Minna

Chapter 2

~ In which Patricia begins her journey 

Though it took her just over an hour, Patch made it from the edge of the hills and across the city Oakland. At the moment she was walking around the floor to ceiling glass window train station, pricking her ears up for any sign of a possible ride. Since the rules of the Amtrak trains clearly stated that no person under eighteen could buy their own ticket or ride by their self, Patch knew she needed to somehow get a ticket through someone else. 

     She was prepared for it though. Since Patch knew she couldn't just ask outright for someone to buy her a ticket she would have to use a little bit of trickery. She might not like it, but she needed to get going. 

     There. Patch's eyes narrowed in on a man beginning to dial on his cell. She walked towards him, as naturally as she could, every so often smiling expectantly. Just as she reached him she glanced over at the ticket booth to see what the lady behind the glass was doing. The station wasn't busy, so the lady was altering between texting and looking outside. Patch took that as an all clear. 

     "Hi Mister!" Patch said with a big smile to the man on his cell phone. He stared awkwardly down at her while whoever he was talking to on his phone rattled away. "Where are you going?" 

     "Er, I'm heading down to Los Angeles." The man said to her uncertainly. Who was this odd and hyper kid?

     Patch brightened. Los Angeles. Big City. Hollywood. She had done some research on where her parents could possibly be, and though their work involved them not being in any place for long, they might be in L.A.! If anything, it was a good place to start looking.

     "That's great! I'm heading there too!" Patch's smile got bigger and she skipped away. 

     As soon as she was sure that the man was no longer looking her fake smile faded a bit though her face kept her joy. It was great that she now knew exactly how to go about of things, however Patch wondered whether she seemed to immature for her looks. Did she look like an over enthusiastic child? 

     Whatever, Patch had to keep going no matter what... 

     As she walked up to the ticket booth the lady sitting there looked up from her phone. Nothing happened as Patch stared at her, a bit hesitant on what to do, until the lady reached forward. Patch stepped back before she realized the woman had only pulled the glass away from a small opening in the window. 

     "Can I help you?" The lady said as she snapped the gum in her mouth. 

     "Hi ma'am!" Patch nodded happily, trying to bend her knees to make her seem shorter, and immediately felt guilty, though tried not to show it. "Yes, you can!" The woman looked really annoyed, probably thinking, What in the world is this kid doing here? Or at least that was what Patch hoped. 

     For maybe a minute all was silent as the ticket lady leaned against the ticket table, staring down at the smiling little girl in front of her. 

     "How can I help you?" She finally said. 

     "Oh yeah!" Patch said her smile getting bigger as she blushed. "Um, my daddy forgot to buy my ticket." Here Patch pointed over at the man still preoccupied by his cell phone. The lady glanced over at the man, then returned her attention back to Patch. 

     "And?" She asked. 

     Patch gave an uncertain laugh. "And he gave me money to buy a ticket 'cause he's busy." 

     "You're telling me you want to buy a ticket?" 

     "Yup!" 

     "That you're dad's busy so he can't buy it for you?"