Chapter Two
Eight Years Later
Laura's POV
It was 6:30 in the morning and I was still asleep when my Dad came in to wake me up.
"Laura. It's time to get up. Your first day of school, at Evansville Smith School, starts in an hour." Dad said.
"Can you help me up, Daddy?" I asked groggily.
I always underestimate how strong my dad is. Due to him being part locomotive in all. Before I knew it, he had me up in his arms.
"Eep." I yelped. "I always forget how strong you are."
"I'll be in the kitchen fixing breakfast. Be ready in 30 minutes." Dad advised.
"Okay, Daddy." I replied with a smile.
Dad turned and went into the kitchen to cook breakfast while I changed out of my pajamas so I could take a quick shower.
Jaden's POV
After I left Laura's room, I went to my alt-mode so I could get steam pressure up so I could take her to school.
As I built up the steam pressure, I started singing one of my favorite songs, You Can't Take Me.
What's this holding me
I'm not where I'm supposed to be
And where did it all go wrong
I wanna know what's going on
I know that I'll be back
I won't be beat and that's a fact
It's ok I'll find a way
I'm gonna get me there someday
Don't judge me till you know what's inside
Don't push me cause I'll fight
(Never gonna give in)
(Never gonna give it up no)
If you can't catch a wave
Then you're never gonna ride
You can't come uninvited
(Never gonna give in)
(Never gonna give it up no)
You can't take me I'm free
What's this, where I'm at
What you doing in my life
I gotta make a break from here
Find a way to disappear
Gonna fight another fight
I'll fight cause this ain't right
I'm getting out so check it out
Your're in my way and you better watch out
Don't judge me till you know what's inside
Don't push me cause I'll fight
(Never gonna give in)
(Never gonna give it up no) No
If you can't catch a wave
Then you're never gonna ride
You can't come uninvited
(Never gonna give in)
(Never gonna give it up no) Never gonna give it up no
You can't take me I'm free
Yes I am I'm free
You can't take me
You can't push me
Don't judge me till you know what's inside
Don't push me cause I'll fight
(Never gonna give in)
(Never gonna give it up no) I'm Never gonna give it up no
If you can't catch a wave
Then you're never gonna ride
You can't come uninvited
(Never gonna give in)
(Never gonna give it up no) I'm Never gonna give it up, no
You can't take me I'm free
Yes I am
You can't take me, No
You can't take me
You can't take me
As I finished building up the steam pressure, I turned around to see Laura and Mr. Penn standing there on the footplate. Laura stood there with her eyes open wide with surprise, wonder and shock. She had never heard me sing before. Then, she smiled and came and tackled me with a hug.
"I didn't know that you could sing!" she exclaimed. "You sounded great."
'You Should hear him out on the the mainline," Mr. Penn said, "He can make music out the sounds of his alt-form."
I suddenly remembered that breakfast was on the table in the kitchen.
"Mr. Penn would you like to join us for breakfast?" I asked.
"No thanks." he replied. "I think you might want to look at the time."
"Bouncing Big Boys!" I exclaimed, "Laura, you're going to be late!"
"Here, you two." Mr. Penn said while handing us two Cajun Chicken Biscuits. "I had a feeling that you would need breakfast on the fly."
"Laura , do you have your cane, book-bag, class supplies, lunch, and phone?" I asked.
"Cane, book-bag, class supplies, lunch, and phone, check." she replied.
"What's rule number one?" I asked, quizzing her.
"No boys." Laura replied.
"Good. Let's go. Mr. Penn, do you need a ride?" I replied to Laura and then asked Mr. Penn
"Yes. Yes I do." he replied. Old Man Jenkins is driving my old jalopy for the month.
We climbed into the cab of my alt-form where Laura sat behind me in the second seat, that I had installed for her, whereas Mr. Penn attended the fire in the firebox.
Mr. Penn's POV
"Jaden, We're coming to the street running section. Keep your hand on the whistle." I said to him.
"10-4." he replied back to me.
After slowly navigating though the main street traffic, we soon arrived at Evansville Middle School. Jaden climbed down and helped Laura down from the 's POV
"Well Laura, behave yourself. I advised. "Your first class is Mobility. Don't let anyone bully you. If guy named Vince starts bugging you, don't let him get to you."
"Daddy." Laura said smiling, "Nothing is going to happen to me. You don't need to worry."
"I know." I replied, "I don't want anything to happen to my little girl. If something were to happen to you, I would never forgive myself."
"If anything happens, I have you and Mr. Penn on speed-dial." she said while smiling.
