Chapter 6

Brittney walked into the train station, but went back out and headed down the street. She knew where the bus station was and wanted to get away. When she go to the counter she asked for a ticket to anywhere 30 dollars would get her. The clerk looked at her.

" I'm sorry," the clerk said," We don't sell tickets to minors unless they have parental permission. It's the rules."

Brittney walked away and sat down, but then she got up and went to the ladies room. She looked at herself and knew she wanted to cry.

" Maybe I should just go home," Brittney thought," They must know that I left."

Brittney then started to cry and didn't move. She sat down and let her tears fall.

In the meantime, Michael was arriving at the bus station. If he knew his daughter right, she didn't enjoy crowds much.

" Excuse me," Michael said," Did she happen to come in here?"

The clerk looked at the photo of Brittney.

" She was just here," the clerk said," She wanted a ticket, but I told her we don't sell to minors. Trying to protect the youth of this world."

" Do you know where she went?" Michael asked," She's my daughter."

" Ladies room," the clerk said," I haven't seen her come out."

Michael went to where the ladies room was and sat down.

" Come out Brittney please," Michael thought.

Inside the ladies room, Brittney got up.

" There's no use," Brittney said," I have to go home."

Brittney went out the door only to look at her father.

Michael got up and looked at her sad eyes. Brittney walked closer to him.

" Come here princess," Michael said.

Brittney did just that, dropping her backpack in the process. Michael held unto Brittney as tight as he could.

" I'm sorry," Brittney said," I'm sorry I ran away and worried you."

Michael let go and looked at her," I'm sorry too," he said.

Michael grabbed Brittney's backpack with one hand and her hand with the other.

" Let's go home," Michael said," We have a lot to talk about."

Michael and Brittney got into a cab and headed for home. In the back of her mind Brittney knew punishment for running away was coming. Michael looked down on her and hugged her.

" Are you mad at me?" Brittney asked.

" No," Michael told her," You did give your mother and me a fright."

" I'll never run away again," Brittney said," You told me never to go down the fire escape."

" You're safe and that's all the matters," Michael said," Your mother will be happy."

Brittney was not to sure. There was still a lot of unanswered questions, questions she wanted answers to.