Sherlock woke up the next morning at five AM. He was determined to get an early start. He grabbed his bag, which had everything he could need, including a book about pickpocketing, four pounds, his violin, an extra leash for Redbeard (he most certainly could not leave him behind), and a box of jammy dodgers for if he got hungry. He was already dressed to travel, so all he did was pull on a sweater and sneak out the door.
He was pretty sure he knew the way to the train station, but he did bring a map in his pocket just in case, which turned out to be a useful idea as he was lost within five minutes of leaving home. A minute after that, he realised he had brought the wrong map. Fortunately, Redbeard knew the way. Sherlock just followed his faithful first mate.
When they arrived (funny how a short drive can be such a long walk), he went to the ticket booth and asked for two tickets to London.
"What size, please?" asked the ticket seller.
"One children's ticket and one dog's."
"I'm sorry, but we don't allow dogs outside of crates. You'll have to leave him. That will be eight pounds, please." Sherlock stared at the man.
"I have to bring Redbeard. I can't leave without him. And I only have four pounds."
"Well, then, you can't ride the train. Go home. You're too young to travel alone anyways."
"I am not too young! I'm eight!"
"Yeah, you are," said the annoyed ticket seller. "But it doesn't matter. You don't have enough money anyways." With that, he closed the curtain and Sherlock was left alone once more.
Sherlock sat down on a bench. There were at least eleven solutions to his problem, but most of them could be written off immediately, which left two. He could either stow away on the train, which would be difficult enough on his own, let alone with Redbeard, or he could procure more money somehow and bribe the conductor to let him bring Redbeard. Putting him in a crate wasn't even an option in Sherlock's mind. He hated to think how Redbeard would feel locked up in a tiny box for hours on end. He didn't even own one.
Sherlock decided on the second option. He had several ways he thought he could get money, whereas stowing away would be difficult and unnecessarily risky.
Even though it was 5:45,the station was already starting to fill up with early-morning commuters. His first plan was to give pickpocketing a go. He had been successful several times in the post, and while he was no expert, he felt that he could get by.
His first attempts were unsuccessful. He did manage to get in and out of several pockets without being noticed, but all he got was two sets of keys and several wallets with debit cards he couldn't use because he didn't know the pin numbers for. They made an interesting exercise in deduction, but they didn't help him at all.
His other idea was busking. He pulled his violin out of his backpack and set the open case on the ground. He tightened and rosined his bow, checked the strings, and then played the most haunting music he knew to attract people and their money (A/N: I'll put a list of the songs he played at the bottom of the chapter). After that, he chose a rather lively piece, and then as the train rolled in, he played 'Ride of the Valkries," making several people who knew the piece laugh when they got the joke.
He had made plenty by the time the 6:30 came in. He bowed low, then put his violin away and counted up what he'd made. People drifted away rather fast after he stopped. The entertainment was gone.
Overall, he had a nice haul. He'd made twenty-four pounds, far more than he expected to. He supposed his age had something to do with it-you don't often see eight year olds nearly as talented as him. He patted Redbeard's back, untied his leash from the bench, and went to buy a ticket for the 6:47.
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Songs Sherlock played (not all, but I might add more if I find some that strike me):
Tomaso Antonio Vitali's Chaconne for Violin
Johannes Brahm's Hungarian Dance No. 2
Strauss's Blue Danube Waltz
Celine Dion's My Heart Will Go On
Strauss's Concertino G major Op. 11
Pablo de Sarasate's Zigwunerweisen, Op. 20