DUST IN THE WIND
Chapter Five
It was the day of Jack’s
memorial, and, to Rose’s surprise, the whole town turned out. George had been
right when he had told her that Jack was going to be mourned by a great many
people. It was going to be interesting and heartbreaking what those people would
have to say about her beloved Jack. She wondered if he knew he was so loved.
She could almost feel a tinge of surprise that wasn’t her own. Jack was indeed
with her.
Oh, Jack, they loved you so
much, Rose thought to
herself.
"Rosie, darlin‘, are you sure
you’re up to this?" Molly held the girl’s hand. "You can go back to
the house and I can fill you in if you want."
"No, Molly. I’m fine. This
is something I have to do. I have to know who Jack was…what he was like…and
this is the only way. It’s just so overwhelming to know that Jack was loved by
all these people."
"Somehow, I’m not
surprised." Molly slightly smiled. "It was hard not to like Jack. I
wonder how your mother and Cal pulled it off."
Rose sadly smiled as she looked
upon the podium. On the stand was a picture of Jack in his younger days. He
couldn’t have been more than fourteen, maybe even thirteen in the picture. The
picture was surrounded by roses. Rose had asked George where he had found the
picture, and he had told her an old friend of Jack’s had had it. Rose was sure
to meet her at the memorial. Gathering from the picture, Jack had been a
carefree, mischievous boy with a heart of gold, from the ever present spark of
kindness in his eyes and the warmth of his smile. In that picture, Rose saw
hints of the man she had come to love.
Silence filled the church as the
Reverend stepped up to the podium, his face downcast. "Ladies and
gentlemen. We are all here today to mourn and share our memories of a very
special young man. A young man who is held in the heart of each and every one
of us today. It’s been five years since Jack Dawson left us, and the recent
news that he will not be coming back I know rips at our very hearts. We all
knew the boy Jack Dawson. But only one of us knew the man. I think we shall let
her go first. Let her share her memories of Jack Dawson, taken from us so
young. Mrs. Dawson, please, step up to the podium." The reverend beckoned
to her.
Panic filled her as she glanced
at Molly, who nodded encouragingly at her. "You can do it, Rose. Talk
about Jack. Of what you knew and saw of him."
Rose nodded and got up to go to
the podium.
"Why are they doing this to
her?" George leaned to his wife and whispered. "Can’t they see the
very thought of Jack makes her want to break down into hysterics?"
"No, they can’t, honey. They
only see a girl who can tell them what happened to Jack. It’s not that they
don’t care…it’s that they can’t get past their own grief."
Rose cleared her throat, standing
at the podium. She turned to look at the picture of Jack, drawing strength from
those eyes and that warm smile. It was like the picture was encouraging her. Jack,
give me strength, she thought to herself.
"Hello. I know that most of
you don’t know me…and probably wonder what right I have to be up here, talking
about a man that you’ve known longer than I. What can I possibly tell you about
Jack Dawson that you don’t already know yourselves? You know he was an
exquisite artist. He was kind and gentle. Maybe a bit mischievous. But he was
also the man who saved my life, and I’m not just talking about the cold
Atlantic water after the Titanic went down. When we met…I was ready to kill
myself, but a kind young man with concerned blue eyes and a warm smile talked
me out of it, and from there, it was love at first sight. Jack taught me the
joy of living. He taught me how to make each day count…as if it was the last.
He unlocked my chains and set me free, and no one else had ever cared for me
like that before Jack came into my life. I hope to pass along his values to our
unborn child, and hope that our baby will have the same love of life as his
father did. Jack was too young and wonderful to die the way he did. He should
have had a long, healthy, and happy life. The only comfort I have is that our
child will be born, and through him, Jack will live again. Not only in our
child, but in my heart, as well. Jack, wherever you are, I’d like to say thank
you for all the wonderful gifts you gave me, and that I love you and promise to
make each day count until the day when we’ll be together again." Beginning
to sob, Rose stepped away from the podium into George’s arms, who tried to
comfort her the best way he knew how.
