Previous Challenge Entry (Level 1 – Beginner)
Topic: Sibling(s) (05/01/08)
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TITLE: Reunion Station | Previous Challenge Entry
By Denise Hammond
05/08/08 -
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I had been living in the orphanage for five years when Mr. Russell came looking for someone to help around his house. I was fourteen, strong, and knew how to cook so he decided I would do. I was kind of scared because I had heard stories about mistreatment at the hands of foster parents. Luckily, Mr. Russell wasn’t too bad. As long as the chores were done and I stayed out of trouble he was satisfied. Even so, after two years I was ready to go. I wanted to find my own place in the world.
One morning I woke up and decided the time had come. I threw my things together, wrote a note thanking Mr. Russell and started walking the five miles to Kansas City. I walked all morning until finally, I saw Union Station in front of me. I had never seen anything like it. The station was majestic, and inside was the ticket to my future. The noise of the people and the trains coming and going gave me a little thrill of excitement. Suddenly, I became aware of how horribly out of place I was. Most of the women looked so stylish in their flapper dresses and short haircuts. I felt awkward and self-conscious in my farm dress and old-fashioned braid. I hesitated for a few moments, and then went in the huge set of doors.
The station was even more beautiful on the inside. The ceiling loomed above me and three huge chandeliers hung over the main lobby. The Grand Hall clock informed me it was 11:30 a.m. I wasn’t sure where I wanted to go. I hoped I had enough money saved to buy a ticket and have some left over to live on until I could find a job. I was walking towards the ticket counter to choose my destination when I slipped on the marble floor. I would have taken a nasty fall, if someone hadn’t caught me from behind.
“Are you alright?” A man asked me.
“I think so,” I said turning to thank him. When I saw his face the words of gratitude stuck in my throat. I just stood there staring at him with my mouth hanging open in a most undignified manner. I couldn’t believe what I was seeing. The man looking at me was tall, handsome and had a red teardrop under his right eye.
“Chester,” I choked out. “Are you Chester Milligan?”
“Yes, I am. Have we met?”
“It’s me. It’s Pearl.” My voice cracked and tears began to slide down my cheeks.
I can’t tell you what was said next, because I don’t remember the words we shared, only the emotions. It had been years since I had felt such joy and love. As we talked, I found out Chester and Albert both lived in Chicago. Chester had come to Kansas City on business and was headed back home. He bought me a ticket to Chicago and told me I was going to live with him, his wife and their two children. Mr. Russell always said there was no God, and looking back on the things I had lost, I sometimes believed him. However, any doubts I had about God’s existence disappeared the day I walked into a train station a lost homeless orphan and left as a found precious jewel finally going home.
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While I liked the title, I think it givs too much away.
Keep up the good words!
There are a few grammatical errors (punctuation...commas) but it was very well written.
I really enjoyed this piece!
Well done. Keep writing.