Not so Picture Perfect

Chapter 1

The train was noisey, it always was. I was riding to the end of the line, wherever that was. My body was struggling to keep up with me, my work was hard and took a strong toll on me physically and mentally. I hadn’t slept in almost three days, and haven't eaten in four.

 

My once silky, smooth hair was limp and stringy, having not showered in over a week. My bloodshot eyes, and bags didn’t help my already grimy appearance. I hid from the world underneath the hood of my sweatshirt and tried to take a short nap amongst the commotion of second class seating.

 

It was loud and practically impossible to try to fall asleep. Just as I began to doze off I felt a small poke on my shoulder. Less than a second after I heard a voice.

 

“Tommy, don’t beg. It’s very impolite,” a male voice hissed.

 

“But Josh, I’m really hungry,” a voice belonging to a child no younger than seven whined back to whom I assumed was his brother.

 

The older of the two boys sighed heavily.

 

I felt the little prodding hand again. “Miss, do you by chance have any food you could spare?” The little blonde haired, blue eyed boy asked me.

 

“THOMAS EDWIN DARING,” His brothers voice boomed throughout the train car. “I specifically told you not to beg, what can you not understand about that!”

 

Tommys bottom lip began to quiver, and his body began to rack with sobs as he crouched to the floor crying.

 

I turned to glare at his older brother.

 

“Was that really necessary?” I said in a hoarse voice. “He’s starving if you cant see!”

Josh looked taken aback at my state.

 

I turned to Tommy and put a hand gently on his shoulder. “When was the last time you ate?”

 

Tommy began to count on his fingers. “One, two, three, four, five, six, seven, eight. Eight days ago miss.” He said trembling with tears running down his cheeks.

 

“I don’t have any food at this time.” I told him rubbing his back gently. “But if you be good when the cart comes through again, I will get you something from it to snack on. Okay?”

 

“Ma’am you really don’t need to do this,” Josh said. “We will be fine on our own,”

 

Tommy looked at him almost crying again.

 

“I want to get something for him, I know what hunger is like.” I told him, not swaying off my decision.

 

I turned back to Tommy, “Be good, then you can have something.”

 

He turned his watery blue eyes to me and nodded his head, sniffling and trying not to cry.

 

He put his hand on my cheek and gave me a shaky smile. “You’re a nice miss.”

 

I gave him a small smile back.

 

“Now I think you should apologize to your brother,” I whispered to him.

 

Tommy crawled up next to his brother and whispered in his ear. They were too far away so I couldn’t hear his words. By the way his brothers face lit up told me what his brother had said. His brother then wrapped him in a tight hug, squeezing him tightly.

 

“I’m just trying to protect you,” Josh told him, holding Tommy close.

 

“I know, I know, now let me go!” He began to squirm in his brothers arms.

 

Josh unwrapped his arms from around the boy and chuckled. He looked at me and smiled, nodding politely.

 

“Let me introduce myself, I’m Josh, and this is my brother Tommy,” He smiled.

“Hello Josh, I’m Mandi.”