Chapter 6: Three Days of Excess

Part 10: Sarah & Jimmy – A New Beginning

(Day 3: Late Morning)

It had been about ten or so minutes since Beldam, Doopliss, and the swarm of Smorgs had been driven off the train by the efforts of the Peach Creek kids. The hostages taken by the Smorgs had been freed, but along with Edd and his friends, they needed time to process the ensuing trauma. Currently, almost everyone was situated inside the dining car for this very purpose – everyone except for the guilt-ridden Sarah, who Jimmy surmised had run back to her cabin, sobbing all the way. He, Edd, Eduardo Junior, Plank, and the recently-restored Vivian were situated at the same table where Edd, Vivian, and Junior had previously shared an evening of dinner; Kevin and the banged-up Nazz were likewise seated at their previous table where Nazz was currently being treated for her injuries by the train doctor, while Koops and Ms. Mowz opted for a table closer to the kitchen, with the teenaged Koopa sitting in the chair closer to Edd's table; the Bob-omb family, Dot T., Toodles, and Ratooey had returned to their cabins; Chef Shimi returned to the kitchen; Pennington, meanwhile, was in the front car, speaking with the conductor.

"…Double-D?" asked Vivian.

"Yes, turtledove?" replied Edd.

"What… happened while I was… a statue?" asked the Siren.

"Well…" said Edd. "Before I answer that, you must know Beldam had discreetly slipped the Charm of Life around Nazz's neck prior to our boarding this locomotive."

"Yeah, that part I realized just a second too late," said Vivian.

"Now, as to your question…"

As Edd explained to Vivian the events that had transpired in the past couple of days, Nazz was being tended to by the on-site medical staff, while Kevin observed and occasionally assisted. Nazz was rubbing her head, which throbbed with pain from the impact of Edd's rod; in turn, she was holding a pack of ice on the site of impact so as to reduce the resulting bump and dull the pain.

"…Uggh… my head is pounding…" she groaned.

"Yeah, you can thank Double-Dork for that," said Kevin. "He slammed that rod of his on your head while that ugly old witch was… man, I don't even wanna think about it."

"What ugly old witch?" asked Nazz.

"I think her name was… Beldam," said Kevin.

"Beldam? Of the Shadow Sirens?" said Nazz. "What'd she have to-"

"She slipped some weird piece of jewelry around your neck, and from what I heard Double-D sayin', this Beldam used its power to take over your body on and off to cause trouble," explained Kevin. "Kinda reminded me of those old Evil Dead movies with Bruce Campbell. Or the kinda thing Ed would be dorkin' on about."

"What… necklace?" asked Nazz, groaning in pain. "Why… can't I remember anything…"

"I think that happens as a side effect," said Kevin.

"Well… I'm not usually this nice, but… is there anything I can get ya, Nazz?" asked Kevin.

"Not now, but thanks anyway, Kev," said Nazz, managing a slight smile, which Kevin slowly reciprocated.

"Man…" groaned Koops. "You seem to be dealing a little better than I am right now, Ms. Mowz."

"Are you kiddin'?" said Ms. Mowz. "I think I mighta lost some badges in that there cluster. Well, coulda been a lot worse."

"Tell me about it," said Koops. "I think I lost my appetite in that cluster. Man, I am so stiff… what I wouldn't give for a massage right now."

"Well, sorry ter say I can't help ya out with that, darlin,'" said Ms. Mowz. "I ain't got me any hands fer to be doin' that kinda thing."

Jimmy suddenly rose from his seat and made his way to the rear door of the dining cabin.

"Jimmy?" asked Edd, noticing this. "May I ask where you may be going?"

"I wanna find Sarah," said Jimmy. "To check on her. I can't quite explain it, but I think, just a moment ago, I think I saw a sign… a sign that the Sarah I know is starting to come back."

"Well… I suppose it's quite all right to do so," said Edd. "She may prefer to deny this, but perhaps she does need someone with whom to speak and allow her feelings to be heard. Just bear in mind that we will be arriving shortly at our destination."

