Within the next month we all got ready to go to California, train tickets were bought and my aunt was informed. She was excitedly awaiting our arrival, which I felt kind of bad about for two reasons. One being that we (being my brother and I) hadn't visited her in over 5 years but to be completely fair she never took the long trip down to Nebraska to see us either. The second reason was that we most likely wouldn't be spending much time with her while visiting. The thing about my aunt Debby was that she didn't really like getting out of the house. She stayed home locked in her sowing room, which is totally ok (but a little weird). It just made it difficult to spend time together, my friends and I wanted to go out see San Francisco, the red woods and do a little shopping. And if Clara had anything to do with it we would be spending ALOT of time shopping, which I don't think would float very well for my brother and Blaze.
When we heard that the limit on the train was one suitcase (2 feet by a foot and a half) and one carry on bag, we went into a mild panic. How were we supposed to bring back all the chocolate, cheese and clothes we would buy while in California. This predicament was quiet distressing for Clara, seeing as she thought she needed to bring at least 17 different shoes and twice as many outfits. Me on the other hand, tried to shove as many books as I could into my book bag without whipping the seem. Clothes were the least of my worry, with a 38 hour train ride I would need a whole lot of entertainment and I was hoping Blaze brought something to do, because when he gets board.... Well lets just say people will be wanting to jump off the train while it is still moving. Emmett on the other hand can't be separated from his sketch pad, and will most likely fill his bag with paints, pencils and charcoal so that he can paint the "beautiful sunset" (his words) off the west cost.
Over all, the month flew by fast and the next thing we knew it was 3 am, and we were waiting in this totally sketched out train station. We all piled out of the van at exactly 1:57 am at the McCook train station. This wasn't the normal train station, yes it was the traditional two story brick building but what it lacked was an actual worker. No worker behind the counter, no person to tell us when the train would get here or what train to get on. To add to the creepiness, was the fact the whole building was empty except for a long row of folding chairs and the two pop machines in the corner. The sketchiness continued with the bathroom, it was one of those shared bathrooms (men and women) which is fine but the fact the door was made of glass and completely see through. The only thing that hid the unmentionables was a short wall in front of the toilet.
"You know, if I was a hobo I would sleep in a train station." said Blaze, as he lounged across two seats. A sleepy smile spread across his face, "I mean look at this place snack machine, pop machine and a working bathroom. Plus all the great company." He said pointing to all the things as he named them, and giving a wave at a couple of hobos sleeping on a piece of cardboard.
"Blaze! Those would be hobos and I don't think they would agree with you." Said Emmett not looking up from his sketch book. I leaned over his shoulder to see what master piece he was working on this time. Green eyes and black curls covers the page. A smile covering the girls lips that soon matches my own. Blaze was drawing me strangling Blaze. My smile soon turned into a full own grin as a laugh left my mouth. A laugh that only occurred when you were so tired that everything seemed funny. A laugh so loud it woke up Clara who had been lounging on a nearby chair, her head in Blaze's lap.
"Hmm," I say to Emmett, laughter still present in my voice. "That would be a good idea, only the inch deep of dust that covers every foot of this place would pick up my finger prints all to well." patting Emmett on the back.
Clara now awake, looked around with bleary mascara covered eyes. "What time is it?" She mumbles shoving Blaze's head from her shoulder. "Get off me you big lug."
"Its about a quarter to 3, but the train is over a hour behind." I say, looking at the watch around my wrist. When I don't get a response I look up to see Blaze and Clara rolling around on the floor, playfully hitting each other and pulling hair. If it had been anybody else I would have been worried for Blaze, but they were like brother and sister. She would never hurt him. You are probably wondering how a 6'4 beefy male can be beat up by a 5'6, 110 pound girl? Well Clara has a black belt in almost every type of fighting style. Plus her dad was full on paranoid, afraid of some oncoming zombie attack, Clara could shoot a gun sense the age of 7 and could work a sword like she was from the middle ages. So yeah I was worried about Blaze's safety, despite his size he really was just a giant teddy bear who could make any girl's heart skip a beat.
Next thing I know a shrill train whistle fills my ears, and my pack of friends franticly search for all our stuff. Blaze and Clara both let out a high girly pitched scream as they take off running out the back door. Letting out a long sigh as Emmett dragged me out the door and across the dirt covered ground and to the track. Another thing about this station, it doesn't have a loading platform. We all climbed onto our designated car, and our adventure began.
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The picture to the side is McCook train station
