She woke up about three hours into the trip. Only about half of the seats in her car were full. Due to this, no one sat beside her. The train ride to Chicago was about 26 hours. Knowing she wouldn't easily fall asleep again, she pulled out a book and started to read. Later on she listened to music. Rogue basically spent the rest of the train ride in that fashion.
Rogue boarded the Mississippi train in Chicago after an hour and 15 minute wait at the station. The traveling time for this route would only be about 15 hours, but the train was crowded. It seemed that many people wished to migrate for the winter. Rogue got on early and got a window seat. A few minutes later a large youngish man sat beside her. He smiled amicably at her and offered greetings. Rogue replied vaguely and went back to looking out the window. As they started moving he attempted to start a conversation.
"So where are you headed," he inquired.
"Mississippi," she replied with little enthusiasm
The man laughed, "I'm sure you would be happy to know that you are on the right train then."
Rogue merely nodded. And he continued his efforts, "Why you going down south? Just getting too cold."
"Yeah," was another bland reply.
"I'm going down for business myself. Rather have flown, but it just isn't in the budget. Small business you know," he continued, "I can't say I mind, it looks like a harsh winter coming in. Already pushing thirty and it is barely October."
Rogue nodded again.
"You know what? Here I am talking to you and I completely forgot to introduce myself. If my mother where here, she would slap me upside the head. I'm Hank Thomas, nice to meet you," he said thrusting out a hand. He pushed it towards her so fast that she instinctively backed up into the window nearly squeaking. Seeing her reaction, he pulled it back saying, "uh…right. I'm going to go to the rest-room now, if you will excuse me." He never came back.
Instead an elderly black woman occupied the seat. "Is this seat tahken, sugah," she asked in a strong southern drawl. Rogue shook her head. "Awl, thank yah. I do need to rest my weary self. Mah, oh mah, it sure is cold up here. My baby just had one of her own, so Ah came up for the birthin' but dear Lord Ah don't know how she can stand it up here. I don't know if mah toes 'ever unfreeze." Rogue couldn't resist laughing at this. "Ah'm so glad to be goin' home. How about you honey, what's your story," she said addressing Rogue suddenly. She shrugged. "Wehl, looks who's bashful. Come on now honey, don't be shy. Ah don' bayte."
The women did see rather harmless and it was a 15-hour ride, not to mention Rogue finished her other book and could only find some stupid mystery novel at the station to replace it. "I'm goin' home too," she said.
"Well, lookie that, another southern gal. Ah do believe Ah have good taste in seat pickin' after all. You going back to your family?"
"Yeah, I'm goin' to see my foster mother again. I haven't seen her for a couple of years," she stated. As long as she kept vague, no harm would be done.
"Well ain't that a shame? You lived with a foster family," she asked sadly, shaking her head, "aw sweetie, that's a shame. You real parents not nice to yah? Oh dear lord, listen to meh, asking such awful questions. You don't have to answer that honey, Ah'm sorreh."
"It's okay. I never knew my real parents, my foster mother is all the family I knew and she was a good mother."
"Ah'm glad to hear it. You know Ah probably would have been better off with a foster family, my own were so crazeh…"
Rogue spent the rest of the rest of the train ride talking to the woman who eventually introduced herself as "Ol' Mary," mainly listening to stories from Mary's life. They only stopped to sleep for a few hours. She barely noticed how fast the time passed. Before they both knew it, they were arriving at the station. As they both gathered their things to exit, Mary looked at Rogue and said, "You take care honey, woncha? You do look rather ill I'm afraid. Remember God'll be looking out for yah. Bye bye, Sweetie." Then they were on their separate ways.
Outside of the station, Rogue nearly melted. Pants, long sleeves, and gloves did not agree with the sweltering heat of Mississippi. She sighed and called for a cab. The ride was about an hour because Irene's house was still about 45 miles outside of Jackson. When they arrived, Rogue paid the 60-some dollar fare and the Cab took off, screaming down the quiet street. Suitcase in hand, Rogue walked slowly and deliberately up the grass-overgrown front walk. Upon reaching the front door, she could barely raise hand to ring the bell out of fear. As her finger poised on the button, the door swung open.
A/N
I know I know, short chapter, please forgive. I couldn't resist the cliff hanger. It called to me. I might see a doctor for that.
I should update again soon (like late tonight.)
As always, thank you for reading.
