Titanic Research: Historical Fiction
Titanic Research Project 2013
For the second year we have used the Titanic as the topic for our research project. Each year three options are available to my advance students:
Option 1: Traditional research paper
Option 2: PowerPoint and three paragraph paper to accompany the PowerPoint
Option 3: Short story.
The short story option is always popular. This option requires students to take their research and use it to create a short piece of historical fiction, which incorporates their facts about the Titanic seamlessly into the storyline. Here is one of the stories created this year:
The Water is Cold
Prologue
Location Unknown
Time unknown
Nathaniel
The water is cold. Nathaniel woke with
a start, The thought still hanging on his head. He wasn't dead, that was for
sure.
Where am I?
He observed the room closely. He was sitting up on a hospital-grade bed.
Connected to his hand was a long tube that went into a bag of fluid hanging
from a slim stand. The only other item in the room was a chair facing his bed.
Nathan found no doors or windows. He tried to remember how he got here.
Something about a boat. a big boat. 175 feet tall and 882 feet long kind of big
boat. He still couldn’t quite get it..... A man walked in, interrupting Nathans
thoughts. Nathan didn’t see where he came in. The man sat in the only chair in
the room. A long black cloak and hood hid all of his features. Nathan saw
droplets of water all over the man’s cloak and assumed it had been raining.
"Raining hard is it?" Nathan asked. The
man shook his head. This confused Nathan because the man was obviously drenched
head to foot in water. The man began to speak in a familiar voice that was both
hard and soft.
"Tell me what happened," The man
stated. Nathan didn’t know what he was talking about. Common sense told Nathan
he was supposed to know something, and that the man hadn’t realized he had
amnesia. Nathan for some reason felt it was best the man didn’t know what
Nathan didn’t know.
"Where should I start?" Nathan said
with an air of intelligence. He had no idea what he expected, but the man
surprised him by throwing a newspaper on his bed. It was soaking wet. The
headlines read "Titanic sinks, Massive loss of lives." The man showed
his face for the first time.
"Start at the beginning," the man
chuckled. Nathan gasped, horrified. It all came back to him like a speeding
bullet.
"You shouldn’t be alive, " Nathan
stuttered flatly. "I saw you-"
"Neither should you," the man
interrupted flatly. Nathan wet his lips.
"Alright," he started, "From the
Beginning."
Chapter 1
Southampton, England
April 10, 1912
8:30AM
Nathaniel
"Let's go Nathan!" Richard yelled cheerfully. Poor 12 year old Nathan was running as fast as
he could, but couldn’t possibly keep up with his 38 year old dad and his long
feet.
"I'm trying I'm trying." Nathan shouted. Richard suddenly stopped
and faced his son.
"Quick!" he yelled," Tell me what you can about the
beautiful RMS Titanic!"
"Okay!" Nathan said, catching his breath, "The RMS Titanic,
or Royal Mail Ship Titanic, captained my Mr. Smith, is 175 feet tall, 882 feet
long, and has four funnels, but one of them is a phony little fake for
show." Right Father?" Richard nodded so Nathan continued eagerly.
"Twenty-nine boilers, 16 watertight compartments and a-"
"Right son," Richard interrupted," Don’t overload that
little brain of yours."
"Ewwwww," Nathan joked, “I don’t want my brain
over-bloated!" They both laughed at the horrible joke. Nathan and Richard
were on their way to board the Titanic where Richard would be working as an
engineer, repairing any damages and running frequent system checks to keep the
Titanic going and lively. "The best engineer in the world," as Nathan
calls him. Nathan and Richard would be staying in the crews quarters. They
weren’t first class of course, but they would do for an engineer and his only
son. Nathan watched the docking area. There was a long wooden plank leading to
the Titanic from the mainland. There were
boxes and crates everywhere covering the docks. Nathan tripped over a
smaller one. His foot twisted but he ignored it and got up. Slightly
embarrassed, Nathaniel ran to catch up to his father who had gotten ahead. He
was wheezing when he got there. Asthma!