"Do you have your braille Clive Cussler novels that you like?" I asked her just to be sure.
"Yes. Yes I do have them just in case my English teacher asks us what have we been reading over the summer." she replied.
Before she went into the school, she gave me and Mr. Penn a hug saying see you at 3:00. As she went inside, I gave two blasts of the whistle before departing for Evansville Yard.
Flashback in Jaden's POV
"Come with me, Mr. Ketchum." said Mrs. Mabe, the social worker. "I need to see how you perform around Laura to make sure you're the right person. So, you and Laura will be going with Mr. Penn and his wife shopping to get Laura some more clothes and other things little girls need."
"Whatever you do Jaden, don't let my wife take you into a shoe shop." Mr. Penn said to me.
I was confused at this. What was wrong with going into a shoe shop. I just shrugged it off and walked over to Laura. She was playing with my brother in locomotive build class, Vashawn. I was surprised that Vashawn had gotten attached to her so quickly but smiled at it.
"Laura," I said and she faced me with a big smile.
"Yes, Daddy." she replied as I smiled at this. I always wanted a daughter.
"We are going shopping with Mr. Penn and his wife, would you like to come?" I asked and she squealed in joy.
"Shopy, shoppy, shoppy!" she shouted and was jumping excitedly as I climbed up in my alt-form and coupled up a boxcar for the items.
Mr. Penn and his wife sat in the two seats on the fireman's side while Laura and I sat in the two seats on the engineer's side. Mrs. Mabe sat on the fold-out chair on the front of the tender taking notes as we rode along.
It was the worst mistake of my life, I ignored Mr. Penn's advice and let his wife drag me and Laura from shop to shop. The shoe shop was the worst, never again was I doing shoe shopping again. Once we were done, we went to the food court and got food. It was quite good, I preferred everyone to eat healthy food, to set a good example for Laura. Mrs. Penn suggested that we go to a few more shops before we depart for home. Laura soon got tired and I picked her up and she fell asleep on my shoulder immediately. I then accidentally bumped into a woman and she stumbled a bit.
"I apologize, I should have looked where I was going." I apologized and steadied her.
"No harm done." she smiled and walked to a group of women and started whispering to each other, unaware that I could hear them.
"I would love a handsome man like that." one said.
"And a sweet and kind one at that too." another said
"And great with kids." they all sighed as I smiled to myself and walked to my alt-form and went home with my daughter.
"I believe you are fit to be Laura's father." Mrs. Mabe smiled at me. "You should be proud."
"I am." I replied.
End of Flashback
Mr. Penn's POV
"Hello, Jaden?"
"Wait, what?" he asked in confusion.
"You spaced out." I replied. "We're in the main street traffic. What were you thinking about?"
"I was thinking about the time that we took Laura shopping." he replied with a sigh and a smile.
"You're clear to go." I said while smiling. "I remember you were so tired, that you fell asleep with Laura in your arms and me having to drive you home."
"Yeah, it was a long day." he smiled. "I wouldn't have changed it for anythin...OOF!"
No ones POV
A car had run the red street light and failed to see the big steam locomotive and gotten hit by Jaden and Mr. Penn. Jaden and Mr. Penn climbed down to see if the driver of the car was alright. Mr. Penn called the police and they arrived in 10 minutes. The driver of the car was shaken up but angry. He then, explained to the police and Jaden why he ran the red light.
Driver's POV
"My name is Buford Wright. I'm looking for my daughter. She has black hair, cobalt blue eyes, and blind." I explained frantically, "She ran away from home when she was three."
I noticed that the engineer of the train was shocked at the description of the girl. He then turned to the man who was riding with him who decided to ask me a question.
"I've been meaning to ask you, what is your daughter's name?" he asked.
"Her name is Laura. Do you know or have you seen her?" I asked.
Then the police stepped up and then addressed me.
"Buford Wright, can you come with us?" the chief asked
"Why?"
"We need to ask you a few questions about your history with your wife and daughter." the chief replied.
At the Police Station
Jaden's POV
I couldn't believe that this guy was Laura's father. I looked a Mr. Penn and he then told me not to worry. Buford told the officers about his past life of being an alcoholic, abusing his wife and daughter, and to the death of his wife eight years ago.
"Excuse me, officer?" I asked.
"What is it?" the chief questioned.
"It's time for me to pick up my daughter from school. May I go and get her and return here with her?" I asked.
"Yes, go ahead but return as soon as possible." he replied.
I went out to my alt-form and departed for Evansville Middle School to pick up Laura. I had no idea on what I was going to tell Laura.
To Be Continued
