Orphan Train, page 12
“I can’t let him go!” He cried. Mr. Thomas returned and the two workers picked Theodore up and walked him back onto the train. “Please don’t take away my brother! Please!”
Rollie felt helpless. The loving arm around him felt like a ball and chain. His tear-soaked cheeks were red. He fell to his knees crying and wet his pants. Once Theodore was out of sight – but his cries still in earshot – Rollie collapsed onto his face. He sobbed uncontrollably. The announcer moved onto the next boy as if nothing were out of the ordinary, and Mrs. Hutson patiently sat down beside the boy and rubbed his back gently.
THIS WHISTLE BLEW AND the train lurched. Theodore was calmer than before, but still breathing heavily and crying. He looked out the window as they moved and saw Rollie sitting on a bench at the station with his new mother sitting on one side of him and his new father standing on the other. He hadn’t calmed down one bit since the two boys were separated. He glanced up and met eyes with his brother, and let out another agonizing scream as he reached for Theodore.
“Rollie!” Theodore banged against the bottom half of the window and began crying uncontrollably once again. He reached his hand out the open upper half of the window and craned his neck to see his brother as long as he could. When he was clearly out of sight, Theodore was utterly defeated and fell back into the bench without any fight left at all. He had let his mother down.
He double forward, sick to his stomach, and put his head between his knees. Drool and tears fell onto the floor beneath him. He wanted to vomit. He noticed somebody sit down next to him but didn’t look up for a long time. When he finally did, he was surprised to see Mr. Thomas in the bench, offering him a tin cup full of water. Theodore took it hesitantly and drank it slowly between sobs. Mr. Thomas said nothing but put a reassuring arm on Theodore’s shoulder. The boy continued to calm down with every slow drink.
“I spoke momentarily with the mayor back there,” Mr. Thomas finally spoke. “That farmer is a younger man with a little bit of money. Mayor said your brother went to a good family. Don’t know if that helps or not, but it made me feel better.”
Theodore just nodded. It didn’t make him feel better at all. It made him want to cry again. When he lost Mother, he still had Rollie and Father. When he lost Father, he still had Rollie. That was his sole comfort entering the boy’s home. He was scared about a future without his parents, but knowing Rollie would be by his side gave him the strength he needed to keep going every day. Now he’d lost Rollie. And his reason to keep going. He felt, for the first time, like an orphan.
THEODORE HADN’T SAID a word by the time they reached Clarksville. Other boys had come over and tried to console him. They were sincere and it really did help Theodore feel like he wasn’t completely alone. But it didn’t replace the pain he felt. When he got off the train in Clarksville and lined up, he never once looked up from his shoes. He barely leaned forward when he was called and wiped his runny nose with his shirtsleeve.
He finally ate something between Clarksville and Van Buren, the last stop in Arkansas before they turned north. There would be three stops after Van Buren, before the final stop in Kansas City. Five more stops and he would be a reject. But he didn’t care. Ernie had once said it kills you to be a reject; Theodore couldn’t imagine anything could hurt him more than seeing Rollie adopted. There was simply no way the emotion of being a reject could compare.
“Mr. Thomas,” Theodore walked to the back of the train, where the worker was hanging out the door to feel the breeze. Theodore spoke quietly. They were the first words he’d spoken since Rollie was adopted. “Thank you. For the water. And for helping me onto the train.”
Mr. Thomas smiled. He didn’t do it often. Over the many years he’d worked with the boys, he’d learned not to get too close. Early in his career, he’d become too attached to the boys and it tore him apart to see them leave. Even knowing they were going to a good family that would love and care for them didn’t help his pain. He’d become hard. But, that didn’t mean he didn’t still feel any attachment to the boys. And ever since Theodore and Rollie arrived, he’d been impressed by the bond the two boys shared. In his own teenage years he had lost a brother. He knew something of the pain Theodore was feeling. “I think he’ll be alright. I really do.”