"Look at it son!" Richard cheered, "The glory that is the
Titanic!" Nathan was amazed. Richard had seen it many of times but Nathan
never had. Even though he knew how big it was the size still amazed him. It
must have cost a fortune. He was honored just to look at it. Even more, he was
riding it! What time must have gone into-
"Ooof, Nathan exclaimed.
"Watch were you’re going young lad!" Someone yelled. Nathan
looked up. he was at the top of the plank. Must have been so busy thinking,
I didn’t realize I had boarded! Then he realized who
he ran into. It was Thomas Andrews himself! Nathan turned red. He just ran
straight into the designer of the Titanic. Nathan immediately started
apologizing.
"sorry sir," He started, "really I am. I must have been daydreaming."
"It’s alright," Thomas answered, " I myself tripped over a
small crate down there. If you’ll excuse me, I have a stroll to attend
to." With that, he walked off. Nathan was surprised. Thomas had tripped just like he had. He saw
his father walking toward stern, where the crew quarters where held. Richard
addressed Nathan as he approached.
"where did you run of to?" He asked.
"I met Thomas Andrews!" Nathan answered excitedly.
"Looked to me like you ran him over."
"I might have."
"You’re going to spend five days on this boat with him. Best not to
make ole' Thommy angry.
"Nobody calls him that, Father."
"I do"
By that time they were in their room. Nathan used his skill in observation.
It was quite small having a single bed and only a few items, but it will do for
a small amount of time. After all, it was the most luxurious ship in the world.
Nathan and Richard put all their belongings, a few suitcases and a backpack, on
the floor. It wasn’t going anywhere, it’s not like the ship was going to sink or
anything. Nothing could make Nathan frown today. After traveling on the most
luxurious boat in the world Nathan would stay with his rich uncle in New York
who owns a company selling shoes for pets. Nothing could possibly take the
smile of Nathans face. Nathan was almost finished observing the room when he
saw some exposed rivets from the Titanic. His quarters were at the edge of the
boat. Nathan immediately knew something was wrong. He had a way with these
things. He could tell you how a machine works just by listening to it. Nathan
punched the rivet. It didn’t sound right. It sounded.... Substandard. The smile faded from his face.
Chapter 2
RMS Titanic
April 10, 1912
11:30AM
Nathaniel
Nathan stared at the man he had crashed into. Not a man really, he looked more around fifteen. He
had a blazing head of fiery hair, pale skin, and a stewards outfit. Nathan had
been daydreaming again. More like a daymare. Nathan had observed the lifeboats.
Too few. Much too few. Only half the passengers could survive if each were
filled to the brim. Not that the Titanic was going to sink any day soon. Nathan
knew his dad wouldn’t let that happen. Richard had long gone below decks for
system checks and last minute adjustments. he wouldn’t be up until dinner. Most
passengers had already boarded, hence the reason a steward would be about.
"Sorry sir," the Steward mumbled. His voice was both hard and
soft.
"No problem. completely my fault Mr...," Nathan asked.
"Just call me Steward sir," Steward stated.
"That hardly seems fit. what is your name?"
"Steward, young master. I really must be back at work."
"You don’t have work," Nathan said pointedly.
"Excuse me?!?" Steward barked.
"You are a stowaway. probably too, young to join so you snuck on and
grabbed a uniform."
"How....?"
"You walk like your scared, you were too jumpy when I hit you, you
don’t carry yourself like a steward should, your language is ghastly nobody
would talk to a passenger like that, and you Steward, are no steward," Nathan
listed intelligently "Why else would you refuse your name? Don’t worry
your secret is safe with me. Maybe we can be friends hmm? I know everything on
this ship and will quickly get bored." Steward was stunned. How could
someone figure all that out from a glance? Then Steward smiled. He liked this
kid.
"Okay young master, you win," Steward said a little too
cheerfully, "If you know this ship inside and out, can you help me get
assigned to someone? If the White Star Line finds I have no passenger, they may
throw me in the brig!" Nathan smiled. He hoped the young Steward hadn’t
realized Nathan wasn’t actually a passenger.