"I won't be too long," said Jimmy.

Edd watched as Jimmy opened the dining car door and returned to the car where their cabin was. Having overheard this, Koops got up from his seat and crossed to Edd's table.

"Double-D? Is Jimmy okay?" asked Koops.

"I certainly hope so," said Edd. "He seems to be consumed with worry over Sarah's guilt."

"Well, if they're not back before we get to Poshley-" began Koops.

"Understood, Koops," said Edd. "We shall fetch them then."

XXX000XX000XXX

Jimmy had arrived at the carriage which contained Cabins 004 through 006. Of course, it didn't take long for him to find out where Sarah had holed herself up – he heard loud crying coming from Cabin 004, where Ghost T. had initially discovered her; in addition, a puddle of her tears had coalesced at the base of the cabin door. Jimmy raised his fist to knock on the door, but hesitated. Did she really want to be left alone? Or perhaps was Edd right, and did she just someone to talk to? Before long, Jimmy summoned the willpower to lightly knock on the door.

"G-Go away!" came Sarah's sobbing voice from inside the cabin.

"…S-Sarah?" asked Jimmy meekly.

"I said g-go away!" sobbed Sarah. "I ca-can't face… anyone right now!"

Jimmy hesitated again. Should he really risk Sarah's wrath one more time by entering the room? Before any further questions could get a chance to swim around Jimmy's mind, an alert chime sounded and the voice of the conductor suddenly rang out from the train's intercom system:

"Attention, passengers. We've had quite the harrowing experiences these past few days, and the only thing I can do is offer my sincerest apologies. On a more positive note, we shall be arriving for Poshley Heights in a few moments' time. Those of you who are disembarking, please make your preparations now. Thank you for riding the Excess Express."

Jimmy lightly knocked on the door of Cabin 004 again. "Sarah, it's Jimmy. I'm coming in. Is it okay if I come in?"

"You're not gonna leave until you talk to me, is that it?" cried Sarah from inside the cabin.

"That's right," said Jimmy, fighting back tears in his own eyes. "May I come in, pretty please with a strawberry swirl parfait?"

Reluctantly, Sarah acquiesced and opened the door to allow Jimmy inside. Tears flowed from the young girl's eyes like rivers, and her cheeks were puffy from having cried hard for a while.

"You-you call me Sarah a lot," she said. "Is… is that my real name?"

"Y-yeah, it-it is," said Jimmy. "You just don't remember."

"Oh, what does it matter anyway?" cried Sarah in despair. "Sarah, Bridgette, whatever – you were right about me; I'm a monster! Waaaah!"

Sarah covered her eyes and started bawling again, crushed that she now thought of herself as a monster after Jimmy had outright called her such during their bout on the train roof.

"No- I didn't mean to call you that, Sarah!" cried Jimmy apologetically. "I'm sorry, I shouldn't have said-"

"But it's true-hoo-hoo-hoo!" Sarah sobbed. "I did awful, mean, bad things to you! And to your friends! And… and to my family, the only one I've ever known here! I'm a bad, bad, bad little monster!"

"You're not a monster, Sarah! And you're not a bad person, either," cried Jimmy, tears forming in his own eyes. "You just fell under a bad influence!"

"But how can I face them?" sobbed Sarah. "If I tell them what I did, they're gonna…. They're gonna… They're gonna hate me! They're gonna hate me, and they're gonna throw me off the train, and I'll have no one!"

"That's not true! They won't hate you!" cried Jimmy.

"How would you know?" cried Sarah.

"You gotta have faith, Sarah," said Jimmy, finally allowing the tears to flow from his own eyes. "I didn't give up on you, and my friends won't, either. And neither will everyone else on this train."

"You… you mean it?" asked Sarah, who started to show signs of calming down.

"And don't ever say you'll have no one," said Jimmy. "You have me. You'll always have me, and my- our friends, old and new. They'll understand. All you need is someone to vouch for you, to strip away The Scarlet Letter that you've been marked with and help you show the real you."

