Well another fast-ish update. To say this was a great chapter would be a horrible lie, but it isn't awful in my opinion. But my darlings, it's your opinions that matter.
By the time we reached Georgia, Cornelia's and my prejudices towards each other had disappeared. I thought she was a rich old snob and she thought I was a lazy and poor little girl. Our discussions kept my mind off why I was on the train. When it pulled up into the Savannah station I didn't want to leave.
"This is where I get off." I said, studying my shoes.
"Dear God, we're already in Savannah?" She asked.
"Oh Mary I'm going to miss you terribly. I could get stuck to someone as stuck up as I was once you're gone." We both laughed. "I hope your father is well. I have a feeling, and my feelings are quite often right, that he will be."
"I hope so." I rose from my fluffy seat and straightened out the light green skirt and white blouse I'd changed into it. She also stood and hugged me.
"Promise you'll write when I'm back in England." She said when she pulled away.
I got the slip she'd written her address on out of my bag and showed it to her so she knew I hadn't lost it. "Of course."
"Speaking of writing," She added, "If you do decide to write this all down, you know my husband will publish it." During the trip she had told me her husband enjoyed nothing more than reading and publishing manuscripts. Because he was an English noble, it was just a hobby of his.
"That's only because of your nudge in the right direction."
"It won't be necessary, but it won't hurt."
"Goodbye Cornelia."
"Goodbyes are the saddest of all despairs." She said dramatically. I walked away from her down the center aisle.
I got off of the train and retrieved my luggage. As I stood in the station for the first time I realized I had no idea what to do now that I was here. The most sensible thing seemed to be was find a place to stay and get to the hospital. I went up to the ticket booth and asked the man behind the glass, "Excuse me sir, were is an inn I could stay at?"
He smacked his lips together thoughtfully, which made an annoying noise. "Well there's the – no too many drunks stay there." He spoke in a very southern accent. It was almost impossible to understand. "What about the – eh too dirty." The thinking out loud was even more annoying than the lip thing. "I would have to recommend the White Rose Inn. Now that's a fine establishment. I believe my uncle helped build it. He is quite a professional. Well I should say was, he's long since retired." He went on. I lifted my eyebrows as he went on and on ... and on.
After several lifetimes I cut him off and said, "Well, thank you. I'm glad to know the it's entire history before I stay there." He glared at me. "Oops," I said and blushed. "I didn't mean to say that out loud."
Too embarrassed to ask how to get there I hurried away. As soon as I left the typical dingy train station, I realized Savannah was a totally different city than New York. While most buildings in Manhattan were dirty and brown, these smaller buildings were all pleasant whites and reds. Bright colored flowers were arranged nicely in most gardens. What shocked me most was the way everyone was smiling at me and at each other. Southern hospitality? No kiddin'.
One particularly smiley boy around my age, approached me. "Excuse me miss, ya'll are lookin' a bit lost." How did he know that? Oh yes, because I was standing in the middle of the sidewalk looking around.
"I am actually." I said, feeling a little shy. With all the niceness here, I was scared I would say something the typical, insane and slightly rude Navy would. "Could you tell me where the White Rose Inn is?"
"Yes ma'am. I'll show you there." I nodded and followed him through the streets. After a few blocks he stopped in front of a building. Over the door hung a sign with a white rose painted on it. "Here you are."
"Thanks." I said. He stood there, giving me some weird look. "Well ... I'm gonna go in now..." I said not sure what to say. Before he said anything I slipped in the heavy wooden door.
"Hello there." An older woman who was clearing a table said. "Can I help you?" I was looking around the room and hardly paying any attention. It was open and airy with light yellow walls and light wood floors. The whole room smelled liked a mix of apples and peaches. "Miss?"
"Oh yes, sorry. I need a room."
"Alright-y then!" She chirped and carelessly set down the plates she'd been carefully stacking. "Follow me, right over here!" Going behind a small desk, she pulled out a leather bound book. "Sign here." She pointed at the first blank space on the lined paper. "Don't forget to date it." I did as I was told and paid. I was lead up to the second floor and into a small room with a quilted bed, a small dresser and white washed walls. The way dust particles floated around reminded me of the attic at home. No, home doesn't sound right anymore. I set down my bag and looked longingly at the bed. I'd slept horribly on the train. I turned away from it though, knowing there were more important things to do. I needed to see the Captain before anything else.
I should be updating soon but finals and getting ready for leaving on the 10thare taking up a lot of time an energy.