Taming Sophie

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Sophie made her way through the busy town centre and headed for the fast food restaurant. She had been fighting the hunger pangs for too long now and she was beginning to feel weak and sick. A nice cup of warm tea was definitely top of the agenda, and perhaps a burger just to settle her insides. She cued hungrily along side the other customers, even now she could think of nothing else but home. The restaurant was fairly busy and Sophie scanned for an empty table. She made her way to the bottom of the restaurant and found a two-seater one just on it's own. The burger was deliciously warm and seemed to be filling her completely. A young boy appeared and asked to join her.

'Sure.' Sophie didn't really take much notice of him except for bare fact that he was certainly school age. Trying desperately to ignore his stares, Sophie began to plan her next phase of her everlasting journey home. She would have enough money for her ticket, but if the rail staff were aware of her, then it would be almost impossible to board any train entering Glasgow, perhaps the only solution would be to go by bus, which although would take much longer, it may be the safest and only other option. One way or another, she would make it.

'I haven't seen you in here before,'

Sophie stared confused at the young boys remark.

'And you know everyone in here do you?'

'Well, not actually know them but, well, I kinda get used to the faces, and yours is new.'

Sophie wiped her hands on the napkin and finished her tea. She suddenly thought how she must look, no make-up, scruffy clothes and only a bag full of possessions. The boy seemed as scruffy as she was, his face was dirty and his hands were chapped and sore. His eyes were still shadowing her every move as though he was waiting for her to answer him.

'So, where do you come from then, I know you come from Scotland, but where?'

Sophie sniggered and looked at him properly for the first time, he couldn't have been much older than Sarah's little brother.

'Why aren't you at school?' She asked sarcastically.

The boy put his head down for a moment and laughed.

'School? Now that's a luxury not even I could afford. I'm a street dweller, love. The paths are my domain and the sky is my blanket...school?

Sophie laughed at his expressions. He seemed too sweet and wise to be homeless, surely some mother would be frantically searching for him.

'Then where is your home? Or should I say your ex-home?

'London'

'Why did you leave it?'

'Parents, they split up. My mother then married the arse hole of the year and Bingo, I was out on my back side.'

'What about your Father, would he not take you in?'

'Probably, if I knew where to find him, rumour has it that he lives in Scotland somewhere, hence the question -Where about's in Scotland do you live?.

'Sorry. I come from Glasgow, it's very large and very busy, so please don't expect me to know him.'

The boy laughed and carried on eating his burger. Sophie scanned his face, he did look sweet and she knew how lonely he must be feeling.

'So, what brings you to Carlisle then?'

'I got caught trying to dodge the fare, I was trying to get to Scotland, they chucked me off and I've been stuck here ever since then. The name's Rixi and I spend most of the day begging for money, and then at night I find a nice quiet shop doorway and try to sleep. Sometimes I get lucky at the Sally Army hall, I get to stay for the night, but you have to be fast, beds go like hot cakes round here. And you?'