Orphan Train. The Novel. By me. Age 11. – Chapter 6

Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6

Please notice that I use a semi-colon at one point. I also enjoy how I, age 11, attempt to write in different dialects. Carry on.

CHAPTER 6

“Papers! Get your papers!” J.P. called waving the papers around.

She sighed. Business was bad today. No one wanted a paper.

As she turned to cross the street someone came zooming down the sidewalk and practically knocked J.P. over.

“Hey! Watch where you’re–” then she saw that it was Sara. “What’s the matter, Sara? Are you in trouble?”

Sara nodded and looked around in a frightened way. And then she ran off down the street, in the opposite direction of where J.P. was standing.

“Wait up, Sara! You can tell me about it!” J.P. took off after Sara. Sara certainly could run fast. Soon J.P. was completely out of breath and she gave up chasing after Sara.

She looked around and saw that she was right in front of the soup kitchen.

She walked in and looked around. The soup that was being served smelled good but J.P. had more important matters on her mind.

She rushed up to the counter.

“Why, hello, J.P. I’m glad to see you. You’re such a nice boy to have around.” Miss Sims said pleasantly. J.P. had no intention of telling them she was a girl, even though she did like Miss Sims quite a lot.

“Miss Sims, I didn’t come for soup,” she announced.

Miss Sims looked surprised. “You didn’t?”

J.P. shook her head. “No. It’s about Sara Florence.”

“Sara Florence? Oh, the quiet girl about 13? Yes? What about her?” Miss Sims laid down the wooden soup ladle.

“She’s in trouble.” J.P. stated, too tired from her long run to give the details.

“What? She is in trouble? Why?”

J.P. shrugged. “I donno. I wish I knew. She’s my friend.”

“Well,” Miss Sims patted J.P.’s shoulder. “I’ll go check it out. Don’t worry. And by the way, we are leaving for the West in 3 days.”

J.P. almost fell over. “You mean to go and get families for us orphans?”

Miss Sims nodded. J.P. slid into a nearby chair, deep in thought. She sort of had a family but she probably would never see them again. She did miss her mother, but not that much because her mother had left her so that showed she hadn’t cared much for J.P. I’ll go, she thought. But should I? She was afraid it would be disloyal to her real parents. But they didn’t care about me! she thought fiercely. Why should I stay behind and suffer if I can go West and get good, kind parents. Yes, I’ll go. It’ll be an adventure!

Meanwhile, Miss Sims had left the kitchen in charge of the old man. Before she left she asked of J.P., “J.P. Do you know where she went or who might know where she went?”

J.P. thought that over. “Well, ask Liverpool. He knew Sara. I think they like each other.”

Miss Sims smiled. “Thank you, J.P.” She hurriedly departed into the crowded cobblestone street. She knew where Liverpool lived. In a dark, dark, brokendown building filled with holes, mice and dirt. He had come over from Liverpool, England. That is how he got his name. His father had taken him on a boat. His father had died in America, leaving Liverpool to be one of the Orphans.

As she arrived at Liverpool’s hideout she was aware of the awful smell that wafted through the air.

“Poor Liverpool,” she thought.

There was no door and part of the building had no roof and one side of the building had completely collapsed!

She walked around trying to find a decent way to get in. She turned a corner and there to her surprise was Liverpool.

He was 13 and rather small for his age. His eyes were very small, giving him a mean look about him. He was wearing a brown cap over his dirty blonde hair. His coat was brown with two short tails on the back. His knickers were tan and he wore black socks and black shoes with the laces tied up in many knots.

He was slouched against the wall with his hands deep in his pockets.

Even though he was only a boy and Miss Sims a grown adult she felt rather shy against him.

“What yo’ doin’ here?” he asked, glaring at her.

Miss Sims gulped and then inquired if he had seen Sara.

He nodded.

“Well, where did you see her?” Miss Sims asked eagerly.

“She came ‘ere to ask me advice.”

“And what did you tell her?”

Liverpool shrugged. “She’s back at the Florence’s right now.”

“Oh, thank you, Liverpool!” Miss Sims was very grateful.

Liverpool waved his arms around. “Now ge’ ou’ a here.”

Miss Sims turned to leave but then she remembered something she wanted to say and she turned to face Liverpool again.

“And Liverpool, we’re leaving for the West in 3 days if you –”

“Ge’ ou’ a here, I told you,” he said in a loud voice.

