THE EDUCATION OF ROSE DAWSON: PART I
Chapter Seven
Revelation
Rose returned to her bunk.
Shortly after, Commander Booth came up to see her. "Miss Dawson, I shall
return to St. Vincent’s to visit Mrs. Abbott tomorrow afternoon. Would you like
to accompany me?"
"I certainly would, Madam
Booth."
"Good. Shall we meet
downstairs in the lobby at noontime?"
"That would be great."
"Excellent. Is there
anything else you will need tonight, Miss Dawson?"
Rose thought for a moment.
"Yes. I could use a new coat. The one I have now is a men’s jacket that I
have worn since the sinking. It has been good to me, but it shall become a
souvenir."
Commander Booth was impressed by
Rose’s attachment to the jacket. "It must have meant a lot to you, or you
would not have worn it this long. I presume you have not even washed it since
the sinking."
"Right, unless you count
being submerged in saltwater as a washing."
Commander Booth’s eyes widened.
"Then there is history attached to this jacket, Miss Dawson. It soaked up
some water from the Atlantic that is still in its fibers. But you will have
mixed emotions about it in the future. Try not to let the unhappy memories get
the better of you."
"Thank you for your
guidance, Madam Booth."
"I will ask my staff to show
you tomorrow the coats that have been donated to us. I think you will find one
that is right for you."
"Thank you again, Madam
Booth." Rose was amazed by Commander Booth’s ability to reassure people in
distress. She placed Cal’s jacket in her locker.
*****
Miss Howard returned to the
shelter that night in an upbeat mood. "I was so happy to see Mrs.
Goldsmith and her son today. They’re holding up well without her husband."
Rose tried hard not to react. The
mention of Mrs. Goldsmith’s deceased husband made her think of Jack again. But
she held back her emotions.
"Oh, I’m sorry again, Miss
Dawson." Miss Howard laid a consoling hand on Rose’s shoulder. "That
was stupid of me. I really must stop bringing up the bad news."
"It is all right, Miss
Howard. I would rather admire Mrs. Goldsmith’s strength of spirit than grieve
over her loss."
Miss Howard sighed. "There’s
something else. I’m leaving tomorrow as well. My brother was able to contact my
sister, and she invited me to live with her up north in Albion. I think that’s
near Canada. I originally wanted to leave on Sunday, but she said my train runs
overnight, and if I arrive on Monday morning she won’t be home."
The fact that she was going to be
alone again slightly disappointed Rose. "I am happy for you, Miss Howard.
But I will be sad to see you leave."
"I hate to leave you like
this, Miss Dawson. We’ve only been together for two days, but I feel we’re
sisters already."
"I think I will be fine,
Miss Howard. I have matured a great deal in this last week. One has to grow up
fast when one is by herself. I appreciate the help I have received from the
Army…and from you."
Miss Howard nodded and sat down
next to Rose. "First, Miss Dawson, you’re not by yourself in this shelter.
You’re easy to like, and you’ll make other friends. Second…" She sighed
before finishing her sentence. "…you’re not like the rest of us steerage
folk. You’re different. I saw that from the moment I met you. I can tell from
the way you talk you’re high learned."
Rose listened attentively, but
became a little nervous inside. Is she going to probe into my past now?
"Forgive me, Miss Dawson,
but you’re not what you appear to be. The clothes you came in aren’t shoddy at
all. I know, because I’m a laundress." Miss Howard examined Rose’s hands.
"You have smooth hands, but feet of lead. I can tell you’ve never done a
hard day’s work before, and you could certainly use more help crossing the
street. You gave that horseshite a good punt!" She smiled at her last
comment. "Sorry, but I had to say that."
Rose blushed at the list of her
offenses, but remained silent. Feet of lead indeed! Best not tell her that I
used to take ballet. That would really pique her curiosity about my former
life!
"Who are you, Miss Dawson?
I’m sorry to sound so nosy, but I’m true to my friends, and I’d like them to be
true to me."
I knew it would come to this. Rose conjured up an answer as quickly as
possible. "You are right, Miss Howard. I am not what I appear to be. As I
mentioned this morning in Brigadier Bown’s office, I am from Philadelphia–the
third largest city in this country. I had more schooling than most, as you can
tell. I was not rich, but I had a fairly comfortable life before the sinking.
But it was unfulfilling because I was not allowed to be more independent to
explore this world. Now that life is over, and I must look after myself because
I no longer have a family to depend on." I did not reveal too much of
my old life, did I?
Miss Howard became a little more
understanding. "So now you fend for yourself, whether you’re ready or not."
"That is correct," Rose
murmured.
Miss Howard seemed relieved.
"Thank you, Miss Dawson, for being honest."
Not as honest as you may
think, unfortunately.
"But you’re not alone, Miss
Dawson," Miss Howard went on. "Most of us in steerage came to America
to start new lives, so we’re greenhorns. You have an advantage here. Use
it."
"I will need every advantage
I can get," said Rose. "It is not easy for a woman who wants to rely
on herself. We need the help of our fellow women–and some men, too." She
could not dismiss the help Jack and the other men had given her.
"Right," said Miss
Howard. "And you have some good friends here at the shelter."
"Yes, I do. Before I saw my
family for the last time, I promised them I would go on, that I will not let go
or give up. You reminded me of my promise at the park today. It will not be
easy, but I intend to honor it."
"I think you will, Miss
Dawson. Just remember to stay strong. When times are terrible, remind yourself
it’s a better day tomorrow."
"Thank you, Miss
Howard."
They went to sleep. Rose had
survived her first full day as a Dawson in New York. It had been very eventful.