D. Gray- Man belongs to Hoshino Katsura!
Chapter 53:
"So this is America!"
"General, please, we need to hurry and catch the train to Kansas City."
"We have time."
"No, we don't. The train leaves in an hour and it takes fifty minutes to get to the station."
"So I have ten minutes to paint…"
"No, we need to get tickets."
The General pouted but I paid him no heed. I grabbed his arm and pulled him through the crowed, heading toward the station.
He would 'ohhh' and 'ahhhh' at everything.
A group of young people walking into an Italian restaurant, a café on the corner of the street. Anything and everything he would be amazed like he'd never seen it before.
"A coach ride for a dollar!" A large barrel chested man yelled over the hum of the street. The General's eyes grew wide.
"Oh Hannah, please, may we? Please? It's such a beautiful day and it's such a beautiful horse!"
"No." I sighed, he was like an over-grown child.
"oh, please-"
"No General." I stated with finality.
He didn't argue, just sighed in disappointment.
We arrived at the station, people were walking in and out by the hundreds.
"Oh, Hannah, May I please?" I sighed, sick of his pleading.
"You have ten minutes, I'll get the tickets."
His hands moved faster than lightning as he removed his pack, took out a canvas, paint and brushes. I sighed again at his enthusiasm and walked through the crowed into the station.
There was a huge line, I entered the end of it and started waiting. I looked around at all the people. Passing, entering trains, leaving them, children, woman, men, old people and young.
What kind of life does each on lead?
A young man hugged what seemed like his mother and clasped his father's hand, then picked up a young boy and hugged him. He picked up his bag and boarded a train.
I wonder where he's going? West, to dig up gold and make his fortune? Or east, to the docks to become a sailor and see the world?
On the other side there was an old man trying to board a train alone. He was having some trouble. People looked on, but simply continued walking or continued staring. No one helped. In the end he managed to board, his face looking worn and tired.
He didn't look back as he entered the train. No one was there to see him on his way.
Father along a boy no more than four held the hand of a girl no older than ten. They both walked down the platform holding each other's hand and starring wide- eyed at everything around. The girls looked at their tickets and pulled the boy in the direction of a train. On her back was probably all their belongings.
Right next to them stood a young couple dressed in the finest clothes, holding each other's hands, smiling. The man holding two suitcases filled with things. The woman pointed at a train and turned to him. They smiled at each other and she kissed him. On her left hand a diamond shone in the light.
I looked at a bench, on it was a haggard looking woman wearing worn out clothes. She had no shoes and her hair was a tattered mess. Next to her was a small brown bag. She would extend her hand to random passersby. I could almost hear her asking for a penny.
Yes, the land of hopes and dreams, this was it- America.
"And where would you like to go?" I turned my attention to the middle aged woman sitting in the booth. She was plain, she' been there a long time, she didn't seem excited about anything.
"Two tickets to Kansas City."
"25 dollars." She said in a monotone voice.
I took the tickets and exited the station. I saw Tiedoll still painting on a canvas. I walked over and took a look at the picture. I was beautiful, he was a really good artist.
It was too beautiful.
I thought about it. I looked at the building of the station- the building was indeed beautiful. But the people are what gave it its real face.
I looked at the painting.
He drew the people but they weren't the center of the piece- the building was.
Maybe that's why it was beautiful.
Perhaps if he drew the people and the building in the background the picture would be different?
"We need to go General."
"Yes. I'm done."
I re-entered the station with the General, I passed the family on their way out. The father patting the mothers shoulder as she cried. I passed the young couple, they chatted happily and paid no heed to me.
I passed the bench with the woman and stopped.
"What's wrong?" Tiedoll asked stopping as well.
"Here's your ticket, it's the train on platform 3." I handed him his ticket and turned and walked to the woman.
She looked up at me and met my eyes briefly, then she looked down again.
"A penny for the poor." She whispered.
I took out the change I had from buying the tickets. I took her hand and placed ten dollars in them. She looked up at me surprised with tears in her eyes.
"God bless you." I said and squeezed her hand lightly between my own. Then I turned and left.
I boarded the train on platform 3 and entered the cabin that Tiedoll was in.
"What happened?"
"Nothing." I said as I took the seat in front of him.
The door opened and the girl and boy I'd seen before were standing in the doorway. She sat him in the corner next to the door and took off her pack. She climbed on the seat and tried to place it on the shelf above our heads. I got up and took it from her hands.
"Here, let me, you might fall and hurt yourself." I placed it on the shelf and she sat next to her brother.
"You're a very strange girl, Hannah." General Tiedoll said observing me closely behind his spectacles.
"And you're very troublesome."