“Don’t you want to come?” she said in amazement.

“What would I wanna come for?” Liverpool asked in disgust.

“Well, when we get there you’ll have a good family who takes care of you and keeps you out of trouble and –”

“I don’ need no one.” Liverpool stated folding his arms.

“But you do! How would you like to end up like your friend David Smithson? You will if you stay here! They will catch you, Liverpool!”

Liverpool shook his head. “They ain’t never gonna catch me.”

Miss Sims gave up. You just couldn’t deal with someone like that. She turned on her heel and started off for the Florence’s.

When she got there, she mounted up on the porch and rapped on the door. The butler opened it.

“Yes?” he said.

Miss Sims cleared her throat. “I am here to see Mrs. Florence and Sara.”

“Come in, ma’am.” The butler held open the door and Miss Sims entered. She was led through the large elegant parlor, down two halls, until finally they arrived at the living room. Mrs. Florence was there, sprawled on the couch.

She was wearing a black dress with red and green flowers sprinkled all over it. She wasn’t very pretty.

“Yes, what is it?” Her voice seemed irritated.

“A woman is here to see you.” The butler handed Miss Sims over and Miss Sims began. She told Mrs. Florence all about the train going West and all the children she was taking and she thought that Sara should come too.

“Sara!! What for?? She’s got a home!” Mrs. Florence cried.

“Yes, I know that; but does she have love?” Miss Sims asked pointedly.

Mrs. Florence shrugged. ” ‘Course she got love!!”

Miss Sims asked if she was really sure about that and then Mrs. Florence got angry and told Miss Sims to mind her own business.

“Mrs. Florence, I don’t mean to upset you but why don’t you call Sara down and talk to her about it.”

Mrs. Florence reluctantly agreed. She told the butler to fetch Sara and he did. He brought her in and Sara stood there looking frightened.

“Don’t be scared, Sara,” Miss Sims said tenderly. “You know me, don’t you?”

Sara nodded her head. “You work the kitchen.”

Miss Sims nodded. “That’s right.” Then she told her all about the West and then she asked Sara one simple question. “Sara, do you like it here?”

Sara looked at Mrs. Florence and the butler and then back at Miss Sims. Then she looked around again. Her eyes stopped in front of Miss Sims. She gave her a hard look and the slightest shake of her head. Miss Sims understood.

“Well, would you like to come out West?” Miss Sims asked.

“Oh, yes!” Sara cried. Mrs. Florence was surprised.

“Wait a second. Not so fast.” Mrs. Florence shattered the happiness of the moment. “You ain’t takin’ her unless I have somethin’ in it.”

Miss Sims was worried. “What do you want? Money?”

“That’s what I had in mind.” Mrs. Florence’s face wore an evil grin.

“Well – how much?” Miss Sims inquired fearfully.

“Maybe 200 dollars?” Mrs. Florence held out her hand.

Miss Sims gulped. She took out her purse and handed Mrs. Florence some money. Mrs. Florence looked at it.

“That ain’t 200 dollars! Either you give me 200 dollars or you don’t get the kid.” Mrs. Florence tossed back the money.

“I’m sorry but I don’t have –” Miss Sims began but she stopped because she remembered something. Leaning down, reluctantly, Miss Sims rolled down her stocking. Folded up was 200 dollars. It was the money Mr. Carlin had given her to buy the coach, even though he would get the coach for them.

Miss Sims glanced at the money and then back at Sara. She decided what to do.

She took out the money and flapped it at Mrs. Florence.

“Here, take it,” she said, holding back the tears.

Mrs. Florence grabbed it and looked at it in surprise. “Now, where did you get that?”

Miss Sims grabbed Sara’s hand and put her nose in the air. “Now it’s time for you to mind your own business. C’mon, Sara.” She led Sara out of the room, leaving Mrs. Florence staring after them in puzzlement.

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1 Response to Orphan Train. The Novel. By me. Age 11. – Chapter 6

  1. Orphan Train. The Novel. By me. Age 11. – Chapter 7

    Chapter 1 Chapter 2 Chapter 3 Chapter 4 Chapter 5 Chapter 6 Again, my 11-year-old prose here cracks me up but (I adore the underlined “utterly”): even though I made none of this up (meaning: I was just writing out…

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