"You can be assigned to me. I am a passenger after all," Nathan
said.
"Good. anything you like then?" Steward asked. So, Nathan thought, the young
Steward doesn’t know.
"Food in an hour please."
"How much?"
"enough for two."
Nathan watched as
'Steward' departed. That should keep him busy while Nathan finishes his stroll.
He'd been walking for almost an hour, spending a time on each deck, starting at
his quarters and up, then going back down. He had been counting lifeboats when
he hit Steward. there were only twenty. Fourteen wood, four collapsible, and
two cutters. Too few. Much to few He had
made his way to F Deck now. Crewmen and passengers bustled about. Almost
nothing could be heard over the hustle and rustle of everyone. luckily Nathan
had a way of hearing things. He heard what he was listening for. Then again.
and one more time, this one louder than the rest. Nathan nodded and headed in
that direction. He opened a door and found the room of his desire. The kennels.
Nine dogs in total, Nathan counted. The dogs did not bark at him. They didn’t
growl, or whine. They just sat in their kennels and watched expectantly. Nathan
had a way with dogs. Not cats though, never cats. Nathan would to the kennels
often.
Chapter 3
RMS Titanic
April 10, 1912
12:05AM
Steward
Steward resisted the urge to report for lunch. He couldn’t. If the officers asked his name and found
he wasn’t actually a Steward, then that was it. The brig for him. Steward kept
moving toward the dining area. every passenger was supposed to report there to
eat. There were multiple ones for each class of passenger though, so which one?
Steward had debated it for a long while. Eventually he came to a conclusion.
Only a first class passenger could make such a request as to dine outside the
dining room and get away with it. Whoever Nathan was, he must be rich. Not some
son of an engineer or something. Steward walked across the dining room to the
kitchen. He then requested enough for two. The cooks looked at him like he was
a lunatic.
"Ye don’t come in and ask for food lad," One of the Cooks said.
"First class requested it sir, despite my protests," Steward
said, putting on a good act. He needed to seem like an innocent Steward doing
his duties.
"Who asked such an absurd thing from ye?" Interrogated the Cook.
"I... I don’t know sir. He didn’t say. He was very commanding though,
and I think he can get me thrown in the brig if I don’t return with food,"
Steward pleaded. That wasn’t far from the truth either.
"Alright I can sympathize."
Steward walked away,
food in a tray. Altogether his first day had gone well. Steward froze outside
the dining room. Where was he supposed to meet? Oops.
Chapter 3 1/2
RMS Titanic
April 10, 1912
12:30pm
Nathaniel and Steward.
Steward looked at Nathan dumbfounded. Nathan looked at Steward smiling. Nathan had just said that
the food for two was for Nathan and the Steward. Since when did a first
class passenger care? Nathan hadn’t actually gotten it for Steward of course,
but when his dad had to work overtime, Nathan had changed his plans. So there
they sat, in comfy chairs on the second class view area, watching the waves
until Steward had to leave. At least
my secret is safe, Steward thought. At least I have someone to talk to, Nathan
thought.
Chapter 4
RMS Titanic
April 11, 1912
12:30AM
Nathaniel and Steward
Nathan was proud of
his father. What is she thinking? What does she know? Nathan looked at
the woman who just insulted his father. She wore a pink bonnet, a pink skirt, a
pink... everything! Nathan couldn’t tell whether she was second or first
class. He couldn’t even remember what deck he was on. "Just a dirty
little tinkerer's boy, hmmm?" I'll
show you a tinkerer. Nathan looked at the others sitting in chairs facing
him. they were all sitting in one of their gathering rooms. Two men who looked
well beyond their prime, and three women. All but one of them laughing at his
father. Steward backed away. I wonder what his dad does that makes such
money. Certainly can’t be a simple engineer if he’s first-class. but
first-class was an assumption. Who is he?
