Timothy Longsworth was a young man of 21. An incurable dreamer, he worked at the local museum taking care of their prize ship, the SS Queen Elizabeth. It was a replica of the famed H. M. S. Queen Elizabeth which sailed during the time of Queen Elizabeth I and was the star attraction in the community. People would come from all around just to stand on the quarter deck at the helm and pretend to command the ship’s voyages on the open seas. Tim was no different.
For many summers as a teenager Tim worked onboard as crew to the ship learning all the chores for the ship’s maintenance and kept the ship ready for the many visitors to come aboard. Those years he would dream that he was part of the ship’s crew and sailed the 7 seas chasing down pirates and collecting a bounty on each ship captured. At work he could dress the part and serve as a guide participant, telling the guests his duties when prompt by the main guide to the ship’s tour. Nowadays he serves as the quartermaster officer and gets to tour the ship from the quartermaster’s position. He also has the duty to teach the crew members their duties and make sure the ship was in tip top shape for the visitors.
Tim loved his job so much that he would get lost into the part he played onboard. Always dreaming that he was actually the Quartermaster onboard the real ship and sailing around the world as he worked his way to the prize position of First Mate. There he could tell the stories of the grand adventures the real ship and its crew made in their day. Tim would study all the records done by the ship’s captain and every historical book he could find. On his off hours he would go down to the piers and dream away the hours as he stared off into the harbor’s horizon. No one loved his job better than Tim did and that included the curator who also serve onboard as the captain of the ship.
This particular summer brought about an opportunity that Tim had waited for. Jerry Waite, the ship’s first mate, was leaving the museum to take on a better position onboard a real ship, the SS Martin. The SS Martin was a sailing ship for one of the nation’s richest men who loved sailing the old time three mast ships of yesteryears. Jerry liked Tim and knew that Tim would love the idea of sailing onboard a real ship someday and told him that he will keep Tim in his thoughts when a position opened up for him. Tim thanked him for his kindness even though he knew that such wouldn’t happen for quite some time yet. However his joy went overboard with the idea that he just might have a chance for the first mate’s position there.
Tim’s biggest competition was a young man in college studying to become a curator at a museum himself. Tim knew the history of the ship better, but Robert knew the duties of the museum much better. Robert could take over during the times that Mr. Walters was sick or on vacation. Tim’s dreams just might be put on hold again. He couldn’t compete with that.
Tim worked hard all summer long trying to impress Mr. Walters. There was still a chance although a slim one. His dreams of sailing aboard the real H. M. S. Queen Elizabeth made him feel a bit more tolerant of the whole situation. Tim felt that he would have a much better chance serving on the real ship than serving as first mate onboard its replica. Dreams indeed can be a lifesaver.
One day, just before the fateful day of the announcement of the new first mate’s position, Tim was sitting on the pier staring out at the horizon as usual. There came a sudden storm that took over his spot on the pier before anyone had the chance to clear out. An old ship came out of nowhere and ported in front of Tim. It was the H. M. S. Queen Elizabeth. Tim was frozen in unbelief as the gangway was lowered in front of him. An officer stepped down with a rolled up parchment and began to read its contents to him.
“By order of her majesty Queen Elizabeth I do hereby grant Master Timothy Longsworth the honors and privileges of the rank of First Mate aboard Her Majesty’s Ship the Queen Elizabeth. Her majesty has viewed the workings of this gallant young man and has determined him fit for duty immediately upon acceptance. What say thou young Master Longsworth? Do you accept the duties or nay?”
Tim was beside himself. Was this real or has he gone completely mad? Just then a stout fellow walked slowly down the gangway and stood in front of Tim and said; “This is as real as you are young sir. Both the queen and I know that if you accept this honor we will have the most powerful crew in the Navy. There is no greater love than the sea and this ship will have no greater lover than yourself. It can only be matched by me, your captain.”
Tim gulped heavily and looked all around at the people staring at him and this great marvel. Then he looked up at the captain and said; “This is what I’ve dreamt about all my life. I never thought for a moment that I could actually serve on this grand ship, much less as its first mate. Yes sir, I accept your most kind offer. I shall be your most humble and grateful servant.”
“Then welcome aboard Lieutenant Timothy Longsworth. Welcome aboard indeed,” said Captain Horace Longfellow. “We shall sail the 7 seas in triumph.”