VAN BUREN WASN’T SUPPOSED to be a long stop, although they would walk to a small auditorium across from the station. Theodore actually looked up this time and noticed the beauty of the hills around him. It was hotter than he liked – every stop in Arkansas seemed to be hotter than the last – but the area really was pretty. As he dragged his feet in the line toward the auditorium, he couldn’t help but wonder how Anselmo and Sam were faring in St. Louis. Or Ernie back in Brooklyn. He was trying to keep his mind from wondering how his own brother was doing, but no matter what he tried, his thoughts always returned to Rollie.
The crowd was surprisingly small; only ten people stood in the auditorium, including the announcer. The boys lined up and the people seemed excited. Five of the first nine boys were adopted, and the crowd dispersed. The announcer – who had traveled with the train from the beginning of the journey – didn’t seem surprised by the stop. Mr. Thomas and the other workers shrugged and loaded the boys back onto the train. The boys, however, took the turnout personally. Having such a small crowd made them all feel like they weren’t wanted. The vast majority of the line of boys didn’t even get the chance to step forward. It was a wasted stop that wouldn’t be on the route the next time there would be an orphan train, but the boys had no way of knowing that. The entire line hung their heads as they returned to the train in more of a depressed gaggle than an orderly line.
Theodore looked around at the beaten-down boys that surrounded him. The average age was older now. Each car was far less than half-full if they had any boys at all, which made for a more physically comfortable ride. But it also made it seem more lonely. With just four stops remaining, it seemed likely that most of these boys would return as rejects. Especially if the remaining stops went the same as the Van Buren stop had.
As he closely inspected the remaining boys, his eye caught notice of a tall boy near the front of the line. He was obviously older than most by a year or two. The boy’s head was on a swivel as they walked from the auditorium. His attention shot back and forth, up the road and down it again; to the lush green hills in the distance then to the courthouse at the far end of the road. He looked nervous. With a quick glance over his shoulder, he locked eyes with Theodore. His eyes bulged as if he’d been caught doing something he shouldn’t have been. Theodore knew exactly what the boy was thinking. He didn’t know anything about the boy. Was he a two-time reject like Sam? Was he frustrated making it this far without being looked at? Theodore suspected he knew the truth and gave the boy a slight nod and forced a small smile. The boy appeared relieved and his attention went back to scanning everything around him.
When the group finally approached the train station, the boy made one last glance at the worker in front of him, whose attention was straight ahead. He looked over his shoulder to see any other workers. The two he could see, including Mr. Thomas standing a few steps in front of Theodore, either weren’t paying attention or were looking elsewhere. His eyes met Theodore’s once again and he tipped his cap to Theodore and smiled confidently. Then the boy ducked down to blend in with the shorter boys around him and disappeared from view. Theodore watched carefully, seeing if the boy would pop up again. The line had begun to enter the station just as Theodore passed a small alleyway. With a fleeting glance down the small path, he saw the boy leaning as close as he could to the building. If he pushed against the wall any harder, it may have fallen over. Theodore knew the boy would run. What surprised him was how effortlessly he just slipped away.
Theodore followed the line through the station and back onto the platform. The line began to separate as each section of boys returned to their respective cars. He slowed his walk, allowing the rest of the boys from the Washington Square Boy’s Home to pass him. When they reached their car, the boys halted while Mr. Thomas stepped up. Theodore looked around – all of the workers had boarded the train. There was no adult supervision to be seen. He felt his stomach leap and his heart begin to race.
It only took the train a day to get here, he thought to himself quickly. I could follow the tracks back, look up Farmer Hutson, and go save Rollie.
