Endless roads

Goodbye, for the last time

the next morning, I packed clothes, my teddy, my drawing pad and a photo of me, mum, dad and Kat, in my school bag, and I got Kat to do the same. She didn't really understand what was going on, but I told her that her Daddy wasn't able to look after us properly anymore so I was gonna look after her and take her to a new home. She just nodded and picked up Berry, her treasured teddy. She takes Berry everywhere with her. I helped her put Berry, some clothes and a couple of other things into her satchel and we put our school uniform on. we said goodbye to dad, who of course had no idea that this was gonna be the last time for a long time. I gave him a big hug, and kissed his bristly cheek. He grunted and wrapped his arms round me.

" I love you" he whispered. " I'm sorry, Evie. I've not been a great dad to you and Kat lately. I will try harder, i promise. Its just......" 

"I know. I miss her too" I say.

" Now then, you need to be getting to school, it's half eight"  he says, consulting his watch. 

"Bye dad" I say, and pull Kat out the door before I start crying and change my mind.

"Now, Kat, you need to listen to me, this is important" I say when we reach their corner of the street. She nods and grabs my hand. " We are gonna walk to the station and get changed in the loos, then get  a train to London,  then when we arrive we will find a place to stay and whatever" I haven't planned this last part yet, but Kat doesn't need to know that. 

"Evie" she whispers.

"Yes, sweetie" I reply, taking her hand as we cross the high street.

"When will we go home and see daddy again?" She asks quietly. 

"I don't know. But you have me now" I reply to a question I really can't answer.

When we arrive at their station, I take Kat to the loo and we change into normal clothes. We go back onto the platform and  I get my purse out of my pocket and check how much money I have. £20.50. That will probably last us about a week in London.  We can't afford to pay for our tickets. I grab Kat by then arm and say "run! " . We duck under the barrier when the guard isnt looking and jump through thedoors of the train marked 'Charing Cross'. I find us two seats by a windows and pull Kat down beside me. When the ticket guy comes round asking to see our tickets, Kat and I duck under a set of seats and wait. When we emerge, a few other passengers look suspicious. "Dropped my purse" I mumble to them and scrabble around on the floor, pretending to look for it. After another 20 minutes, I hear an announcement telling us we will shortly be arriving at our destination. 

"Come on, Kat" we go over to the doors and when the train  stops we get off. We go through some tunnels and up some steps and into the street.

We made it! Our adventure begins...