volume. He stopped to turn and face the ship which was still visible due to the sheer size of it. He watched as the bow began to peer off to one side.

''Senan...'' he said out of desperation as he realised he would have to tell his mother, let alone convince her he was telling the truth. ''This can't be happening..''

Senan felt a shift in the boat and the noise of the cheers and felt really worried. In a rush of panic he stood up bumping his head off the table then crawled out from under to stand in the empty lobby. "Get me off get me off!" he shouted as he began to run up the steps towards the top deck. The cheers overpowered every shout he made. Tears began to fill his eyes as he franticly ran a maze of interlinking corridors until he seen a man walking one of them with a suitcase. "Mister!, Mister!" he shouted, the man turned. "Where is the way to the top floor!" the man walked a bit closer so he wouldn't have to shout. He explained to him the route back to the deck and before any other conversation could unfold Senan had ran with the largest sinking feeling he had ever felt in his stomach. As if detached from all reality he had known before, at the realisation of a parting ship.

The man continued on the corridor, taking a key from his pocket and opening a door. He walked into his room. "Something just didn't seem okay about that..'' he said to himself as he put his suitcase on his bed and began to unpack. "What's the matter?" a woman said appearing in the bathroom doorway. "There was a lad in the corridor there, he was terrified. Something must have happened."

The woman made a suspicious face as she continued to brush her teeth.

"Maybe he's lost his parents?" she said.

"Aye, sure we can make our way up to the deck and see if anything is said about him.'' he replied as he took a stack of clothes and a pistol from his case and placed it on the bed.

Senan pushed through the doors stepping on to the deck. He stood frozen for a few moments, Cillian did the same as he stood at his mothers front door. People passed by looking oddly at Senan as he had a distraught look on his face. It didn't take long for someone to reach out after he had fell to his knee's with his head in his hands.

"Are you okay boy?" a woman said as a small crowd had gathered around to see what the matter was. "Maybe get a member of staff?" the woman said to her friend that was with her. "Where are your parents?" the woman asked as she sat on the floor beside Senan.

"What do you mean he's on the Titanic?" Cillian's mother asked as she stood in the door way. Cillian took a few steps back to the street. "I'm not lying ma I'm honestly not. I didn't see him get off."

"Ye left him behind?" his mother replied.

"I didn't ma he went off hiding from the guard. He had chased the two of us and I kept running."

"What the feck did you get on the ship for are you.. agh! Cillian!" she let out a scream.

"Ma the ship's after leaving." Cillian replied scratching his head in disbelief.

"Is there anyone in his house?"

"I don't know" Cillian replied.

"Go down and tell someone now. Don't even answer back get down to his house now!"

Senan had been brought to his feet wit the help of the woman who checked to see if he was okay. "I have to get off, I have to go back.." by now the ship had taking strides out into open sea. Although still visible from land, the sounds of the shoreline cheers had faded off into the background. The sound of the ships musicians and band played not to far away celebrating the successful moment.

"I shouldn't be on this ship, I don't have a ticket, I snuck on, please get them to turn around, I have to be back at home soon!''

"This the Titanic, they can't just turn it around. It's not that easy." the woman replied. Word had began to spread to the passers by, and it didn't take long for the guard who was chasing them to appear.

"I don't even know what to say to you.." he said to Senan who was visibly uneasy and still trying to comprehend the situation in his head. "I should be going home, I have to go home."

The woman introduced herself to the security guard and explained how he had just been sat on the floor by himself. The guard continued to do the same and proceeded to explain the story to her. "Is there some sort of procedure for situations like this? There has to be?"

"Don't worry" the guard replied,

"There's holding cells on the bottom floor."

"Sure you can't put him in a cell he's only a boy." the woman replied.

"I need to speak to the Capitan, he's not going to be happy about this let alone taking the time to find a solution."

Senan stood up wiping tears from his eyes, "look just let me off.. please let me off."

The situation was complex to say the least, and while Senan was walked to the ships control room his mother had been sat writing with pen and paper at her kitchen table when she was interrupted by a knock at the door.