He bent forward, pretending to wipe something from his pant leg. He turned to his right to peer under the train and found himself in the middle of the car, perfectly between the front and rear axles. On the other side of the car was an open field that led to a thick forest. He could make the sprint in ten seconds. Maybe twelve. And Mr. Thomas would be watching the front door of the train, to ensure the boys got back on quickly. His chin began to quiver when he realized this was his chance. One more quick glance behind him to ensure none of the workers were on the platform. The coast was clear. He dropped to his hands and knees and scurried under the train car as quickly as a rat in a sewer pipe. His head cleared the opposite side and sunshine beamed down brightly on him. He stopped, still on his hands and knees, catching his breath and trying to calm his rapidly beating heart. He took a deep breath and held it, rose to his feet, and ran as fast as he could toward the trees.
He felt nothing. He didn’t hear the wind in his face. The only sound was his pantlegs swiping together quickly with each step. His body ran cold with adrenaline, his fingers tingled, and his arms were shaking as they led his body forward. He was certain Mr. Thomas and the other workers were fast on his tail; he didn’t dare look back. The trees, less than a hundred yards away when he left, now seemed to be on the far side of Arkansas. As the trees finally seemed to get closer, his lungs began to hurt for a full breath, and his legs ached from the sudden exertion. When his foot finally crossed the tree line, he lunged forward, landing and sliding on his stomach. He rolled quickly behind a tree and propped himself up to catch his breath. Then he held it for another moment again, listening for the following footsteps, but heard nothing.
He finally found the courage to peer around the tree. Slowly with one eye first, then both. And he saw nobody. The only thing he could see was the train sitting on the far side of the field, still and quiet. The field was empty. No Mr. Thomas, or any other workers. He was too far away to see individual faces inside the train cars, but he didn’t see many boys staring back his way, as he imagined they all would be when somebody announced a boy was running. No, it appeared he had escaped without notice. He tucked into the tree as close as he could, barely peeking around, afraid to be seen. Minutes later, the train whistle blasted its shrieking call and the train began to move. Nobody had looked for him. Nobody chased after him. He had done it. He sat there with a proud smile as he watched the train leave the station. His head began to ache as the adrenaline wore off from his cross-country sprint.
Mr. Thomas, who had watched the whole sprint from inside the train car, stood in his usual spot on the coupling between the train cars as it pulled away. He could see Theodore’s head poking out from a tree stump on the edge of the tree line. Theodore couldn’t see him, but he raised his hand to his forehead and gave a small salute and silently wished the boy the best of luck.
Part III
24.
Farmer and Mrs. Hutson were patient people. Mrs. Hutson sat with Rollie on the bench in the train station long after the train had pulled away, gently rubbing his back and hand, waiting for him to calm down. Farmer Hutson didn’t complain. After a few minutes he disappeared into town to conduct some business. When he returned and found his wife and new son still sitting in the otherwise empty station, he said nothing and sat beside the boy.
“Perhaps it’s time we be goin’,” Farmer Hutson spoke up after sitting for a half hour next to his family. Rollie hadn’t sobbed in over ten minutes and was starting to look around, a little more lively. Farmer Hutson had planned on the adoption taking most of the day and had arranged his day so no chores awaited at the house. But that didn’t mean he wanted to return after dark either. “Have you ever driven a team of horses?”
Rollie shook his head without a word. He looked up and, for the first time, really looked at his new father. His sideburns fell straight down and touched his jawline where they came to an abrupt stop in a very straight line; otherwise, he was clean shaven. He had wrinkles around his eyes that weren’t noticed from a distance, which made him look older up close. His hair was parted neatly and his eyes were a translucent blue that made Rollie wonder if he was the friendliest man on earth, or one of the meanest. The man had a pronounced forehead which, when Rollie examined closely, was being masked by the long combed over haircut. Rollie initially thought the couple was in their early twenties, not much older than Theodore. Now he was guessing the man was closer to his own father’s age. When the man smiled, he looked truly happy. Something about the man made Rollie feel safe.
“Now is a wonderful time to learn,” Farmer Hutson rose to his feet and adjusted his vest. He pulled out a shiny silver pocket watch and examined the hands. “The ride home is a little less than an hour. If you’re a good driver, we could be home in plenty of time to eat supper on the porch.”
