6

Shawn walked fastly while I struggled to keep up half limping and gasping for air with every breath I took. It was loud, teenagers roamed the streets in either leather jackets or sweaters, hair grease or after shaving lotion. The place was alive with everyone doing as they please, at least for now.

“Okay,” Shawn said, “You go in walk around around a bit then get something cheap.” He handed me a buck.

“Where will you be?”

“Right behind you?” he pushed me towards the store and I walked in with him behind me.

            We both wandered the few isles they had, he was focused on what was on the shelves. I finally chose some type of energy bar with radium (so it had to be good for you, right?). I went to the cashier who stared at me. A small mirror sat on the table. I looked terrible; a deep cut on my forehead, a fist sized blue bruise on my cheek (not to mention the ones I could feel on my arms and side).

“What happened?” the clerk asked.

“Family matter.” Which was code for ‘I have crazy drunk parents who decide that I am trash and beat me up’…basically.

“Rough.”

            I nodded and took the change and the energy bar from the clerk, “let’s go.” I told Shawn who followed me out.

            He led me back towards the gas station, but we didn’t go in.

“So what was the point of that?”

            Shawn smiled and pulled out 6 apples from up his sleeves, “Well?”

“Well…I’m impressed.” My only question was, how the heck did he do that?

            We ate all the apples before we even made it to the train station, after we ate I felt a little better but still looked like trash.

“So tell me,” Shawn started, “How did you get on the train last night?”

“I waited for the guard to leave.”

            He laughed, “And how did that work out for you?”

“Not so well.”

“Just follow my lead.” Shawn said.

            We walked around the loading dock and sat on a bench. Every time a guard walked by I would look down and avoid eye contact. After a while the train whistle sounded and the conductor shouted for everyone to board. Shawn scanned the passengers looking for someone, once a woman walked out he got up and followed her and I followed him.

“In case you misunderstood, you need a ticket.”

“Relax kid you only need a ticket if you’re a chum, or the off chance that the conductor thinks you don’t have one.” The conductor saw us coming and stood in the doorway.

“That off chance is now, Shawn.” I mumbled to him.

“Tickets please.” The conductor said.

“Our mother has them.” Shawn told him.

“You’re brothers?” he asked as if it could never be done. Sure, Shawn and I did look different, with his brown hair and blue eyes and my brown hair and green eyes, but we could pass for brothers if one had an imagination.

“Yes.” Shawn said.

            The conductor looked us over and stepped aside, Shawn stepped up the stairs and I followed.

“Have you done this before?” I asked once we were past the conductor, he only shrugged.

            We walked down the aisle and past the lady who was supposedly our mom, Shawn winked at her as we walked by and she glared at us as we walked past. We walked out to where one car connects to the other, he stepped onto the railing and hoisted himself up on top of the car.

“Common.” He said.

            I stepped up on the railing and tried to pull myself up but the curse of being weak fell on me. Shawn saw me struggling and heled me up.

            The train whistle blew and the train started to lurch forwards. I clung to the top while trying to gain balance. Shawn, on the other hand walked along the rooftop as though he were walking on the ground, the wind and growing speeds didn’t seem to bother him. Once I stood up I was almost blown over.

“Let’s go!” He shouted to me, then he jumped onto the next car (how could I have not expected this?) he landed the jump and waited for me.

            It was clear that this kid was a nutcase, I had no idea why on earth I was listening to him. I got to the edge and looked over, the rails were moving fast below us making a nerve rattling chime that sounded like death knocking on my door.

“Jump!” Shawn shouted to me.

            The wind nearly pushed me and the rickety train almost made me loose balance. I jumped and for a split second felt like I was flying. I landed on my feet and thanked god I didn’t fall and die.

“You made it!” Shawn shouted over the hum of the train.

“You sound surprised!”

“I had my doubts!”

“Tell me something,” I started, “Are you crazy?”

“That’s only for you to decide!” we walked to the edge of the car, jumped again, then again, and again. Finally we came to the end of the train. Shawn found the ladder hooked to the side of the box and led to the door, and he was in. he poked his head out of the door and motioned for me to follow him.

            I got down on my stomach and swung my legs over the edge and climbed down the ladder and went into the box car, just realizing that I couldn’t breathe because I was scared out of my wits. I lay down in the old box car and panted like a dog. 

            Shawn bent over me, “Having fun?” he smirked.

“I could have died!”

“Yes that was definitely a possibility, but you didn’t.”

“I think I’ll take my chances with the guards.”

“Yes you handled that very well this morning.” I rubbed my shoulder but the memory still lingered.

            Shawn looked out the opening at the fading lights of the little town, “Look at it.” He said, ”It’s like stars sitting in the middle of a forest.”

“Or like a town in the middle of nowhere, full of people who like to beat you up.” I suggested.

“You know how people are, there all just trying to win the race.”

“What race?”

“All they want is what’s best for them, what they think will make them happy.”

“Huh…” somehow, his mixed up words made since… Just a little bit.

            Soon the lights became hidden behind all of the pine trees. Shawn stood by the door a little longer before he turned to me.

“So what have you learned?”

“I’ve learned not to associate with strangers who try to kill, and if they don’t succeed then you need to watch out because they are going to try again.

“MmmHmm.” He smiled.

“How old are you? Where are your parents?” I asked.

“I’m 19 and I have no idea where my parents are.”

“Oh, I’m sorry-“

“Don’t be, they were abusive and I was an accident.”

            He said it with such coldness I would have thought it was a completely different person. Shawn must have noticed and smiled, “It’s okay though, I got away… I got away.”

“What does that mean?”

            He looked at me with his blue eyes that were illuminated in the moonlight, “Like I said, things are rough all over.”

            I nodded.

“So what about you?” he asked, “What happened to your arm?”

            I rubbed it as if it still hurt, “Same as you abusive dad, well… Stepdad actually.” He continued to look at me, attentive on whatever I had to say, “My mom died and he became a drunk and burned my arm. That’s why I’m here, I’m going to look for my real dad.”

            Shawn nodded and I knew he understood. We were both greasers, out on our own, with no one.

Author's Note

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