Marlene Dotterer's Blog, page 15
September 23, 2015
The Time Travel Journals: Shipbuilder, Chapter 41
Taken from the deck of the cruise ship, Balmoral, over the site of Titanic’s sinking, April 14, 2012. Chapter 41
15 April 1912
Titanic , 12:08 a.m.
Captain Smith ordered all hands on deck and assigned Chief Officer Wilde to see to the lifeboats. He sent crew to wake all passengers, tell them to dress warmly, put on their life belts and where to wait. Blankets were collected. Tom offered the help of the guarantee group. His electrician, Billy Parr, was already below, but the others could help...
September 21, 2015
The Time Travel Journals: Shipbuilder, Chapter 40
Titanic Memorial in Southampton, England Chapter 40
14 April 1912
Titanic –North Atlantic
At 9:30 p.m., Tom made his way to the wireless room. As Casey and Sam had described, Jack Phillips and his assistant, Harold Bride, were swamped with messages to transmit. Phillips was polite, but short. The wireless had been broken, he’d just gotten it repaired, and he had a hundred messages to send out. If Mr. Andrews had a message to send, it would not be going out until morning. Tom assured him that...
September 19, 2015
Time to Play
We’re off to Germany. Look for the occasional picture. Sadly, we couldn’t fit a trip to Denmark into this one, but I promise, Rikke,we’ll get there!
Trains and planes to catch…
September 18, 2015
The Time Travel Journals: Shipbuilder, Chapter 39
Part of the Titanic Memorial in Belfast, listing those who died on Titanic. Chapter 39
November 1911–April 1912
Tom had just arrived home and was in the library with Casey and Sam, when Mrs. Pennyworth appeared in the doorway, her arm resting lightly on the shoulder of young lad of about ten, who stood twisting his cap nervously in his hands. His gaze took in the three adults before he ducked his head and stared firmly at the floor.
“This is Johnny Peake,” Mrs. Pennyworth said, her face tight...
September 17, 2015
Wait. I Changed My Mind!
This is the stage where I think, “What have I done!?”
Deep breath. Trust the landscapers. They know what they’re doing.
September 16, 2015
The Time Travel Journals: Shipbuilder, Chapter 38
Chapter 38
July 1911—October 1911
The police investigator, the same man who took their report about the riot, came to see them one evening shortly after Tom returned. He commented that he was spending far too much time with the Andrews, and he hoped their lives “would settle down and not require his presence again, any time soon.” Then he sat in the parlor with Tom, Casey and Sam, and proceeded to explain how he had captured Colin Riley.
Riley had indeed come close to committing the perfect c...
September 14, 2015
Our Yard Gets a Makeover
Courtesy of the California drought. This is after one day.
The Time Travel Journals: Shipbuilder, Chapter 37
The author walks along the Lagan on a cold day in Belfast. Chapter 37
May 1911
The early mail on the second Tuesday in May brought a note from Casey’s sister-in-law, Jessie. The letter’s greeting made Casey’s heart squeeze in fear, but as she read on, laughter forced her to a chair in the parlor.
My Dearest Sister, the note began, John and I wish to extend our heartfelt condolences for whatever fate has befallen your husband. It has come to our attention (so we have acknowledged to each...
September 11, 2015
The Time Travel Journals: Shipbuilder, Chapter 36
Chapter 36
April 1911
Heading into Monday evening’s cold darkness, Sam turned left to start the walk home. He liked the exercise as long as it wasn’t raining. Shifting his briefcase to the other hand, he looked up in surprise as he nearly bumped into Colin Riley, who looked just as surprised as Sam.
“Dr. Altair.” Riley blinked, but recovered before Sam. “I was just on my way to see you.”
“You were?” Sam was first astonished, then confused. “I thought you were at a conference.”
Riley shrugged....
September 9, 2015
The Time Travel Journals: Shipbuilder, Chapter 35
Modern Belfast. The shipyard cranes can be seen in the distance. Chapter 35
March 1911—April 1911
Casey tucked a just-awake Terry into bed with her and lay down to nurse her a while. Sunday morning was Casey’s favorite time of the week. The servants all had the day off, and most had left the night before to spend the day with their families. Sam usually had breakfast with Mrs. Pennyworth in her small apartment off the kitchen, so Tom and Casey had the rest of the house to themselves. She drif...
