All Aboard

Robert catches the train out of town

Chapter 4

 

          The next day Robert snatched odds and ends things from home and threw them in his duffel bag.  He stuffed the mostly full bag under his bed, so no one could see it and ask questions.  Some how the things that bothered him didn’t bother him so much now that he knew he was leaving.  Donna gave him a lecture about school, but Robert brushed it off because he knew he’d never have to worry about turning in homework again.  The secret knowledge of his impending freedom made it easy to tune out any inquisitions about his bad behavior or lack of responsibility. 

           When Friday came Robert walked over to Bobby’s house.  They talked and laughed like they owned the world.  When eight pm came around Robert did go outside as planned.  The train passed.  At ten pm, two hours past his curfew, Robert walked home.  He simply couldn’t do it.  Robert couldn’t leave all the he knew.  At home he knew that he at least had a roof over his head, food on his plate and a comfortable place to sleep.  That was something at least wasn’t it?  He knew in truth that he was being controlled by his father and the system and that it was a terrible way to live.  He rebelled against his friends, school and his parents, but he knew he’d never be truly free unless he ran away.  For once he wanted no one to answer to.

          Robert arrived home and was yelled at for about twenty minutes before he was sent to his room.  He set his bag down and realized that his mother hadn’t even asked him about it.  He turned on his radio and lay down on his bed.  At first he just heard the familiar melody, but then he began to really listen to the words.

 

            Runaway Train, never coming back

            Wrong way on a one way track

            Seems like I should be getting somewhere

            Bought a ticket for a runaway train

            Like a mad man laughing at the rain

            Little out of touch, little insane

            Just easier than dealing with the pain

 

         Suddenly, Robert found himself doing something he hadn’t done in a long time: crying.  Warm salty tears ran down his cheek at the song played.  The pain was just too much to bear any longer.  Now he knew he could leave�"that he had to leave.  It was his only choice now.  There was no other way.

         Tears still blurring his vision, he looked over at his clock.  The red digits said it was midnight.  Four more hours to freedom he thought.   No one would suspect that he snuck out and left forever until several hours after he’d gone.  That was perfect to give him a much needed head start he thought.  The tears stopped, but inside the crying continued.  Robert snuck upstairs from his basement bedroom to the dark, empty kitchen.   There he grabbed some food in case he couldn’t get a hold of any for a while.  He ate a granola bar and oatmeal cream pie and threw in several of each into his duffel bag for good measure.  He went to the restroom and waited quietly for time to pass.

         At three twenty am, he peered down the tiny hall of his house.  His parent’s light was off.  No one was awake and he had a clear shot.  Silently, he crept outside of the back door.  The stairs creaked softly underneath his weight.  Shutting the door softly behind him, he went the rest of the way down the stairs.  He drew in the cool night air into his chest and felt a dizzying sense of exhilaration.  He was actually doing it.  He could taste the freedom.

        The stars shone brightly above.  There was not a single cloud in the sky that night.  He was as free as a bird in the sky he thought as he began treading the familiar path to Bobby’s house.  He left behind any lingering doubts about his ability to survive and tucked them away in the hidden recess of his heart.

        Somewhere deep inside he knew it was wrong.  He knew not staying to face things head on was cowardice.  He knew that there were other ways to deal with thing that might not be as immediate, but were more legit.  Still, Robert didn’t care any longer.  He only cared about no longer feeling imprisoned by his life.  Happiness was so close he felt that he could nearly touch it.  He was sick and tired of being sick and tired. 

        The street lights guided him down the streets to the railroad tracks.  He walked through the weeds at the curb of the street and up the gravel hill to the tracks.  He gazed up and down the tracks, which were about to become his means of escape.

        The words of the song echoed somewhere in his mind.  “Runaway train, never coming back. Runaway train, staring up the track.  Runaway train burning in my way.” 

        Robert dropped down to his knees and put his ear to the track.  Nothing.  He sat back on heels and felt the cool air on his flushed cheeks.  After a minute, he anxiously checked it again.  He could feel a faint vibration.  Robert grabbed the handles of his duffel bag and stood up.  He stood up not believing he was really running away finally.

        The train whistled long before Robert could see the metal monster.  One gleaming eye rushed toward him as he stood there motionless.  Remembering what Bobby said, he started running ahead of time.  The duffel bag hit against his legs as his feet pound the soft gravel.  He left half prints behind with the rest of his life.  Robert was gaining up speed when the train came zooming by.  The wind whipped Robert’s clothes around him.  He struggled not to fall as he reached out toward the train. He moved closer with one last burst of strength and energy, he grabbed onto something.  As his hand closed along the steal wrung, he lost his footing.  He swung their for a moment, struggling to grab hold with his other hand.  When he managed to catch it, his heart was in his throat and his pulse was racing.  He pulled himself up.

        He’d done it.

        He’d nearly gotten killed, but he’d done it.

        Robert stepped over into the open box car.  He threw his duffel bag in, which he somehow managed to keep a hold of the whole time.  Then he grabbed onto the door way and swung around.  Wind still whistled wildly around him.  Lights from the town flashed onto the bare back of the wall of the car.  Robert walked to the dark corner where his navy blue bag had landed.  He picked it up and slid down the smooth wall and then sat with a plop.  At last he could catch his breath and at last he time to think over exactly what he’d done.