Rollie was nervous as he stood and began to follow the farmer, while holding Mrs. Hutson’s hand tightly. He’s not going to let me drive horses for real, he thought. Is he?
They walked a few blocks into town, past a livery that reminded Rollie of the one he’d seen down the road from the Washington Square Boy’s Home, although this one was much larger and full of horses which looked bigger and healthier than he was used to seeing. On the other side of the livery, two buildings past, two burly men were throwing a bale of hay onto a carriage, landing in squarely atop a bale that had already been placed just out of view in the bottom of the carriage. The carriage itself was a sleek black color, shiny looking. Tall and elegant. Rollie could imagine Mr. Vanderbilt riding in the back of it down the crowded evening streets of New York on his way to the theater in his best dress.
The two horses standing side-by-side waiting to lead the carriage were prettier than any he’d seen in the city. They were massive animals, one with a long mane and braided tail, and the other just as tall, though not as hairy, which made it appear smaller. They were both a golden brown color and seemed to glimmer in the afternoon sun. The hairier of the animals stood on the left of the team and was more brown than golden, and the smaller looking animal next to him appeared golden, even yellow at times when the sun hit just right. They stood tall and proud; exactly the team a Vanderbilt would have pulling them, Rollie thought.
“They’re big, but they obey better than most people,” Farmer Hutson said proudly when he noticed Rollie’s stare.
“They’re yours?”
Farmer Hutson nodded with a slight smile. “I worked a long time to afford these two beauties.”
“Wow,” Rollie said aloud as he approached then ran his fingers across the smooth carriage.
“Now don’t get the wrong idea,” Farmer Hutson put his hand on the carriage. “I do own this too. But I won this in an auction. It was a last minute entry that nobody was expecting. If any man from a bigger city had shown up to the auction, I most certainly wouldn’t own this magnificent piece of workmanship. I would have had to work ten years more to afford this. Once in a lifetime find, my father called it when I brought it home. What do you say we hike up front and head home?”
Farmer Hutson helped his wife into the seat at the front, then hoisted Rollie up playfully. The farmer disappeared momentarily to settle his bill with the merchant from whom he’d bought the hay bales, before effortlessly swinging his tall frame into the carriage next to Rollie. He lifted the reins from their notched out resting place and handed them to Rollie. He smiled at the boy, whose heart jumped into his throat.
“Just a gentle flick of the wrist,” he showed Rollie the motion. “And say ‘heygo!’ then we’re off.”
Rollie was excited. And nervous. He was about to drive a team of horses and a carriage. Not a one of his friends back home could say they’d done that. But what if he flicked the reins too hard and hurt the animals? Or what if he yelled too loudly and upset Mrs. Hutson? He felt enormous pressure on his small body as he held the reins and stared straight ahead between the rear-ends of both animals. He flicked his wrists gently, and nothing happened. His brow furrowed with confusion. Then he remembered. “Heygo!” he exclaimed excitedly, and just like that both animals stepped forward.
Rollie’s grin spread from ear to ear.
The excitement, however, was quickly lost on the eight-year-old. Driving a team of horses, Rollie found out, is quite mundane. These mature animals were familiar with the route between Russellville and their home on the far side of Dardanelle. With little interaction from Rollie, the horses did exactly what they were supposed to do. The only brief moment of excitement during the trip came just as they left town, and Rollie became rigid, unsure of what to do. On a narrow stretch of road with trees on both sides, a carriage approached them. Farmer Hutson reached over and guided both of Rollie’s hands to the right ever so slightly, and the two animals slowly veered to the right. Just enough room was left on the road that the carriages could pass one another without stopping, and neither carriage hit the trees lining the narrow road. Rollie guided the horses slightly left back onto the road all by himself. He was excited and couldn’t wait to tell Theodore. Then he remembered where he was, and where Theodore was not. He suddenly become somber and dropped the reigns into the lap of the farmer.