Nathan walked straight up to the men and took their matching shiny
gold watches, face full of anger. Ignoring the men’s protests, he began to take
them apart. "Someone call an officer!" and "What the bloody
blazes is he doing!?!" were shouted. Steward even tried to stop Nathan.
Nathan didn’t hear though. He was a strange little boy, but even more strange
was his ability with mechanics. Once he started, it was like the rest of the
world didn’t exist. Nathan started rearranging the gears and cogs. That goes
there, this belongs here, wind that up and....
"There!" He
shouted. He put his newly recycled contraption on the deck and let it go.
Steward couldn’t believe his eyes! There
in front of him was a small golden creature instead of a watch! it was the size
of all three watches, had multiple mechanical parts showing and moved.
The watch hands had been turned into four legs, and every tick of a second
moved a single leg a small amount so that every minute was a step. and every
hour was sixty. The Titanic was so steady, the contraption didn’t waver on its
light legs. The men looked amazed.
"Would ye look at that!"
"It moves!"
"Genius!"
"What about my watch?"
The eldest of the men,
and the one who didn’t laugh, looked up at the three ladies.
"Just a tinkerer's boy eh?" He said in a voice that was both hard
and soft, "You three should be ashamed. The young lad's a genius!"
"Thank you sir," Nathan said. The women sulked away, ashamed of
themselves.
"Do ye mind if I keep ye contraption?" The eldest man asked.
"It is made from your items sir. I can put it back if you like."
"A masterpiece like this should be kept like this!"
"Thank you. I must be going then."
"See you, lad. Name's John."
Nathan turned and
started to walk away. The other man spoke up.
"What about MY watch?"
"Ye don’t get yer watch!"
Steward couldn’t help
but laugh as he followed Nathan out of the room.
A thought hit him. I don’t even know this young boy's name! A young
boy shoved pass Steward, running hard. He was in a steward uniform.
"Who do you think you are?!" Steward called.
"I'm Alfie, sir!" the boy shouted.
Steward grumbled and
caught up to Nathan.
"I must ask. What IS your name?" Steward asked.
"Just call me passenger," Nathan responded slyly.
Chapter 5
RMS Titanic
April 14, 1912
8:00PM
Nathaniel
Yesterday had been a
blur. He visited the dogs again, talked with the old man about his father, saw
his father again, but the most fast-paced part was when he gave three first-
class meals to the steerage. Steerage sure knows how to party. All three meals
could allow everybody something to eat. He even got John to join. for an
elderly first class snob, he could sure party. The weirdest thing about that
day though, was the fact that he can’t remember. Nathaniel has extremely sharp
senses and observation skills, but when he tries to look back at the party, all
he observes is blur. He even found Steward collapsed in steerage a time later.
Nathan ached. He tried one more time to look back. He hadn’t any drinks, that
was for sure. Nobody ate anything but the meal, so the exhaustion must have
been from dancing so much so fast. He remembered someone dancing faster than
Nathan had ever seen. Something about a Paddy. He wished his dad could have
been there. DAD! The boilers! Why haven’t I visited before? Nathan took
off running.
Nathan shoved through
crowds, shouted over bustling groups, and dodged hurrying communities. The
smell of carbon dioxide filled his lungs, and heat burned his eyes. How do
these people LIVE? Richard saw his son before his son saw him.
"What are you doing down here?!" He yelled angrily over the
boilers.
"I was just... I wanted to see you!" Nathan shouted back.
"At five in the evening?"
"Long story." Nathan coughed. The heat stung his eyes even more.
Nathan coughed and wheezed and coughed. He couldn’t stop. Why couldn’t he stop
coughing? He heard someone yell to get him above decks. Next thing he knew, the
sun was bearing down on him. Someone said "Asthma". Oh yeah! I
have Asthma. That’s why. The world faded.
Chapter 6
RMS Titanic
April 14, 1912
10:40PM
Nathaniel
Nathaniel woke in the
medical room of the Titanic. He was on a medical-grade bed. Where was Richard?
