Young Writers Society

Chapter Four

I slowly strolled along the hallways, my full stomach making me feel relaxed and tired. A short, friendly looking man was walking down the hallway, and as he passed I asked him the time. He paused and told me it was seven thirty. So much time has passed since we first boarded, and it felt like nothing now! I continued my path towards where I thought the cabins were, inspecting the people that passed by. Many were older couples, but there were also big groups, individuals, and younger couples.

I didn't know where is was going exactly, so I wasn't surprised when I realized I was back to where we first started. The golden gates loomed over me at the top of the stairs. Above, I could hear chatter and laughter of first class passengers. I turned away to go find the cabins when I heard a voice.

"Where are you going?" I turned sharply, surprised that there was someone there. A girl had appeared at the gate, long black hair like silk making a curtain over the left side of her face. I watched as she grabbed a section, twisting it and pinning it away out of her face.

"I'm going to my cabin. At least, I think I am," I said. She laughed, nodding. Her lavender dress swished as she moved.

"It's hard to get around here isn't it? I got lost too." She shrugged, motioning back to her hallway. "I don't think I'm anywhere near the deck. I want to go out and look at the stars, but it may be morning before I can get around!"

I laughed, and decided to climb the stairs to see her better. I stood in front of the gate, meeting the girl's hazel eyes.

"So, what's your name?" She asked me as I looked at the hallway behind her. It looked identical to ours.

"I'm Helen. Pleased to meet you." I did an exaggerated curtsy, almost falling off the step in the process. I caught myself on the railing, the girl looking at me with concern, but she recovered quickly. I steadied myself as she responded.

"I'm Kate, pleasure to meet you as well." Kate did a curtsy in return to mine, but she kept her balance, grinning as she rose. She turned to look behind her for a moment when she had straightened, and looked at me with a now pained expression.

"I should go. My parents will wonder where I am, and I don't even know myself. We should meet again tomorrow and talk some more. Seven o'clock?"

"Absolutely. I need to find my way to bed." To make my point, I yawned loudly.

"Goodbye, Helen," said Kate as she hurried down the hall, hand flapping behind her.

"See you tomorrow," I yelled back before turning and heading down the stairs. Back into the maze, it wasn't long until I found a map. Relieved and tired from my day, I headed to the hall where my cabin was. I walked slowly down the corridor, brass plates telling me which room was mine. B17, the room I'd be traveling in. The door was unlocked, but I found a key in the keyhole on the inside of the door. From the light that spilled from the hallway, I could see the gas lamp on the wall which I turned on as I closed the door.

The room was nice. Not as nice as some of the other voyages I had been on, but still luxurious. The stateroom was made for two, so there was a good sized bunk bed in a corner, one bed for Charles, one for me. Next to the bed was a large cabinet with drawers, a mirror and a washbasin for washing our faces. A pitcher to fill it with was hanging on a hook, with three more hooks by the door for coats. Grabbing the pitcher, I opened the little door that led to the bathroom. The bathroom had a toilet, sink and bathtub, standard layout. I turned on the water in the sink, happy to see the warm water bubble from the tap. I took the tin pitcher and filled it before returning to the room. I poured the water into the basin for later.

I looked around the room, noticing my luggage placed neatly in a corner behind a table and chairs that had a small flower arrangement in the center. I went to my trunk, undid the clasps and pulled out my nightgown, the one on the very top of one of my piles of clothes. I undressed and slipped the gown over my head, cool soft material sliding around me. I folded my dirty dress and placed it in a bare spot I had saved for that exact purpose. I put my bag down in my trunk as well, on top of my dirty garments.

As I went to the mirror I began to take out the pins in my hair and placing them on a small tray nearby. My hair fell down past my shoulders and I unpacked my hairbrush to remove the knots. Once my hair glinted in the light, I got a washcloth from a fresh pile of towels and cleaned my face. That done, I slipped into the bottom bunk. I notice a small place in the wall for storing small items, in which I put the precious locket I had gotten for my thirteenth birthday. I never left anywhere without it. Inside was a picture of my family on one side and a picture of the Eiffel Tower on the other.

I drew the small curtain across my bed for privacy and darkness and slipped under the crisp, stiff sheets. They were heavy and I was warmed quickly, guarded against cold night in my layers of blankets. As I rolled onto my side I sighed with comfort. I thought about the next day, meeting Anna and Kate, wandering around, reading at the library. While I thought, I was conscious of my limbs growing numb with sleep as I drifted off and was sent out to sea in a dream about the luxurious voyage ahead.