~@~
"What will we do if Mam and Da want to come visit" Rose asked Aedan as they walked to the dock.
"I'll say you're out singing or doing whatever you do in the day." He smiled. "And anyway, I'm sure they won't come, they've so much to cope with at home"
"i guess you're right." She said, sighing. They reached the small, dingy little port on the coast of the Irish Sea. It had taken them quite a while to get there, walking and sometimes hitching a ride with passersby from Dublin. Once they made it to the dock, they would cross the Irish Sea and dock near London. It was a humid day in late July, and Aedan was coughing harder than ever.
"Aedan, don't you think we ought to slow down?" asked Rose, as she watched her bother have another fit of coughing.
"No," Aedan said, collecting himself. "I'm fine. And anyway, we have to get you on the train September 1st.": he ruffled Rose's pale locks. "I'm fine, Róisín." he assured her, seeing the look of concern upon her face. Róisín was his nickname for her; it meant 'Rose' in the Gaelic language spoken in church.
"If you're sure..." she trailed off. Excitement filled her as she looked to the horizon. In the distance she could just barely make out the Irish Sea's blue green surface, a large boat skimming across it.
"See that boat, Rose." Aedan said.
A mixture of bewilderment and joy coursed through her. She let the curiosity take charge. "Why must we stowe away?"
"I've brought as much money as I had," Aedan said, softly as they walked along the green countryside."Which isn't much. I've got just enough to get you your supplies, we haven't got the money to buy tickets."
"Isn't stowing away illegal?" Rose asked, not really caring all that much.
"We do what we have to." Aedan said, indirectly answering the question.
Rose half smiled. They walked in silence until they reached the Pier.
"Listen carefully," Aedan whispered. "When the boat is fully docked and the captain gets off, that's our cue. We'll jump onboard over there," he pointed to a small, desolate area littered with large crates. "Those boxes are full of textiles and products brought from Indo Europe [AN: i.e., Italy, France, Spain. Didn't know how else to describe it =/) They'll be empty by the time we jump on. Do not wait for me," he said, sternly. "Get strait into an empty crate."
"What if they take the crate out to refill it?" asked Rose.
'They wont. I've been down to this docks millions of times, they never take the crates. They load new crates on."
"Oh." They sat down on the rough boards of the pier, looking like two innocent siblings, finding joy in watching the boats dock.
"here he comes, Rose." Aedan said. "The captain."
"How do you know it's the captain,"
"look how proud he stands, see how the sailors straiten up when he walks by,"
"oh, when do we jump," she asked as her brother stood up and motioned for her to follow.
"just about....." he paused and waited until the captain and his crew left the ship.
" now!"
Rose closed her eyes and jumped onto the boat, With a sickening crash, she found herself lying on the deck between two large crates.
"Hurry!' Aedan cried, pulling her into an empty crate. The captain walked by, inspecting the side of the hull. Rose shuddered, thinking of what could have happened if the captain saw her.
~@~
Rose stretched as she and Aedan walked ashore. It had been a horribly cramped ride to Liverpool, and she was glad to be able to move her legs again, even if it did feel like she was being stuck with needles when she did. Rose gazed at the buildings, many of them covered in spray painted 'Beetles' logos. She had never seen any thing like this, people scurried about the streets busily, and for once in her life, there were no icy puddles to keep her back. She sighed as she knelt onto a rock.
"Is this heaven, Aedan?" she asked.
Aedan laughed. "No, Rose, this is Liverpool." He grasped her wrist and pulled her off the rock. "Come on, up you get. We've got a long journey ahead of us, if we're going to get to London by tomorrow."
They walked a few miles, getting strange looks from passersby about their ragged clothing, and finally reacher the Liverpool train station.
Rose had never been on a train before. "what's it like?" she anxiously asked her brother, who had been on a train many times when he went to school.
"Oh, it's all right. Sort of loud, and fast, and it's not very smart to look out the window before getting used to it's movement." He chuckled remembering his first train ride and how he was made to go home after being sick on the train.
Rose jumped excitedly. "I can't wait," she squealed, fidgeting with her hair.
"calm down, Róisín." Aedan laughed. "You'll be on the train soon enough." They walked to the ticket counter. "Two tickets to London, please." He said to the man, politely.
The gruff looking man looked up. "London? Whatcha be doin' in London?" he asked with a roguish accent.
"Sir, I don't think it's any of your business what we're doing in London. Can we just have our tickets, please?"
"I don't think you urchins can pay for those tickets." He said, eying them suspiciously. "I've got your number. Ya come up, askin' fer tickets, then I hands them too ya, and ya run, without givin' me the money! Ah, well I'm not fallin' for it this time!"
Aedan sighed. "Then I'll hand you the money first." He pulled a roll of bills out of his pocket.
"Tha's Irish money, that is!" the man laughed. "Can't get noffink with Irish money!"
"Come on, Rose."Aedan mumbled.
"But - !" she began, but stopped as she saw the look on Aedan's face. "Where are we going?" she asked as they walked out of the train station.
"We're going to exchange currency," he muttered, still hearing the roaring laughter of the rude ticket salesman.
"er...what is that again?" asked Rose, reddening. She felt extremely stupid, she was sure any other 14 year old would know what exchanging currency is. but then again, Rose thought, other 14 year olds have been to school, I have never had any sort of education. Rose looked up at the tall building with large brass lettering saying Bank of England. they walked in the door and to the nearest teller.
"Hello children." Said the prim looking older woman at the counter. "My, what ... odd...clothing you have..."
"Our Mam made our clothes, we can't afford things from stores." Said Rose, defensively.
"Rose," Aden muttered. "I don't think a bank is the right place to talk about poverty." He raised his voice and turned to the teller. "We need to exchange our money."
"Irish, are you?" she asked, frowning almost disapprovingly. "I see...Well, I can see what I can do for you."
~@~
Rose laid awake as the train crept on through the night. Aedan was asleep, but Rose couldn't shake the memory of that afternoon. Is that what the real world was really like? People being denied service simply because they look different? She remembered the rude ticket salesman, and the stiff old bank teller, both had not wanted to serve them, but at least the woman was polite about it. When Aedan and Rose came back to the train station, the ticket man had laughed at their return and asked why they didn't get back on their immigrant ship. Aedan had brandished the pile of pounds in his face and demanded a ticket. A very peculiar old man had to help them, since he wouldn't sell them tickets. Come to think of it, this man was extremely odd... He had a long silvery beard with hair to match, and a crooked nose that looked like it had been broken many a time before. He had winked at Rose once through his half moon glasses, and them strode away. When Rose had looked back to get another glimpse of the man, he seemed to have vanished into thin air. very strange.
~@~
AN - yes, yes, that was very interesting ... now. On to the stuff you've all been waiting for... Please review! Thanx!
Disclaimer - I actually own stuff!! Weeeee! I own Rose, Aedan, the bank Teller, and the mean ol' ticket guy! YAY!!! I won't be owning stuff for long, though *pout* I don't own the HP chatacters or anything like that...sadly