"And… and that person is you?" asked Sarah.

"Of course," said Jimmy, managing a smile. "I'll go with you and help you explain everything."

"You… you'd do that for-for me?" asked Sarah.

"You know it, Sarah," said Jimmy. "That's what bestest friends are for."

At last, Sarah began to see something in Jimmy that she didn't remember seeing before – a kindred spirit, a true friend, someone who would pick you up if you were to fall… someone you could trust completely. Finally managing a small smile of her own, Sarah said nothing as Jimmy wrapped his arms around her in a soft, warm embrace, which she reciprocated, allowing their emotions to flow from them through their tears. Ghost T. materialized in the top bunk bed nearby, smiling.

As they embraced, Sarah suddenly experienced a strange, vivid vision…

FLASHBACK

Oblivious to the copious amounts of "Montezuma's Free-Range Manure" that Ed was haphazardly tossing around the cul-de-sac as part of Eddy's lawn-mowing scam, Sarah and Jimmy held a little tea party in her backyard.

"…and I find polyester and rayon always gives me a rash," said Jimmy.

"I think Nazz has such a neat haircut," replied Sarah.

"Ooh!" said Jimmy, reaching for his picnic basket, which had just been splotched with the Eds' manure. "I'd love to style your hair, Sarah… if you'll let me."

END FLASHBACK

This vision left Sarah confused. Did she just experience a memory? Was it even real? It seemed she and Jimmy were once close enough friends to hold regular tea parties in someone's backyard in some random town… was it her own backyard? Was it Jimmy's backyard instead? Where was this strange town? She'd never heard of it before… as far as she could remember. And did she really know Nazz far back enough to compliment the other girl's hairstyle? And did Jimmy really offer to style Sarah's own hair? And what was all that gunk raining down around them? While she did like the thought of a new hairstyle, this vision left her confused. After all, Jimmy was around her age, and so a bit young to be styling hair.

Before she could ponder this any further, the voice of the conductor rang out again over the intercom:

"Attention, passengers. We have now arrived at Poshley Heights. It's been a long and… trying three days, but we're finally here. Those of you who are disembarking, please do so now. Thank you for choosing the Excess Express for your train travel needs."

Sarah and Jimmy had been so wrapped up in their embrace that they hadn't noticed, let alone felt, the train slowing down and coming to a stop.

"Well, I guess that's our cue… shall we?" asked Jimmy.

Sarah took a deep breath and sighed just as deeply, as if to try and calm her nerves. "Yeah… let's go."

Before they could move, though, they were interrupted by another knock on the door.

"Jimmy?" came the voice of Koops outside the door. "Everything okay, little buddy?"

"Yeah, so far. We'll be right out," replied Jimmy.

Jimmy opened the door, and he and Sarah were greeted by Edd and Koops outside, carrying their luggage.

"Ah, there you are," said Edd. "We mustn't be dawdling, now."

"We'll be just a little bit," said Jimmy. "Sarah – er, Bridgette – wants to explain everything to the staff, and I'm going with her to back her up. Hopefully we shouldn't be too long."

"Well, please do be swift," said Edd. "We shall await by the locomotive's entrance."

"Dad!" called Eduardo Junior from outside. "Hurry it up!"

"C'mon, Double-Dutch, we ain't got all day!" came Kevin's voice.

"Ah, yes," said Edd. "Coming, Koops?"

With this, Edd and Koops went to disembark the train and rejoin their friends.

"By the way, Jimmy…" began Sarah.

"Hm?"

"I kinda like that name 'Sarah.' It sounds like a princess name," said Sarah.

"So does that mean I can call you Sarah from now on?" asked Jimmy.

"Eh, sure, why not?" said Sarah, smiling. "Now let's get a move on."

Sarah exited the cabin, followed by Jimmy, and they made their way to the dining car where the other passengers and staff were gathered, Jimmy preparing to vouch for Sarah as she confessed her own role in the events that had transpired, hoping for the best…

End of Part Ten