"C'mon dottie. The train is coming."
My small white and black dotted puppy jumped into my suitcase. I closed it quickly as the train approached the nearly empty train station. The train stopped and the doors opened. I hopped up the large stairs where an attendant sat.
"Ticket please" he moaned
I stuck my hand in my pocket and shuffled around until I felt the stiff piece of paper. I handed it to him and he ripped off a little piece of it.
"Aren't you a bit young to be traveling alone, little lady?" He said as I began to walk away.
"Aren't you a bit old? What if the train stops suddenly and you fall. Whose gonna help ya? Not me. I'm too small. And mama told me not to talk to strangers. So have a nice day." I said, smiling with the last few words.
I heard a few chuckles from some passengers. But I didn't care. I just smiled to myself. I took a seat in between a young man and an older lady. I put my suitcase on my lap and looked down the long hallway to the other end. There were a lot of people on this train. It must have been the busiest one I had been on. At every stop more and more people got on and off. By the time the sun had set and the moon had risen to the top of the sky, only me and 3 other people were there. The man across from me looked sad. He just played with his thumbs. I hopped up and switched my seat to next to his seat.
"Hello mister."
"Hello." He whispered.
"If we are going to have a conversation, your going to need to speak up. I never really had good hearing."
"Shouldn't you be at your house? Where are your parents?" He said a bit louder, looking down the hallway for people who could have looked like I was their kid.
"My parents aren't here. I travel by myself."
"What? Your like, 6!"
"I am not 6! I'm 9 and 1/2." I said proudly.
"Whatever. This is my stop." He said, getting up and exiting the train.
I put my suitcase on my lap and cracked it open a little.
"How you doing, dottie?" I whispered.
The small dog whimpered a little.
"I know. We will be off of this train by tomorrow. I promise."
I pet his head a little and then closed the suitcase. I laid down on the cold benches and used the suitcase as a pillow. I watched the passing lights of outside for a while. Then I closed my eyes and dreamed of the wonderful place I was going.
"NEXT STOP! NEW YORK CITY, NEW YORK!"
I sat up and looked around. A ton of people were on the train. I was a bit embarrassed, because they all looked at me funny. Maybe it was because I was across 4 seats and had just woken up. The train stopped and I took my brief case and hopped off the train. A mess of people swarmed around me. But I pushed my way in the direction I needed to go. By the time I reached 700 5th Avenue, the sun had began to set. I entered the hotel and approached the front desk. A few people were in the lobby, but not many. I stood on my tippy toes and rested my chin on the marble desk.
"Hi I need your best and biggest room, please."
"Um, is there an adult with you?"
"Nope. Just me. How much do you need?" I said, taking out my duct tape wallet.
The lady looked at the other who just shrugged her shoulders.
"Well? Speak up!"
"That will be $2450.00, please" she choked out.
I took out 2500 and placed it on the counter.
"Keep the change." I said.
She shakily handed me the key to my room and they both looked at me like I had six eyes. Weirdos.
I clicked the up button on the wall to call for the elevator. I waited for a bit before the doors open. I went in and didn't notice a boy was next to me waiting for the elevator.
"Hi! Im Oleander. O-L-E-A-N-D-E-R. You would never believe the other spellings I have come in counter with." I laughed.
"My name is Harry" he smiled.
I noticed his accent, but I didn't want to say anything. He probably thought I had an accent too.
"Cool name. What floor are you on?" I asked.
"23. What about you?"
"I'm on 23 too. I'm in room 118B" I said, checking my room key to make sure I had the right number.
"That's cool. Are you here with your parents?" He asked as we exited the elevator.
"No. Just dottie, my dog. He is in my suitcase. But don't worry. He is okay." I said.
"Where are your parents?" He asked as we stood at the door to my room.
"To be honest, I don't know."
"Oh" he said softly.
"Wanna come to the pool with me? Im headed down when im settled."
"Sure. Come to my room when your ready. A blond boy might answer the door. His name is Niall. Just ask for me. I'm room 135B down the hall." He smiled.
"Bye!" I said, closing my door.
I turned around to a huge-moungus room with a king bed and a kitchen and a huge closet. I opened my suitcase and dottie hopped out. I pulled out my bathing suit and quickly changed. I took my towel and put my long brown thin hair into a pony tail.
"I'll be back soon dottie. Don't go anywhere, okay?"
My dog looked at me in agreement. I pet his head and grabbed my room key before I wandered down to room 135B. When I came across the room I knocked and adjusted my bathing suit as a blond boy opened the door.
"Hey Niall. Is Harry here? We are going to the pool." I said, looking up at him and swaying back and forth a bit.
"Harry! Oleander is here!" He said, looking back.
"One minute!" I heard his familiar voice call.
I smiled as Harry came to the door and said goodbye to Niall. We took the elevator down to the lower level and Harry used his room key to allow ourselves access to the huge pool beyond the glass walls. I put my towel and key down and jumped in. Harry followed and as his head came above the water I splashed him in the face.
"Your a good swimmer!" He said, wiping his eyes.
"Thanks. I practiced." I said.
""So how old are you?" He asked.
"I'm 9 and 1/2." I stated.
"Wow! Getting old there."
"What about you?"
"I'm 19." He said.
"Wow! That's crazy!! Your an..... Old man!" I said.
"I guess I am!!" He laughed.
"So where are you from?" He asked.
"I was born in Alaska, but I only lived there till I was 3. Then I left. I followed my own dreams and made my own adventures!"
"But why did you leave your family?" He asked seriously.
"They were scary. They gave me scars and made me bleed and got me sick."
"Well you're safe now." He said hugging me.
"I know I am Harry. I trust you."
