Childhood

Lets go on the Shinkasen!

(A/N)
Before I start this chapter, just wanted to say a few things.
'Shinkasen' is a Japanese bullet train. They go super fast, and are used to travel to one major city to another! E.x. Tokyo -> Fukuoka

...

Dad put my new doll away in the suitcase. Mama led us over to a desk, surrounded by a lot of security officers. A little animated video above shows a family going on an adventure on some weird-looking train. Mama notices what I'm staring at.

"This is a Shinkasen, Anya. We're going to ride on one. Dad is getting the tickets now!" She beams.
A sense of excitement builds in my stomach. I want to be just like the cartoon family on TV! They seem like they are having a good time riding it!

I stare at Dad as he speaks with the man at the desk. I can pick out the occasional word or phrase he says.

"How much-"

"Shinkasen-"

"You walk over to-"

Finally, Dad picks up the bags and walk over to a metal gate. He slides our tickets in and proceeds down the long grey hall.

Shops line the walls, and people, mostly adults, walk this way and that. They are all dressed very sharply, possibly for business?

We reach a flight of stairs. I sigh. Why could we not take the escalator? Dad always says its for 'exercise', but I don't see the point.
I suck in a deep breath, and swing my suitcase over my leg. First step. Pause. Take another deep breath. Swing suitcase over leg. Pause.

I'm only on the second step, and Mama and Dad are halfway there! This isn't fair!
Mama stops and looks back at me, struggling. She says something to dad, while gesturing to me. Dad hands her his suitcase and makes his way back down to me. He gently lifts my bag from my hand, and marches up the stairs with it. I quickly follow.

Reaching the top, I am greeted by bright, blinding light. The sun gleams in and casts dancing shadows along the metal platform.
My eyes adjust, and I can see that we are standing on a train platform. The weird trains from the cartoon are there, zipping in and out. I jump up and down with excitement. Mama leads us to a bench. She sits Dad and I down, while she goes and orders food from a vendor.

Dad shows me my ticket. It's indicates the seating arrangement. Luckily for us, we are all sitting together!

"I want the window seat!" I grin, jabbing the card with my index finger.
Dad laughs, nodding his head.

Mama comes back, holding three boxes of food in her hand. She hands me mine, and I peer in through the clear plastic packaging. I start to open it, but I'm abruptly stopped by Mama.

"Wait until we're on the train." She says to me.

Speaking of which, our train pulls into the station, what a coincidence!
We pick up our bags, and enter. I'm instantly greeted by a cool breeze. Quite wonderful, seeing as we were in the hot air for so long.
We show our tickets, and make our way down to our seats, Mama lifts my bags and hers, and dads shuts the overhead compartment door. I run to my seat faster than the speed of sound, and sit myself down.

An LED display mentions that we will be leaving the train station shortly! I can't wait!

"Hey dad, what time-" My speech is cut off as the train lurches forward. I press my nose against the glass. Tall city buildings line the sky, just blocking the sun. Shops and trees dot the roads, and people and cars make their way to and fro.

I finally feel like I belong!