DEAR DIARY
Chapter Three
April 24, 1912
Dear Diary,
I arrived in Chippewa Falls last night and
was thankfully taken right to a hotel by the kind man who owns the taxi service
in Eau Claire. I had the time to explore a little today and found this to be a
quaint little town. Shops line the streets and there's a nice little park a few
blocks from here. I couldn't help but cry a few tears while I was there,
imagining Jack as a child, running around, getting into trouble. After leaving
there, I came across the church cemetery and took a look around. Not knowing
Jack's parents names made it a bit harder, but I found them. Maria and Tony
Dawson. There was just a whole clan of them, the Dawsons. I suppose his family
spent many happy generations here, as the stones date back to 1785. I thought
about perhaps getting a stone in memory of Jack, even though there isn't a body
to lie beneath it. Just so he can be with his family in that way. I would like
to do so, maybe after I find a job. I have decided to stay here, at least for a
little while. Seems to be as good a place to start my new life as any. I'm
getting hungry now, so I'm going to go see where I can find myself a decent
meal.
Rose Dawson
Rose closed her journal and grabbed her coat,
making her way down to the hotel lobby. The receptionist, a young girl with
dark blond hair, gave her a rather insincere smile. "Can I help you?"
Rose was taken aback by the girl's rude tone,
but quickly dismissed it. "I hope so. Could you possibly point me in the
direction of a diner of some sort?"
The girl sighed. "Take this street all
the way down to the church and turn right on Maple. Half way down there's a
place called Angie's. Best place around."
Rose smiled in gratitude. "Thank
you."
The girl returned the smile, a bit more
genuine this time. "You're welcome."
*****
Smoothing down her hair, Rose opened the door
to the diner, the sudden noise of the lunchtime customers hitting her ears dead
on. Taking a deep breath, she stepped inside, glancing around for an empty
table. She found one, thankfully hidden in the back corner. Avoiding the
curious looks the townsfolk were throwing her, Rose ducked her head and sat
down. After a few minutes, a waitress came to okay her order and left, leaving
Rose to her thoughts. Not long after, her lunch came and she ate heartily,
having not had a good meal since that last night on Titanic. Her eyes misted
over as thoughts of Jack overtook her mind. Gazing around at the unfamiliar
faces, she wondered how many of these people knew him, how many would mourn him
once she got the courage to inform them of his untimely demise. Once she had
finished eating, she sat contemplating what she would do next. She couldn't
afford to stay in a hotel forever. She had to find a job and place to
live--quickly. Deciding to put these thoughts aside for the time being, Rose
put the money for her bill on the table and stood up, preparing to leave. She
turned towards the door, glancing up when the bell rang. Then the world
stopped.