Five minutes passed before Rose
calmed herself, and a girl around Rose’s age stepped up to the podium.
"Hello. You all know me as
Mary Taylor. Jack’s best friend. What can I say about Jack? Well…he was my
first kiss, for one. It was quite comical. We were sitting talking, and I was
wondering what it was going to be like when I found my first love. I was worried
that I’d be too inexperienced. So I asked Jack to help me practice. So Jack
took pity on me and kissed me. It was awkward, but wonderful at the same time.
After that, and about the time for my first date with Bruce Johnson…I was
ready. But I have to admit that no other kiss was as sweet and innocent as when
my best friend kissed me."
Soft laughter floated through the
air as Mary stepped down and an older woman stepped up to the podium. Thomas
gasped in surprise. He leaned over to whisper in Rose’s ear.
"That’s Mrs. Scrowls. Jack
and my third grade teacher. I’m surprised she’s up there. I thought she hated
us."
"As you know, I’m the third
grade teacher at the local elementary school. I had Jack Dawson in my class
many years ago, but he was one of the few students I could never forget. He was
a bit mischievous. I always had to give him and his friend Thomas detention.
But no one’s smiled lighted up my day like Jack’s did. So bright and full of
hope for the future. He always had a kind word for everyone, and he was quite a
charmer. Even I found it had to punish the boy when he misbehaved as he looked
up at me with those big, innocent blue eyes and a guilty smile. Jack Dawson
will be sorely missed by all of us, I’m sure." The woman stepped down from
the podium.
"Why, I’ll be." Thomas
shook his head.
Next was Fredrick Horn. A thin
man with greasy brown hair and thick black glasses. By the look of him, even
Rose could beat him up.
"Look. It’s four eyes,"
someone whispered to Thomas, who stifled a snicker.
"Shh. Believe it or not,
Horn-eyes was one of Jack’s friends, too. He wouldn’t like it if we called him
names now," Thomas whispered.
"Ahem…h-hi. I’m not used to
getting up to talk in front of people, and I don’t think I like it very much.
But I’ll do it for the only person my age who treated me with an ounce of
respect. Jack Dawson…well, he was my only friend. I remember my first day of
third grade. I started late in the year because I was so sickly, and my mother
didn’t want to let me out. Right from the start, I got called names and picked
on. That day, at recess, a group of boys cornered me. I thought for sure I was
going to get the tar beaten out of me. The boys were right up on me, when
suddenly a blonde-haired boy with friendly blue eyes stood between me and them.
Somehow, he talked them into leaving me alone. From that day on, we were
inseparable. Jack would hang out with me at recess and lunch and study break.
His other friends didn’t like me, but Jack didn’t care. He insisted that I sit
with him and that everyone treat me with respect. Jack was my only and best
friend. I will really miss him." Fredrick stepped down from the podium.
For a whole two hours, people
stepped up and shared their memories, bringing Rose to tears. She had always
known Jack was special, but from what everyone said about him, he had been
extraordinary.
The memorial was now over. George
and Thomas were walking Rose to the exit when Fredrick approached her.
"Uh…Mrs. Dawson…"
Fredrick stammered.
"What is it,
Horn-eyes?" Another man, Rose remembered him as being Bruce Fallen,
another one of Jack’s friends, approached. "Can’t you see the lady is
trying to leave?"
"Bruce, can it," Thomas
warned. "We know you like to get your kicks out of picking on Fredrick,
but act your age today. Today is Jack’s day, and Fredrick was his friend, too.
He can talk to Rose if he wants."
"I-I just wanted to say that
Jack is missed. And if you ever need anything, like more stories of Jack…let me
know."
"Thank you." Rose
nodded. "I’ll do that. Thank you." Rose sniffed and let Thomas and
George lead her out of the church into the bright sunlight. Rose shivered as
she thought she heard a tiny voice telling her to take Fredrick up on his
offer.
"Come on, Rosie. Let’s get
you home. You look tired." Molly patted her hand.