Today is the day of the big train ride. You could wonder why I am so giddy, like a 5 year old who has just been given a lollipop. Truth be told, I just love trains and can't wait to ride one.
We have a bit of an early rise. I actually managed to get some sleep for once.
Luca on the other side looks very tired, but seems energetic enough. James and Mabel haven't stopped talking about engineering. I'm glad my sister is finally bonding with another human to be honest.
We make the drive to the station and I explain the train to Luca. It's a Pendolino, it's a train that can tilt round corners and do up to 125 miles per hour! The journey time is around 3 hours each way.
In no time at all we arrive at the station, get out of the car and walk in. We pass through a set of barriers and our train is already boarding. We quickly hop on and see that all the tables are already taken, typical. We all take airline style seats instead. Me and Luca, Mabel and James and then Mum sitting alone, but still in close watch of us.
"Typical... all the good seats are gone." I say to Luca
"This is still like ten times better than what we had, I'm happy to be missing a table seat than the train missing a door." Luca replies laughing.
This is Luca's first time on public transport, I guess it's James' too. The public don't really take much notice of them, maybe a few odd stares. I think they're too scared to say anything, or hopefully they're just used to them now.
In a matter of minutes the train begins gliding out of the station.
The scrolling red text on the passenger information display reads the time and date.
"SERVICE TO NEWTOWN, 7TH JUNE 2022, 10:23."
For some reason that reminds me of something I need to ask Luca.
"I can't believe I've never asked this, what is your birthdate?" I ask Luca.
I see him think for a second, his brain at work. I think he hasn"t asked this question much.
"Hmm... ahh yes! I remember!" He exclaims. "Sixteenth of July 2009!"
"Hey, you're gonna be thirteen next month then!" I say happily. "Turns out you're a bit older than me then!"
"Oh, yeah! Also, I know you told me like a few days ago but what's your birth date again?" Luca returns my question.
"Seventh of August 2009." I exclaim. "Literally the youngest of the year, always have been!"
"Hey, you're not too far off then either! We'll both be official teenagers, all moody and that!" Luca laughs.
"Yeah, like Mabel." I respond laughing.
"Hey! I heard that!" I hear Mabel's voice echo down the carriage.
After a while of talking we return to just sitting back and relaxing.
Luca stares longingly out of the window, watching the houses and trees begin to fly by.
"I've realised something." Luca tells me, "This is the first time I've properly left this town and gone further into the sun side."
I realise it too and I reply, "that is true. I imagine you would prefer it as it is much further from the border."
Luca simply nods.
"You know I was thinking about what your grandad said to us" Luca turns to me. "Wouldn't it make more sense to live out here?" Luca gestures to the rural fields and some houses scattered around.
"I know, I do too." I reply, "but mum's job is too important, she can't risk trying to move and also provide for us. Not to mention the fact that the mouths she has to feed have doubled in a matter of months."
YOU ARE READING
Purple Roses
ActionStep inside a world where two sides are separated, one being a lot happier than the other. Look through the eyes of multiple different people from different backgrounds, a family forged not by blood but by love. It isn't all pretty though, sometime...
