I've been up the last couple of nights writing. I have three altoghether. This is the first. I hope you like it. Thanks for stopping by. I am always glad you took the time to think of me.
SOMETHING WORSE
Mark stumbled down the hall whispering “Shhhh. Don’t tell” with drunken satisfaction. Janie lay motionless, trying to disappear into the blankets. Her chest was heavy with anger, fear and shame. It always began with too many gin and tonics ending with the breathy words “I’d never hurt you” as he reached for her legs to pry them apart. She cried but no amount of tears could wash away the filth or tangy scent of limes. She wretched: sick of her life. She felt drenched by his lies of stopping; certain there was nothing worse than suffering under the perversions of the disgusting excuse for a man that her mom had married.
Waiting until he passed out, Janie crammed her backpack and snuck away. She did not look back. She dashed down back alleys and across dark lawns. Her breath stung her chest and she felt as if her heart would explode though her mouth. Her mind kept telling her legs to run harder because Mark was behind her. She hit the edge of town; the edge of her world and felt utterly lost. A train howled and she felt it roar by. Soothed by the lonesome moan and rhythmic “Ker-chuck” of the wheels, Janie watched the last car sway around the bend and heard a heavy thump. Something toppled out into the weeds. She decided to walk the tracks and wait for the next one; certain it could move her along to something better.
With adrenaline wearing as thin as the sliver of moon that winked at her from the velvety sky, Janie bought a pop and a box of expired Pop Tarts for half price at a small, all-night grocery. No one really bothered the eleven year old about not being home at this hour. They had problems of their own she figured. She kept trudging, staying ahead of the ugly man “who’d never hurt her”.
A little after noon Janie heard another train. It was far off but the sounds of its whistle made her stop; searching the horizon hungrily. It took just shy of half an hour for the big monster to race by; too busy to stop and chat with a scared little girl. She was hurt that it didn’t wait for her. She would have to keep walking until one stopped or at least slowed. Janie became weary and frustrated. Motivation came from Mark’s slurred speech that played in her head and the stink of limes that floated across the fields she trekked through. She felt hunted. The whistle of the next train chanted its warning to hurry: “He is coming-He is coming-! GET YOU!” She hustled along and watched as this looming metal giant appeared to slow for her.
“Please wait for me” she whimpered.
Her feet were swollen and sore. Her face was sunburned and her once bouncy curly hair was plastered and dirty against her scalp and neck. She felt grime around her lips and onion-flavored chalk seemed to coat her mouth. She wanted to bathe, sit and sleep. She kept moving because in the back of her mind there was something worse than being tired and a little scuffed up. Janie heard the welcoming hiss as the steel mammoth stopped. She picked up her pace not to be denied again.
Slowly she circled the train as if it were a skittish horse. Janie gently touched it, soothing it so it wouldn’t give her away or bolt. Confident the train would hide her, she climbed into a slatted car filled with hay. The animals had been unloaded and by the smell they were dirtier than she was by a mile! Covering herself in the cleanest of the mess, she snuggled down and was asleep before the whistle blew.
“Alllll MIIIINE!” the train bellowed as it lurched from the station, heading for Janie’s “something else”.
Hunger finally stirred her. She opened her eyes to darkness, confusion and movement. Terrified she shoved up against the corner of the stall pulling as much hay around her as possible. She felt the squish of manure against her jeans and smelled rancid green beans. Her eyes widened as she combed the blackness for her new roommate. He coughed and shifted in the opposite corner.
“I won’t hurt you” his voice was gravelly and soft.
“I’ve heard that before. Stay where you are.” She hoped she sounded tough enough.
“I didn’t know you were here. Are you lost?”
“No. Maybe. Maybe I’m just changing directions.” She added sharply. “Buzz off”
The stranger laughed. “Well, excuse me. I AM sorry. I just wanted to know if you were lost. I find lots of lost things.”
“I’m not.”
“Where are you headed?” his breath was warm and salty. It was better than limes she decided.
“Nowhere.” Janie sighed.
“Soooo you ARE lost?” he scooched toward her.
Janie crouched under the hay ready to pounce. Her hands were full of manure. He’d at least get a mouthful.
“No. You?” her tone was sharp.
“Nope.”
“Where you headin?” she asked stiffly.
“Away.” He laughed. “On to find something…else.”
