ALONE?
Epilogue
Jack and Rose were married a few
months later. Jackie had a wonderful time. It was small and simple, but they
both loved it. Ruth DeWitt Bukater was invited, and she did come, being in
shock for the first few minutes, for she thought both of them were dead. The
new couple left their daughter to get to know her grandmother a bit as they
went off to Santa Monica and Jack taught Rose to ride a horse, and they were
both sick several times on the roller coaster after drinking beer until they
were on the brink of throwing up anyway. They had the time of their lives.
Afterward, they went back to live
as a somewhat settled-down family, but every once in a while, a chance would
come up, and they’d go off on an adventure, being sure to be back before school
started.
Jack worked on his art on the
streets of New York, expanding his horizons and painting portraits. Soon he was
regarded as a well-known artist who could really work among the people of the
city. He was somewhat famous, but he still took great pleasure in coming home
every night to his wife and daughter, and made a point of never being later
than 6:30.
Rose was discovered by a Broadway
director and rocketed to fame. She, of course, never moved out of New York, and
tried to stay in the city so she wouldn’t have to be away from her family for
very long periods of time.
Jackie grew into an intelligent
young woman who didn’t go to college, but instead pursued her dream of becoming
a dancer. Her parents were thrilled.
Jackie was not the only child in
the family. After her came Fabrizio and Emily, who both grew into extraordinary
people. Fabri had an amazing aptitude for math and Emily drew like her father.
The years passed with the Dawson
family living in happiness. By the time Rose was one hundred one, she had told
her story, lost her husband of eighty years, and had many grandchildren and
great-grandchildren, finally surrendering her life to old age.
Rose found herself on the deck of
the Titanic, young again. There was Jack, waiting for her. Everyone she had
known who had perished in the tragedy or, by now, had passed away greeted her
with a smile. She had never thought heaven would be so wonderful.
The End.