Marlene Dotterer - Shipbuilder

“Maybe we can buy some medicine for that cough. What do they use in this time?”

He waved the thought away. “I’ve made soup; that should help. Some citrus and whiskey would be good for a hot toddy. The whiskey we can find, and surely there are limes somewhere. I know they have them on ships for sailors to eat.”

Casey nodded. “I know that, but you should still have some medicine. It can’t cost that much. Look, Sam, be practical. If you get really sick, they don’t have the expertise to get you well. There are no antibiotics in this time, so if you end up with a secondary infection, we’re in trouble.”

He sat and coughed some more, then answered. “Well, let me see what I can find out. Are you hungry? The soup’s ready.”

Casey was quiet as she ate the thin soup, trying to think of a way through their problem. Sam needed medicine and they both needed better food. She had to make more money!

Sam had a rough night and was worse in the morning. Casey made him porridge to sooth his throat. After getting him settled, she took off to finish the deliveries. She worked fast, again looking for the most efficient route.

Around noon, the cook who answered the door had her come around to the kitchen to “sample the meat pies for dinner” and give her opinion of them. Casey’s opinion was ecstatic, which satisfied the cook enough to pack one up for her to take with her for the afternoon. The cook was easy to talk to, and Casey told her about Sam and asked where to find limes and medicine for a cough. The cook happened to have some limes on hand and also gave her a small bundle of mullein, coltsfoot, and licorice, with instructions to mix one tablespoon in a cup of hot water. She told Casey she could find these herbs at the apothecary if she needed more. Grateful, Casey ran back home to give Sam the bounty.

He was glad to get it, and ate the pie in bed, and drank the toddy she’d made for him without any argument. As soon as she could, Casey ran out to get the next box of plaques. The landlady had them, as promised, so she swallowed her disappointment at not getting another glimpse of the handsome Mr. Andrews, and hurried on her way.

She didn’t finish all the deliveries until the next morning. She stopped by to see Mr. Andrews about seven that evening, which was when the landlady said he’d probably be home.

He’d just arrived, and he gave her that fabulous smile when he saw her. “Hi Casey!” He moved aside so she could enter. “You’ve done a wonderful job. I heard from several people who were all happy to get their plaques so quickly. Hope you’re not worn out!”

She laughed and shook her head. “Not at all, Mr. Andrews. It was great running around all those pretty neighborhoods and meeting everyone. Nice people.”

He gave her a curious look as he pulled her money from his pocket. Before handing it to her, he said, “I’ll tell you, lad, you’re really an enigma.”

Her eyes widened. “Well, I don’t mean to be, sir. What can I clear up for you?”

He sighed. “To start, I’d like to know how a street waif knows what an enigma is!”

Casey laughed again and shrugged. “I haven’t always been a street waif. I used to go to school.”

He looked thoughtful as he handed her the money. “You can read and write, what about your numbers?”

“Not my best subject, but I’ve had lots of math.”

“Can I ask what you did before you started this illustrious career?”

She flushed, not wanting to lie to him any more than she already had, but plunged into the story she and Sam had concocted. “I was a student at home, but then my parents died and Sam thought it best I come to Belfast and stay with him. He was a good friend of my dad’s, you see, and I had no other relatives.” Casey’s smile was small and tight. “But things got rough here, too, so Sam and I just go day to day, sort of.” She made herself grin. “It’ll get better, though. Nowhere to go but up.”

Mr. Andrews studied her before speaking again, causing Casey to flush more under his gaze. “I’m wondering, Casey, if you’d be interested in a job. It’s temporary, but it might give you the chance to come through the rough spot. Maybe about four to six months. My secretary is swamped and needs an assistant. It’d be a lot of running around, collecting information from various departments and helping with scheduling, paperwork, that kind of thing. The pay would be six shillings a week, eleven hours a day with a half hour for breakfast and lunch.” He looked hopeful. “It’s good work and I could give you a solid recommendation if you decide to go back to school.”

Casey stammered, then gulped and nodded. “I’d sure like to, Mr. Andrews. That’s…that’s a wonderful offer.”

His smile appeared again and this time, she shyly smiled back. He rubbed his hands together briskly. “Wonderful! You know where Harland & Wolff shipyard is?” At her nod, he went on, “Be at the gate on Queen’s Island at eight in the morning. Tell them you’re to see me. They’ll direct you. Mind ye, lad,” he spoke a bit sternly, “ye be on time. There’s no slacking possible!”

“Yes sir! Thank you, sir!” Casey nearly saluted, but thought better of it, instead taking the hand he offered her in a firm shake. He seemed quite content as he ushered her out, wishing her a good night’s rest since tomorrow’s work would probably “wear you out.” She said good-bye and ran home, hardly daring to believe her good luck. A real job, with regular pay! And, the thought occurred to her, a chance to see that hunk every day !

It was Sam who reminded her of the problems that came with this stroke of good luck. He was still in bed, but he said the medicine had helped the coughing, and he’d slept some. Casey thought he looked pale and weak, but she didn’t harp on it. He listened while she heated up the soup and prattled on about tomorrow. Then he sat at the table and between sips, discussed a few issues.

“You’re out there looking like a boy. Does he know you’re a girl?”

Casey rolled her eyes. “Of course not! I’d never be hired for anything if people thought I was a girl.”

Sam looked morose. “I know it’s discriminatory, Casey, but in this time, there just are not that many jobs a girl is allowed to do. You’ll be the only girl there; the shipyards hire thousands of men. You realize there will not be any women’s lavatories?”

Casey sighed in frustration. “Geez, Sam. What am I supposed to do? You’re sick! We need the money. I’ll work around all this. I have to try anyway. If it doesn’t work, then fine, I’ll leave.”

“But you could get into serious trouble. I don’t know if it’s illegal to impersonate a boy, but you are obtaining a job under false pretenses. They may not be willing to just slap your hand if you get caught.”

“I’ll be careful! Mr. Andrews seems like a nice person. I don’t think he’ll throw me in jail.”

Sam stopped eating and stared at her blankly. Casey stared back, worried. “Sam? Are you all right? You look like you’re having a stroke.”

He blinked and focused on her again. “Who hired you?”

“Thomas Andrews. I don’t know what he does exactly, but he wants me to help his secretary.” Casey shook her head in disbelief. “I always swore I’d never be a secretary, because it seemed like such a dead-end job to stick women in. But here, it’s like an honored position, and as a woman, I don’t qualify for it! Too weird.”

Sam brushed her comments off and leaned forward urgently. “Thomas Andrews? At Harland & Wolff? That’s who hired you?”

Her eyebrows rose in bafflement. “Yes. Why? Who is he?”

Sam shook his head at her ignorance. “You Americans don’t know anything! Thomas Andrews is the builder of the Titanic ! You do know about the Titanic , don’t you?”