Honestly, after that I forgot about the kid. You see so many people out on the tracks; it doesn't mean you'll ever see them again, so why dwell on them? But then she tried to steal my food.
I had moved a few steps from my fire and when I looked back there was a scrawny little kid trying to steal my dinner! "Hey! What the hell d'you think you're doin'!" I yelled, chasing after the kid. "That's mine." I grabbed the can and started back to the fire. Setting it down I looked up to see the kid staring at me.
"I know you," She said, a little surprised. "You helped me . . . in Chicago."
I recognized her then; she looked tired . . . and hungry. Nope, don't even think about it, you're mad at her. "Nice way a' payin' me back!" I told her. She looked at me for a few seconds and then turned her attention to the guys across the 'road'. They were a tough group; somebody had tried to steal from them and got beat to ribbons. "I wouldn't try it." I cautioned her, as I stirred the beans. "Steal their food they're gonna eat you up."
I made the mistake of looking up at her. She looked starved, staring longingly at the food; no little kid should have to look like that. I sighed, "Got a spoon?" She shook her head in the negative. Of course she didn't have a spoon! I reached into my pocket and tossed her mine. She caught it, again looking surprised, as I moved the food closer to her. "Go on." I told her, resigning myself to the fact that I probably wouldn't get dinner. She looked down at her hands and back at me, obviously not trusting me.
"What do I gotta do for it?" She asked. It made me a little upset that a little girl had to worry about what kind of payment would be expected of her when she was hungry and probably had been for days.
"Just eat the dang beans, Kid!"
I tried to ignore her as she grabbed the can and started to eat. I was hungry! Why did I have to be so nice! Just then I heard a low growl coming from the side of the lean to behind the girl. I looked up, both annoyed and grateful for the distraction. And then all thought fled for a second. Stalking towards us was a big, snarling, hungry looking dog. "Uh-oh," I murmured, grabbing a stick and putting a foot under me in case I had to jump. Whether towards the dog or away from it I really didn't know. I didn't know what it was about this girl but for some reason I felt protective.
The kid looked up at me and then followed my gaze; she didn't seem shocked at all when she saw the animal. I was a bit nervous and then I heard her calmly ask "Where'd you go?" She was talking to the animal!
"Is that a friend of yours?" I asked her, not moving from my position.
"We're travelin' together." She explained.
Crazy kid, "It's hard enough without packin' a dog." I told her sarcastically. She looked at me like I was an idiot, "He's a wolf." This kid really was crazy, a little homeless girl riding the rails and packing a wolf with her! "That's even better." I mocked her. She turned to start eating again, "We take care of ourselves."
"Yeah I bet." I mumbled, and how does you sitting at my fire eating the food you tried to steal from me equate into that exactly? She took another spoonful of the beans and let the wolf lick it as I sat down again. Great now my dinner is going to a dog, "That ain't dog food!" I stated, pointing the stick I still held at them. The kid looked at me with a definite challenge in her eyes, "Oh yeah?"
Y' know it wouldn't be that bad a thing if she stuck around. Wait a minute, no way, not happening. . . . What if that's what she expects? "Look, I go alone, I don't take no partners! 'Specially not a girl!" I started but she interrupted. "Well nobody asked ya." She said going for another bite.
"Good, don't."
"I won't!" She stated firmly. I must be going soft because I suddenly find myself very lonely and a bit annoyed at her for not asking to stay. 'Hold on,' I tell myself. 'Why would I want a kid tagging along with me! She'd just slow me down!'
"Something ain't right!"
My head jerks up at the sound of her voice, "What?"
"Something's wrong!" She repeats, "He always knows!"
That's interesting, if it's true that would be real handy. I got up to check down the road towards town. I'd only taken about five steps when I saw the car and torches! How did the animal do it! I immediately turned to get the kid moving. "We need to leave!" I exclaimed, running to grab a few of my things that weren't already in my pockets. The kid followed me as I ran and stopped behind a pillar of the bridge to watch what happened. Already half the camp was on fire. "Who are those guys?" the kid asked me. "Mainstreeters," I replied derogatorily. "Good law abiding citizens." We saw as one of the townies used a club to knock a man down. "They don't like the way we live." I added. As the flames rose and spread I decided it was probably time we started going again. "You comin'? " I asked the girl as I turned.
"But I thought you don't t-! "
"Make up your mind kid." I interrupted her.
She didn't reply but when I looked behind me, to check if anyone had seen us, she was there. I'd never tell her this, or admit it, but I was glad she followed me.