He saw a note on the wall in front of him. Richard had reluctantly gone back to
work already. The med bay wasn’t bad. everything was white. The only piece of
furniture in the room was a single chair facing his bed. Nathan realized he
wasn’t the only breathing one in the room.
"Hello Steward," Nathan said hoarsely.
"How....?"
"You breath kind of funny."
" you gave us quite a scare. Why would you go and do a stupid thing
like that?"
"I can’t remember."
"Your dad wanted to stay. He was forced out."
"Figured as much."
Nathan smelled the
air. Too much water. Nathan started to get up and put the door. The first thing
he did was get above deck, Steward trailing behind. Fog was everywhere.
Nathaniel solemnly put a hand down on the deck. The Titanic’s engines were
vibrating more. They were going faster.
"The fog is rolling in Steward. Yet we are still increasing in speed.
Smith is a seasoned captain. He should know better."
"Even I know that. Let me tell you, I really aren’t that smart. Even I
know we shouldn’t be speeding."
Nathan looked ahead,
using his keen observation skills.
"Get near a lifeboat and stay near it."
At 11:00PM It hit. The bell
sounded, "Iceberg straight ahead!" was called, and it hit. The entire
boat shook. Most people paid it no mind, but Nathan was not most people.
"Steward, do your duty. Get everyone up. Save them."
Steward was already
gone. Nathan knew there was a problem. That kind of hit would have been mainly
below decks... Father! Nathan ran as fast as he could. He ran and he
ran. He was trying to get to the boilers when he realized something. He didn’t
know where he was. Nathan panicked, coughing and wheezing. Black spots danced
in front of his eyes. People bustled about. Steerage knew what was going on,
and tried to get away. Someone shoved Nathan to the ground. The world started
fading again. Just like last time. The Titanic really is messed up! It’s not
even in focus! Something sharp hit
him in the leg and Nathan was forced to sit up. He found himself looking at the
face of Steward. Somehow, people weren’t kicking and trampling him.
"Two Asthma attacks in one day!" Steward said, a sharp needle in
his hand, "You’re going to set a new record!"
"That’s what I'm going for."
"Don’t. I need you alive."
"What?"
Steward dismissed the
question. Nathan started speed walking to his father. Walking, not Running. Steward
knew Nathan shouldn’t be up so fast, but what could he do? This kid was
determined to get to his father. Steward watched as Nathan opened a door and
charged through. Nathan was still gasping when he found his father. Water was
all over the floor. Multiple people were scooping out water. This was the sixth
watertight compartment. That meant five boiler rooms were swamped. If water was
all the way over here, how big was the hit? Nathan looked at the closed
compartment door. His father was trying to get the watertight compartment to be
watertight. Apparently there was a hole at the top so water could spill over. Andrews!
I thought you had sense! Nathan's dad was using a blowtorch-who knows where
he found that-to connect a ramp to the opening. This would cause the water to
spill back down, giving everyone more time. Nathan roared over the rushing
water.
"Father!"
Richard looked at his
son bewildered. "Son! Run to the Lifeboats! Children first!"
"Is it that bad?"
"Yes it is! We don’t even have time to talk. Get above deck now!"
"No! I won’t lea-"
"Yes you will!" Richard roared, "I love you son, but
I was never meant to survive this trip. Go to your uncle and stay with him.
Take your Steward friend with you. Your uncle will understand, “Richard said
this softly. He turned to the Steward. "You take him out of here and to
the lifeboats. You get him to survive, and its luxury for you. Go. This will
only buy you a minute at most."
Steward acted fast. He
clamped his hand over Nathans mouth and pulled Nathan out of the room. Nathan
didn’t even get to say goodbye.
1:00AM
Nathan tried as hard
as he could to free himself from Stewards grasp, but he was to weak. Stewards
strength was almost superhuman. Someone was running by fast. Nathan knew what
to do. He turned so that Steward was hit straight on by a mountain of a man.