“Me too. Something better.” She corrected with a crisp nod.
“Be careful Little One. It might just be something worse.”
“No chance. I left that and I want it to stay gone.”
“ Stay lost?”
“Yep.”
He sighed and settled back. His name was Tracks. He smelled awful and seemed old. He droned on and on leaving Janie wondering what on Earth he was babbling about most of the time. Her head was spinning and aching from his philosophies about losing things, finding people or was it the other way around? She wasn’t sure. Then she found herself drifting off. Tracks came closer to her and whispered in her ear: “Did YOU lose something?”
“Yep.” She said drowsily.
“What?” he seemed almost giddy. “I kin hep ya find it.”
Janie shivered against the chill muttering in her sleep.
Tracks got up and left their car, checking the others for more “passengers”
Janie awoke to a thump while the train meandered on.
The girl stayed with Tracks. She followed him along the railway. They scammed food where they could although Tracks always gave her his share too. They bathed in the where and when they could and before she realized, it had been a month. Janie was thin but strong. She had acquired a taste for flat pop and preferred to sleep in the livestock cars. The sweet smell of hay chased away the bitter burn of citrus that plagued her nightly. Tracks asked her each night if she’d lost something. She liked their private joke. Each night Tracks left her once she fell asleep and searched for those lost. Heaven help them if he found them. Mornings were signaled by the heavy thump.
It was in Alabama that it went wrong. Tracks was acting strangely. He seemed to be watching for something; straining to hear; he was on alert. They stopped in a small town and grabbed something to eat from the trash. It was a pretty fresh sandwich warmed by the sun. He let Janie have his portion as usual. They walked along the station and he was lookout while she bathed in the restroom. The whistle blew and they jumped aboard in their usual hay filled palace. Neither saw the other man skulking around the back of the train watching the girl with hungry eyes. Nor did they see him crawl into the freight car next to theirs.
Night came and Tracks was sitting next to Janie. She sighed, taking in and enjoying the smell of clean earth and salt: Tracks’ smell. “Did you lose something?” he asked.
She smiled, comforted by the words. “No Tracks. I found what I was looking for.”
He seemed taken off guard by that. He sat still and stared. “What did you find Little One?” he asked softly.
“Safety.” She sighed and with a bigger smile: “Myself. Tracks. I found myself.”
The wind pushed into the car carrying the sour tangy stench she’d been running from. She sat bolt upright: limes.
“Mark?” her voice a quivering whisper.
There was rustling in the far side of the car. A man grew from the piled up hay. Mark loomed over them both. There was a tingling down her spine like frightened centipedes scurrying for cover. Janie felt sick.
“I found what I was looking for too.” He laughed. His dark eyes glowed with hate as he stared down at little Janie. “Been over a month Janie. It’s time to come home. Your mom is worried sick about you. We miss having you in the house.” His voice was syrupy and thick. He clenched and unclenched his fists taking a shaky step toward his stepdaughter. She balled up in the corner jamming her fists to her face to shut him out of her vision. Nothing could be worse than having him find her except taking her home.
Tracks stood and stepped in front of the girl. He hunched protectively and seemed to bare his teeth. His green eyes sparkled.
“She’s right where she wants to be. She’s not lost. ” He growled.
“I lost her. She is mine.” Mark returned hatefully. “Look old man, I don’t want to hurt you but I have been searching for that little girl for LONG time and there is nothing worse than the thought of not bringing her back…to her momma.”
Tracks was rooted. “Come any closer and you’ll find something worse.”
The train and Janie shrieked. The air stunk of copper, salt and citrus. A horrible tearing noise drowned out the clacking wheels. Janie shut her eyes and plugged her ears with her dirty little fingers. She allowed the train to rock her, trying to calm her after what she’d seen. She said nothing as the man tied up the sticky slippery parts that remained. Later, after the small fire died down and the stench of meat was melting into the dark, he tried to smile at her. She made no move.
“It’s time to lose this forever.” Tracks said quietly as he slid open the door.
“Tracks, that was horrible.” She said finally through confused tears.
Tracks reached out and stroked her hair.
“Something worse would have happened if I hadn’t done it Janie. You know that.” He burped heartily and swiped his mouth at the corners.
She wiped her eyes, shoving the bundle out of the car. It landed with a soft thump.
