THE TIME SAVER
Chapter Four

Jack looked once more at himself before leaving his cabin. Franklin opened the door, and said, "Jack, are you done yet?"

"I guess so. I'm a little nervous," Jack said, straightening his tie.

"Jack, when was the last time you have been on a date?" Franklin asked.

"A while. Trust me, Franklin, when you are on a ship, you have no time for women," Jack said.

"No, Jack, that is totally wrong," Franklin said.

"Really, now?" Jack asked.

"It seems to me, YOU are the one that doesn't have time for women," Franklin said. Jack sighed, but didn't respond. "Now, Jack, remember you address me as UNCLE Franklin," Franklin said, opening the door.

"Yes, Uncle Franklin," Jack said, walking out the door.

"Very good, nephew," Franklin said, and closed the door.

They walked down the corridor and entered the Grand Staircase. Jack heard the same sounds that he heard yesterday. He saw around him women with elegant gowns.

Jack and Franklin walked down the stairs and looked around. It was strange for Jack to walk down the staircase, since he rode down the staircase in the small submersible with cold blackness. "Go to your left," Jack said, under his breath. Franklin did what he said, and went down some stairs, which descended into the Dining Saloon. At the end of the stairs, they saw Rose and her family. They were talking to what seemed the Astors to Jack.

"That's the Astors," Franklin said to Jack, at the top of the stairs. Jack nodded his head, and they started to walk down the stairs. Rose saw Jack, and her eyes lit up.

"Jack, how wonderful of you to join us," Rose said, stepping out of the crowd.

"I hope it wasn't too much trouble to invite my Uncle Franklin. I would have hated for him to dine alone," Jack said.

"Oh, there is no trouble at all, Jack. It is a pleasure to meet you, Uncle Franklin," Rose said.

"Oh, please, do call me Franklin," he said, and gently kissed her hand. The young Rose blushed, and her parents came over.

"Jack, such a lovely surprise to see you again," Mr. DeWitt Bukater said.

"Thank you. It's splendid to see you, too," Jack said, shaking his hand. "Mr. and Mrs. DeWitt Bukater, may I introduce my Uncle Franklin," Jack said.

"Pleased to meet you," Rose's mother said, and Franklin kissed her hand.

"Pleased to meet you, also," Franklin said.

"May I escort you to dinner?" Jack asked, holding his arm out.

"Sure," Rose said, and interlocked arms with Jack. They walked past tons of tables, but they stopped at one, which was the biggest one of all. Jack looked over at Rose's parents. The father was helping the mother into her chair. Jack did the same thing. He pulled out her chair, and pushed her in. Jack took a seat next to Rose, and placed the napkin in his lap.

"So, Jack, what do you do for a living?" Rose's mother asked.

"You must excuse Ruth. She asks everyone this question," Rose's father said.

"Oh, now Charles, stop. Go ahead," Ruth said to Jack.

"Well, my uncle and I own a very successful traveling business. My uncle is the head of it, and I'm his assistant," Jack said, sophisticatedly.

"And why are you on this ship?" Ruth asked.

"Well, not only am I assistant, but I also write articles for our tour booklets. I'm looking around the ship for articles and also to tell our customers some compliments about this ship and why to travel on it," Jack said.

"That's such a wonderful job," a young woman said with blonde hair and a snotty look. The young woman smiled flirtatiously.

"Oh, I'm awfully sorry. Jack, this is my sister Kaitlyn," Rose said. "Kaitlyn, this is Jack Dawson."

"Hello," Jack said.

"It's a pleasure to meet you," Kaitlyn said, and blushed. Jack tried to hold back his grimace. Rose tried to hold back her laughing, and Kaitlyn tried to hold back her staring at the handsome Jack.

"I hope you enjoyed the dinner," Rose said, as she and Jack walked down the boat deck in the stray moonlight glow.

"Oh, it was wonderful," Jack said, with his jacket off and held by his side. "I hope you don't mind me taking my jacket off," Jack said.

"Oh, no. That's quite all right. Trust me, if I was man, I would take my jacket off, too," Rose said, and the couple giggled for a minute. They stopped and stared at each other for a moment. Gazing into each other's eyes to them was magic. Their lips got closer together, and they kissed. It wasn't long, since Rose's older sister Kaitlyn came out and paused at the sight. Jack's heart was pounding, since he didn't know if this was appropriate during this era. Rose's sister stared, and the two stared back at her, until Rose looked at Jack, and said, "Well, it's getting awfully late. I should retire. Good night, Jack."

Jack smiled, and said, "Good night, Rose." Rose went inside the ship, and Kaitlyn stared at Jack, and then went inside. Franklin tipped his hat to the ladies and came out. Franklin had a huge smile on his face as he came closer to Jack.

"The night went well tonight. You did an excellent job," Franklin said. Jack felt really guilty now.

"Well, that's good to hear," Jack said, chuckling.

"Oh, lord. What did you do?" Franklin asked.

"I kissed Rose," Jack said.

"You did what? This is very irresponsible. If this gets out to her parents, you and I are in hot water," Franklin said.

"I take it that wasn't the wisest thing to do," Jack said.

"It should be during their courting; not on a regular day," Franklin said.

"Well, excuse me, uncle, it is getting late. Good night," Jack said, and headed to go back inside. Franklin let out a sigh and scratched his head, taking off his hat.

Later, at night...

Rose brushed her hair at the vanity as Kaitlyn got done putting on her nightgown.

"You're glad to have a sister like me," Kaitlyn said, as she put some hand cream on. Rose said nothing, but stared at her sister's reflection in the mirror. "Yet, I'm not letting you get out of this easily," Kaitlyn continued. Rose let out a sigh through her nose and kept on combing her hair. "Well, Rose, tell me when you're done throwing your childish poutiness, all right?" Kaitlyn said, and started to comb her hair on the bed.

"What type of idea do you have in your pathetic mind of yours?" Rose said with disgust.

"Oh, it's simple. Either you stop seeing Jack, or I tell Mother and Father. It's that simple," Kaitlyn said. Rose almost started to cry, but she didn't. She only stared at herself in the mirror.

"Yet, I do have other ideas if you don't like--" Kaitlyn said, but Rose interrupted, saying, "No, Kaitlyn, that's fine. I just always wonder why we have to resolve everything with YOUR ideas." Rose went over to her bed and tucked herself under the sheets.

"Good night, Rose." Kaitlyn said.

Rose did not answer. For she was crying quietly.

Chapter Five
Stories