Nefelibata(DRAFT/INCOMPLETE)

Chapter 5

Philip gripped on to the satchel that was hanging over his shoulder as he jumped out of the train. Saudade followed behind him.

There wasn't really much too see here in the train station, but just the thought of being in one of the most beautiful cities in Russia had him stoked.

It had been a while since he had seen his family. After being ported to Italy to help with the war, his family had moved from Ireland to Russia. He has yet to see his new home. But just the thought of hugging his mother, eating his grandma's cooking, having fired up conversations with his father, and smiling at his twin sister again, had made him just want to go on ahead and leap toward his new house.

He pulled out a map from his satchel that his family had sent him so he could make his way home to them. He scanned the map. His family had marked where he needed to go in bright red ink. He grazed his finger across the line, then turned to Saudade.

"Where do you need to go?" He asked him.

"I already told you. I just came to look at everything."

"But where will you stay? Where will you sleep?"

"Eh, I don't know. Pro'ly somewhere on the streets. As I always do.."

Philip looked at him with concern in his eyes. Is this guy crazy? It's the middle of winter and he's going to sleep outside?
"Nope, nope, nope, nope" repeated Philip.
"Sorry, but no. I'm not letting you sleep outside where you can get pnuemonia or freeze to death."

Saudade scoffed. "I think I can take care of myself, boy. I'm a full grown man."

"Yes sir. But even grown men die from the littlest things. Especially pnuemonia. If not polio or any other illness."

"How old are you?" Asked Saudade.

"I am 18, sir" Philip responded.

"Are you even capable of finding me a place to sleep? Let alone buying?" Asked the old man.

There was a moment of silence before Philip had spoke up.
"Yes." He replied. "You will stay with my family. I will take care of  you until you can find a suitable place to sleep."

"I'm not going to let you-"

"No."  Philip interrupted him, holding his hand out to stop him from speaking.
"There is no way am I going to acquaint someone, then let then stay on the streets while I sleep in my warm bed. You are staying with my family and that's final."

Saudade looked at him with wide eyes. He stared at him as if he was seeing an old family member who had passed on from this life.
He then finally spoke up with hoarseness in his voice.
"...Thank you, boy."
He smiled. Philip thought he could see his eyes watering.

"It's no problem." Philip responded.
"Now let's hurry up and get to my home. Mom's pro'ly got somethin' made for us to eat."