His bodyguard said something about a "Gilhooley" Steward was knocked
of his feet. Nathan took off, hoping he didn’t have a third attack. Nathan took
this time to think. Take the size speed and trajectory, plus the amount of
time, with my father's help, we have..... around an hour.
Nathan looked at the
dogs he just freed from their cages. They were all running above deck. Nathan
hoped they would survive. He liked those dogs. Nathan followed the dogs and
went above deck to complete chaos. People were racing around, trying to get a
spot in the lifeboats. Somewhere in the midst, music was playing; calming
music. Steward joined Nathan. A lifeboat
was open, but Nathan wasn’t ready just yet. There was still more he could do.
There were still children to save. Nathan turned heel and walked back down to
Steerage.
1:45AM
Nathan had just found
another group of Steerage women and children. Somebody had ordered them to stay
down here. Selfish people wanted a spot on the boats. This was the fourth group
he had escorted. Steward was escorting others as well. They knew that everyone
they saved was one less spot for them, but they didn’t care. It was like a maze
getting back up. every time they came back down, more spots were flooded. It
was taking longer and longer to get back top deck. The last escort took almost
ten minutes. One of the mothers he was escorting said something in a foreign
language. Nathan just said everything was okay and kept moving. Nathan knew
nothing was okay whatsoever, but that didn’t need to be said.
2:00AM
That was it. The last
lifeboat was being lowered. No room was left. Nathan hoped Steward had gotten
away safely, because he knew he wasn’t going to. He looked around. All the men
knew it too. Nathan saw a group of well-dressed men calmly playing cards. The
band played on. Nathan looked at the rising water. He knew it wasn’t long now. See
you soon dad. Then the lifeboat stopped lowering. Someone was getting out.
"You are married and have families," a woman said, "I'm not
it doesn’t matter about me."
The woman looked at
Nathan and gave him a wink. Next thing he knew he was lifted over the side and
thrown into the lifeboat. He looked at the woman gratifyingly. She smiled
calmly at him. Then a not so calm man jumped in.
"You idiot," Someone roared, "YOU’LL TIP US OVER!" The
man didn’t listen. He decided to jump in the lifeboat itself. He landed right
near Nathan. Nathan was launched out of the boat. The water started putting him
into shock instantly. The water is cold.
Nathan woke up
shivering. Men and women were all around him. They were yelling something. Father!
Nathan's head rolled to the side. He was on a boat obviously Father! Hi
looked at one of the tied up lifeboats. The lifeboat read "Carpathia".
Father I’m cold!
It's wonderful how warm you can get when you’re cold.....
Chapter 7.
Steward.
Steward looked up at
Nathan sitting stunned on his bed. Nathan had just finished telling everything
he could remember, with Steward adding parts.
"So I told you my story," Nathan said finally, "Now tell me
yours. How did you survive, and days later still be drenched in water?"
Steward told him.
Nathan’s jaw dropped.
Epilogue
April 14, 1917
Uncle's Estate
Nathan
Nathan walked alone.
He always walked alone this day. The anniversary of the hit. Nathan’s uncle was
rich. He owned an estate. In the estate was a large garden and in the center of
that garden was a grave. The grave he always visited. Nathan knelt in front of
the Tombstone.
Richard Lawrence
1871-1912
The Best Engineer in
the world.
There was an item for
every year. The first was a wrench. Richard’s favorite wrench. The second was
the wedding ring with which Richard had proposed to his wife, Emelia. The third
was the machine Nathan had made out of a watch on the Titanic. The watch had
stopped the exact minute Richard died. The fourth was the last picture ever
taken of Richard and Nathan happy together. Nathan put down the fifth item. It
was a letter; an acceptance letter. Nathan was following in his father's
footsteps. Nathan shed a single tear. Just as the woman had done to save his
life, Nathan calmly got up and walked away. At eighteen, he had a job to do.
The Olympic was waiting.
Written by C.F.
Let us know what you think of "The Water is Cold." We will pass on your comments to the author!
NOTE: Students read all three of Gordon Korman's books in his Titanic series in class.
Happy Reading!
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