Chapter Two

  Isabel stared down the tracks. They seemed endless, going on forever. She turned to her sister and asked, "Violet, when will the train be here?" Violet sighed, "Isabel, it's only three o'clock. The train won't be here until five. Be patient." Isabel groaned. "Five o'clock? That's two hours away! That's forever!"  She shot Isabel a look. "Quiet, Isabel. Don't complain." Isabel sunk down onto the bench. It would be a long wait.

 

  Much, much later, the train rolled in. Isabel shot up, relieved to finally be leaving the station. Violet pulled her back down and said, "Third class is last to board. we have to wait." Isabel could tell her sister was tired of sitting and waiting. All they had done for the past two hours was wait, and now they had to wait even more.

 Almost an hour later, it was time to board. Isabel grabbed her luggage and bounced up to the line. There were about ten poeple in front of her. More waiting. She ganced around the station, looking at the people around her. Two men over in a corner caught her eye. They were apparently whispering, but they could be shouting at the top of their lungs and she would never hear them clearly over the noise.

  One man was shaped much like a bowling pin. A rather short bowling pin, though. He was wearing a bow tie and suspenders over a crisp white shirt. The other man was enormous, probably close to seven feet. He was very stocky as well, with a heavy black-brown beard. He wore a dark suit, and appeared to be agitated. The bowling pin man's eyes got big and he began quickly nodding. He then hastily handed the bearded man a durlap bag and hurried off. The big man, now alone, peered into the bag, seeming satisfied. He then walked over to the train, going straight to the front of the line. The ticket man nodded and let him on.

  Perhaps he works on the train. After all, he didn't give the man a ticket. Isabel thought about why the bowling pin man had given him the money when the ticket man called out, "Next!" Isabel scurried forward, handing him her blue ticket. He nodded and motioned her in. Violet right behind her, she stepped onto the train.

  It was breathtaking. Rows of brass benches, with deep crimson cushions. Violet pulled her along. She whispered, "This is the first-class car. Third class is at the back. They passed through a slightly less majestic car, and finally reached the back. Isabel's heart sank. The third class car was nothing at all like first. There were no brass benches, only wooden ones. There were no seat cushions at all. Even worse, there were no seats left at all! Violet sighed, "Come on, we'll just have to stand at the back." Her sister was obviously just as dismayed. The train ride would obviously be a long one.

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[TLK]

"Even worse, there were no seats left at all!" I would have appreciate being SHOWN this -- through the character's realisation, action, and dialogue -- rather than being TOLD it.