Once James and Tenny were seated, Tenny
had a chance to look around at all the people on this big train. This was
grand! Josh would be so jealous! She couldn’t wait to tell him! A really pretty
young woman sat down opposite them. She smiled at Tenny, and Tenny thought she
had the prettiest dimples she had ever seen. Then she smiled at James. Soon,
they were all laughing and talking. She was so nice. Tenny just couldn’t keep
from liking her. Before long, Tenny had forgotten about all the aches and pains
from her long ordeal. She had found a friend! Now, her horrible ordeal was
becoming a great adventure to Tenny, and she told Samantha all about it.
They laughed and talked throughout the
day. As suppertime approached, Tenny told James she was hungry. Samantha smiled.
“Mr. Thacker, If you want to go get food, I can watch after Tenny.”
So James left. Samantha moved over beside
Tenny. She brought her face close to Tenny’s. “I’ve got something to show you,
Tenny. I’m wearing a wig.” She pulled up
her brown hair, just a little bit, and Tenny saw she had the prettiest red hair
she had ever seen.
“You and I are red-haired sisters, Tenny.
I already knew you were coming to Taladega, and that your name was Tenny. The
same people who took you, took me, too, when I was very young. You were
supposed to be my little sister. I have something to give you, if you promise
it will always be our secret. Then we’ll always be sisters. Promise, Tenny?”
“I
promise, Samantha. This is really fun!”
Samantha took out a really small pair of
scissors, and cut a lock of her red hair. Then she cut a lock from Tenny’s
hair, too. She placed them together, tied with a thread. Then she got out a
small golden locket, and placed them inside together. She handed the locket to
Tenny.
“As long as you keep this, and never show
anyone, we will always be secret sisters.”
“I will never show anyone, Samantha! I’ve
never had a secret sister before! I promise, forever!”
James came in the coach door, and Samantha
moved back to her seat so James could sit down.
*
The
next morning, James walked back to the stock car to get the horses. They were
at the water tank stop where James had caught the train into Taladega days
before. Tenny ran to the coach window to say goodbye to Samantha. “Where are
you going, Samantha?”
“I don’t know, Tenny. To the end of the
tracks, wherever that is. But don’t worry about me. My family gave me money.
They think I’m coming back, but I can never go back to the life they live. But
I’m starting a new life, somewhere out there.”
“We’re moving, too. Papa says we’re going
to Dover, Arkansas!”
“I promise I’ll come see you there, Tenny!
I really mean that. After all, we will forever be sisters! Never forget that,
Tenny!”
“I won’t, Samantha! I promised!” They both
were crying. The train was moving. Tenny grasped her hand, running alongside
the coach as long as she could. Then, she watched the train until it went
around the bend. Tears were still running down her cheeks as she walked back to
Papa.
As the train rumbled along, heading toward
the end of the tracks, Samantha returned to her seat. She was soon asleep,
smiling, dreaming of her sweet sister.
No comments:
Post a Comment