Beginning Of The End

The Journey Begins

My dad came home one day terrified because he had lost his job. He did not know if he could support the family. I made a decision to leave home that night to find a job so I could support my family. I was 14. I was morose as I left but I knew I had to help my family. If I didn't then we all would probably starve. It anguished me to leave. I left at about 5:30 A.M. so I could get a head start before Mom and Dad noticed I was gone.

"Rooroo," screamed the train and I knew that was my cue to run for the train. As I climbed aboard the train, it turned. I lost my balance and nearly fell off the crate. My feet were dangling. I contemplated letting go, but my hands would not listen to my command. It was like my hands had their own mind.

Then, at the last minute, a young man with blond hair, bright blue eyes, and ragged clothes caught me. I could tell he had been on the road for a long time. He said in a brusque tone, "You should watch what you are doing if I hadn't been hear you would have fallen to your death!"

I answered with a nod of my head. It wasn't until I was completely on the train when I noticed he was blind in one eye. "What happened to your eye?" I asked. He sat quietly for the longest time.

Then he answered, "About a week ago my brother and I left to get on a train just like this one. Well like you we had some complications. It was easy getting on but getting off was a different story. We rode for five hours. Then. . ."

"Rooroo," the train screamed again.

"As I was saying we had to get off. I got off first. I was fine. When my brother got off the train, he tripped. He fell right on a steel railroad track as a train was coming. I saw him stand up, but before he could get out of the way of the on coming train, he was hit. I heard someone yell at me to duck but I was too horrified of what I just saw. Then I was hit on the right side of my head and knocked out. When I woke up I couldn't see out of my left eye."

I wondered is that going to happen to me.

"What is your name? I am Linda," I asked.

"Rooroo," It came to my stop. I jumped off the train.

I heard a howl of a K9 police dog. I had been caught so I ran as fast as a race car in the lead. Then I tripped. While I was laying on the ground the young man came picked me up off the ground and said "The names Jack, Jack Knight." Then, we came to a cliff and I jumped. Jack on they other hand was pushed by a police dog. Luckily there was water at the bottom. My heart was pounding so hard I thought it was going to climb out of my chest and run. I heard the police yell something but I couldn't make out what they said.

Splash! Jack hit the water. I swam to Jack and pulled him ashore. I laid him on the ground and shook him. "Jack, wake up. Wake up Jack." I said softly thinking he was sleeping. When he didn't wake up I punched him as hard as a wrestler on poker night. I couldn't wake up jack no matter how hard I tried. "Ok, I had enough you either get up or I will leave you here for the wolves.

I put my hand on his chest and pushed down. I thought maybe if I push on his lung area he will wake up. He cough and water exploded in the air. "Why didn't you wake up the first time. I shook you and punched you and you wouldn't wake up. When I push on your chest you wake up. How does that work?" I yelled in an agitated tone. "You made me think I lost my only friend."

"Friend? You consider me as your friend." He was joyful.

"Du, you saved me twice so I wanted to be your friend so you would stick around. Plus I kinda like you." He looked at me puzzled with a slight smile. "Come on we must be going."

I helped him to his feet and we left. After walking for two miles we heard dogs again. My instinct told me to run. As I was running I was looking for a way out. That was when I saw a wolf. I use to pick a fight with wolves out on my families 50 acre ranch. I always won. Well except for this one time when the wolf grabbed a hold of my throat. Luckily my dad saw the wolf and shot it.