Midnight Train

Chapter 3

"I grew up in a small town in northern Texas. My parents, your grandparents, weren't the most caring people. They didn't really care for me. A lot of the time, they'd be decent enough, I suppose. Then if I said something 'out of line' they'd blow up in my face. I remember a time when they asked me if I was hungry. I said 'Not right now' and they responded by saying I was an ungrateful child. They then made food for themselves and my siblings, but never me. I'd end up making food for myself later on anyway."

"The day I left, I remember clearly. That was fourteen years ago. I was seventeen at the time, only seven years older than you, Bex. I wanted to meet up with some people I thought were my friends from school. My parents, however, never liked me leaving the house, and they would often lock me in my room so I couldn't get out. Because of that, I'd often sneak out. That's what happened that night."

"I climbed out my bedroom window and climbed down a lattice. I ran to the place the party was happening, which was in the woods, several miles away. Out of breath by the time I get there, I slowly walk into the dark woods, regretting I didn't bring a flashlight. I pulled out my phone and to my dismay, I saw my battery was getting low. I follow a beaten path into the woods. Walking, I get a feeling of dread in the pit of my stomach. I stop walking and listen. I don't hear the sounds of a party, so I creep off the trail and stalk through the woods."

"Soon I get to the clearing, and what do I see but my supposed friends in trees with buckets, presumably full of disgusting stuff meant to embarrass me. I also noticed unlit lights hanging in the trees. The main thing that catches my attention are the trucks. I guess the boys brought their girlfriends in their big trucks. Knowing these people, they didn't lock their cars, so I figured I could play a harmless prank. I sneak through the brush, wary of the occasional sweep of a flashlight. I get to the vehicle and slowly open the door just wide enough so I could get inside. Then I pressed on the horn."

"Everyone jumped, not expecting it. Even the people in the trees jumped. One person actually fell out of the tree. It wasn't a far fall so they were alright, but they landed in one of the many disgusting buckets meant for me. Then I left, just as quietly as I came. I had a close call, though, when someone came to look at the trucks."

"Why would they do that? You said they were your friends," Bex interrupts.

"I thought they were my friends," I tell her.

"Still," she says crossing her arms over her chest, "they should've been nicer."

"In the ensuing chaos, I creep around to the trail head before walking down it like I just got there. Suppressing a giggle, I see one of my supposed friends covered in blue paint. 'What happened here?!' I asked with fake concern. 'You know full well what happened here,' Cherry said. 'I just got here. Why are you covered in paint?' That comment must have pushed her over the edge because she grabbed one of the buckets and threw paint all over me, followed by everyone there. Luckily, most of them were too far away to hit me. I stood there in shock for a couple seconds before running away, tears running down my face. Good thing I ran, too, because they started chasing me with water balloons."

"THAT IS SO MEAN! WHAT DID YOU DO TO THEM!?" Sam yells in outrage. The passengers all look at us, and I blush in embarrassment.

"Samuel Fredrick Amendola! Inside voice! And don't interrupt people, especially your mother." James scolds before motioning for me to continue.

"I walked back to my house, tears streaming down my face. The only joy that I found currently was that fleeting moment when I had the upper hand. When I got back home, I started to climb the lattice toward my empty room. My foot got stuck in one of the holes in the lattice and I slam into the side of the house. I freeze, scared someone heard me."

"Did they find you?" Sam interrupts.

"You'll soon find out. Now please don't interrupt. It's very rude." I reply, lightly chastising him.

"I opened the window and was just about to slide in when my light got thrown on. There were my parents. 'Young lady!' they said, 'What are you doing out at this hour!'. My dad grabbed me roughly by the wrist, causing me to lose my balance. I crash hard into my window sill, pain flying into my chest as I hit. He pulls me in the window the rest of the way, and I landed on my one arm as well. A long lecture later, which was full of 'We raised you better than this!' and 'You are so grounded young lady!'. I was grounded. Things only got worse for me when I heard the sound of the lock turning in my door. I couldn't leave, except through the window again."

"WHAT! WHY WOULD THEY DO THAT?!?!" Bex yells, causing other passengers on the train to look at us again, starting to get tired of interruptions.

"Rebecca Christine Amendola! It's rude to interrupt others, especially your mother." James snaps.

"Sorry Mom," she apologizes. "Sorry Dad."

"It's ok, sweetie," I console my daughter.

"I had it with my parents. I dig through my closet where I managed to hide a small amount of money from the job I worked. My parents took most of it, saying I had to pull my weight around here. Inside random coat pockets and various other locations, I pull out an amount that is equivalent to about $100. This time, I had a plan. I was going to sneak out again. This time when everyone was asleep. And this time, I was going to take the midnight train."