When Friday came, Cody had at the train station where he would receive mail and looked for his check. He found a slim envelope with his name on it and opened it up. He took out the check and looked for the amount. He didn't see a thousand dollars. Rather he saw two thousand dollars. Cody chuckled to himself. Lead it to London to think that a thousand wouldn't be enough. She probably thinks that he should buy some fancy clothes while he gets back home whereas a heavy load of anything would not be necessary for survival. However, what was necessary was that while Cody waited, he had turned into a wolf and ate people to keep his strength up and slept in the shadows. He only turned into a human when he would need to get his check. Cody placed his emergency fund in his right pocket and then walked around to ask some for a pen. Once he got a pen, he signed his name on the back on the check to endorse it and returned the pen to the woman whom lent it to him. He then asked where he could find an ATM and the kind woman told him where to go.

Within a few minutes, Cody came to an ATM. At this point in time, he was glad that he had a bank account. He inserted his check into the ATM machine and withdrew a little more than half of the amount. He got at least a thousand and two hundred dollars. The machine spat out his money in one hundred dollar bills. Cody left the ATM machine as soon as he was done with his transaction and he printed out his receipt. He headed back to the train station. He was considering whether or not to get a train ticket or wait until got to Louisville. Cody made the decision to wait to get a ticket until Bailey arrived. Cody found a bench and sat down.

Back in Kettlecorn at three in the afternoon, Bailey was took out the bad that had Cody's costume items on it and had put it a water bottle with ice cold water, a book, her cell phone, some clothes and enough money to take a train to Louisville, Kentucky and to come back home. She then swung the bag over her shoulder, grabbed a light jacket and headed down the stairs to find her mom. After five minutes of searching, Bailey found her mother out in front talking with Grammy Pickett. Bailey shyly approached the two women. Bailey tapped her mom on the back.

"Mama?"

Eunice turned around and saw Bailey.

"Bailey! I'm so glad that you came out here! I actually have a chore for you."

"Actually, mama, I have an important task at hand and I only can complete if I first get your permission."

"What's that, Bailey? What's so important that you need my permission? Are you planning to go somewhere?"

"Yes."

"Where?"

"I have some of Cody's belongings and he had realized that he left them behind when we talked on the phone the other day. He's in Louisville right now and he would really appreciate it if he got his stuff back before he returns home."

"Where is he from?"

"Boston."

"Oh, right."

"So, may I go on a train and meet him in Louisville? I'll do extra chores when I come back to make up for lost time. I should be back home either Saturday or Sunday depending on what else he may need. I mean, Cody might need help getting provisions when he goes back home."

"I don't know, Bailey….It might be risky."

"If this about me not helping out on the farm then I already told you that I would make up for lost time."

"I know that, Bailey. I can trust you to keep your word, but I don't feel comfortable with you traveling by yourself."

"Mama, with all due respect, I understand why you don't want me to do this, but I'm almost a legal adult and Cody needs me. Once this over then we all can move on with our lives. Cody and I would really like to keep in contact with each other. He may be the only friend I can connect with on an intellectual level. I mean, the friends I have are fine but I would like to challenge my mind once in a while that doesn't involve reading. I need someone to talk to when I can't talk to you or Diane for deep conversations and emotional support. Cody is a guy but he's different from the boys here, mama. Please, try to understand."

"Bailey, what if you get hurt?"

"I won't. I'll keep a look out. Besides, once I get to Cody, he'll protect me. Don't you trust him?"

"I do….It's just so hard for me to let you go."

"I'm going to come back home, mama. It's not I'm leaving for college. That won't happen for another nine months. I'm still going to be here before I go off to seek a higher education and get a Medical degree on the East Coast. I'll only be gone for the weekend."

Eunice could understand Bailey's logic but as a mother, it's hard for her to realize that he daughter could be an able and responsible, young adult. Eunice thought for a while before she came to a conclusion and looked straight into Bailey's eyes. She saw so much ambition and promise in her daughter's eyes. She did trust Bailey and she did trust Cody. Eunice supposed that if Bailey's cause was good enough for Bailey then it should be good enough for her. Eunice hugged her daughter and then had let her go.

"Okay, Bailey. You can go meet Cody and return his belongs to him."

Bailey's smile was wider than the sea and brighter than sunshine.

"Really, mama? I can go?"

Eunice humbly nodded her head. "Of course."

Bailey jumped for joy.

"Oh, thank you, mama! I love you so much! You won't regret this, I promise."

"But Bailey…"

Bailey settled down and pushed back a stray tendril of hair behind her left ear.

"Yes, mama?"

"If you're going to go on a train be sure that you have something to eat on the way and make sure you have enough money to get back home."

"Okay. I will."

"And if you can help yourself, whether you come back home on Saturday or Sunday, try to be back before dinner time."

"Okay, mama."

"Okay. I love you, Bailey."

Bailey hugged her mom. "I love you too, mama."

The two women broke apart from their warm embrace.

"Now go get whatever you may need for your trip. I'll get the truck ready."

"Thanks. But what about telling daddy?"

"I'll tell him later."

"Okay. Thanks, mama."

"Sure thing, Bailey."

Bailey popped into the house and grabbed two bananas and some trail mix that she placed in a zip lock bag. Then she went back out to the front porch, said goodbye to Grammy Pickett and then joined her mom in the truck. They drove all the way to the nearest train station. Then Bailey boarded a train and headed to Louisville.

After two hours and fifteen minutes on being on a train, Bailey arrived in Louisville. She got off the train and looked for Cody. After five minutes of searching, she found him sitting alone on a bench. She approached him slowly and sat down next to him.

"Hi, Cody."

Cody had been zoning out but then snapped out of his daze. He turned his head to the left and saw Bailey right next to him.

"Bailey? You're here."

"Yeah. I am. Are you ready to go to New Orleans?"

"Yes. We should get tickets now."

"Okay."

Cody and Bailey got up from the bench and headed over to purchase train tickets to New Orleans. Cody paid for both of their tickets. Bailey tried to pay for her own ticket but Cody explained to her that he owed her plenty of favors. Bailey gave in and allowed Cody to pay for her ticket. Cody got cash back and then he and Bailey waited for their train for about twenty minutes. When the train came, they boarded it. Cody and Bailey chose to sit near a window. It was going to be a long journey to New Orleans so they wanted to be as comfortable as possible.

To Be Continued….