All I could do was staring at all the kids that were going away with me
All I could do was staring at all the kids that were going away with me. Some of them were crying and others were just sad. The train station was filled with soldiers and kids trying to board the train. I looked around. There was not a familiar face in the crowd. London could be so lively and busy but I never imagined that anything would disrupt the cities routine. Some kids turned to me and pointed, I knew them from school. They started to make faces at me and pitied me. I saw Peter stair at them with a warning look and the children walked away at a fast pace. I had always admired Peter for his emotional strength; it was not easy taking care of the other three but he managed to keep the large family together. The sun was coming in towards the windows and it shown in my eyes. I looked at my new clothes and new suitcases full of new things. It seemed so unfair that I had to forget everything that had ever happened and just move on.
The few days leading up to standing in a crowded station were awful. The first day was by far the worst. It rained heavily and thousands of people were crying in the streets. Almost every family had lost someone. The Pevensie family and I went to the church and held a quiet funeral with some other neighbors for Aunt Kate. I was a bottle of mixed emotions because I was so sad to let go yet so happy that everything went well. Many flowers were lying around the church. It made me feel as if I was doing one last thing for her. I wore black for the next two days. It was the second day that I felt I would burst out in tears. I had to sit in a damp little office in a law building in London with Mrs. Pevensie and Peter for quite a long time. There were long lines of people who seemed to look so lost. I took breaks now and then and I saw the adoption office. It was filled with kids who had lost their parents just like me. One of them was so sad to look at. A small little girl no taller than Lucy and she looked rather unhappy to see that her stuffed dog had received a small tare. The adults pushed the children inside and made their way through the line of children. Some had to be sent back outside because they were not good enough to take to orphanages. I started to cry when I saw three little boys carried out back on to the streets. Before I could have a good cry, I was back in that stale and damp little room. There was not very much light and some drawers looked all unorganized. The office was filled with clutter and papers. A little man no taller than me sat at his desk. He looked as if he had not only worked underground but slept there too. He sat up with a legal looking face and read my papers.
"Miss Lara Anna Elise Ashwood who sits before me is to receive all of my material items that I possess here on Earth. Her parents left her a large sum of money that was left in my care. The money is a sum of about 320,000 pounds." He paused. I gasped I had never heard of one child to boast all that money. Peter and Mrs. Pevensie smiled at me and I smiled back.
"The money is to be distributed as she wishes. As her legal guardian I give her the right to choose who her guardian shall be before she turns eighteen and is able to support herself. The person should be looked over by the court and seen as a suitable person to live with." He said. He threw down the papers on the desk and looked at me.
"Do you know of anyone who could support you for a year before you leave for college?" He asked. It was obvious that he was miffed about the situation. People were waiting outside and along the hallway and I could take days to find a guardian. I smiled a little under my breath. I looked at Peter and Mrs. Pevensie sitting next to me. Mrs. Pevensie smiled at me. I knew that I wanted her to be my friend and guardian for the next year.
It only took a few papers and my signature along with Mrs. Pevensie's to prove that I was under her care. We walked out of the building with small smiles on our faces. I was going to live with Susan my best friend and favorite neighbors.
The third day was better because Susan and I spent time at clothing stores in London. I had worn her clothes for two days and I think she was tired of making me share. I had bought a stylish new dress, some sweaters, shirts, shoes, and socks before packing them up in two new suitcases and heading for the train station.
Mrs. Pevensie had told me to look at the good in life; that was not easy. I watched her pin a tag on my white coat. I had been labeled to go to the country home of Professor Kirke, who ever that was.
I watched her hug Peter, Lucy, Susan, and Edmund before coming to me. I hugged her and thanked her before picking up my bags and walking away with the Pevensies. Peter looked back at me and smiled. I gave no smile in return because I watched him stair off to the soldiers instead. I wondered why he wanted to leave and fight. He knew that he would not be a hero but he would always be just a boy. I handed the conductor my ticket before hearing the train whistle blow and watch my world disappear.
The train was filled with children. Everywhere you looked there were kids. I thought of jumping just because life had seemed to end. Peter finally found an empty compartment except for two kids. I smiled at them and put my bag on the shelf before sitting down with Susan and Lucy. It seemed like hours before finally reaching Combe Hault station. Most of the kids had left for other train stops before us leaving us the only kids to be left there.
It was a small station consisting of only five people…us. It seemed as though we were the only people on the planet. Susan made a small comment and Edmund guessed that we had been incorrectly labeled before a horse driven cart came up.
"Mrs. Mcready?" Peter asked. We all looked at her. She was uncommonly rude and rather mean looking.
"I am afraid so," she replied.
"So is this it then? Haven't you brought anything else?" She asked. I looked at Lucy who was looking at the six suitcases on the ground.
"No ma'am…it's just us." Peter said. You could see the sadness on his face.
"Small Favors." She muttered under her breath and motioned us to climb in the cart.
"It is going to be a long summer" I thought.