Just after sunrise the next morning I awoke with a feeling that it was to be a very exciting day. Quickly I dressed and went into the kitchen. Pop and Mr. Ward were already seated at the table and mom was standing over the stove, cooking up her usual wonders. The men were talking about what was needed from town and mom asked me if I could remember to go to the general store and buy a spool of black thread. She gave me a little purse and said that the money inside would be enough for the thread and if there was any left over I could buy myself a stick of hard rock candy. I couldn’t believe my ears. What an exciting day this was to be. Not only would I get to see my pony, but I’d get hard rock candy too. Could my life get any better?
Pop and Mr. Ward hitched up the wagon and it was pulled around to the front door.
“Your chariot awaits my lady.” Popie said with a big grin on his face. “Now you mind Mr. Ward See See. You’re doing a very grown up thing by going shopping for your mother. We are very proud of you. Now, up you go and hold on tight. I don’t want you falling off half way into town. We’re so busy, that Mr. Ward might not have time to pick you up until he comes back down the road later on this afternoon. Then you would have missed out seeing your pony, if it is there yet, and the rock candy.”
“Yes Popie. I will be good and thank you for trusting me to do this errand. I love you and momma very much.”
“We love you too See See. Now Mr. Ward, don’t get losing my girl. Be sure you bring her back. Get going now you two.”
Pop watched us as we rode out of sight. It was a warm morning and the sun was already heating up the world.
We had gone only a couple of miles when Mr. Ward turned the team in the wrong direction. I couldn’t understand why. He had been into town with Popsi several times. He surely knew the way. All he had to do was to follow the road. But here we were going across a field and there was no trail to follow.
“Where are you going Mr. Ward? The town is over there. You should have stayed on the road. Popsi will be upset when he finds out you went somewhere else.”
“There is no doubt my love. He will be a little unhappy but you and I are about to go on an adventure. Just you and I. Just the two of us. I promise you that we will have lots of fun.”
“No! I don’t want to go on an adventure. I want to go into town and see my pony and get my rock candy. You promised me.”
“Well my dear See See, you have to learn that we can’t always have the things we want. Sometimes we have to change our plans.”
Sitting still on the wagon, I saw mile after mile pass under the wheels. Too scared to say anything I sat in total silence. After what seemed like hours, we came to some rail road tracks. He pulled the wagon just beyond the tracks and we stopped. In the distance I could hear the whistle of a train and as it got closer I watched it slow down. It was in front of us now, chugging to a stop.
“Good. The train is going to take on water right here. Come my little one. We are going for a long train ride. How exciting. Just you and I, traveling afar. We have our whole life ahead of us. Our future is well in hand.”
He lifted me down from the wagon and pulled me along to the train. I tried to resist, but my little form was nothing compared to his size. He lifted me into the doorway and stepping up on the metal steps he followed me. We walked into a car and he found two seats at the back. He pushed me into the seat by the window and he sat very close, next to me. I sat in silent terror. I couldn’t understand what was happening but I knew it wasn’t right. How would mom and Popie know where I was? Why had Mr. Ward not gone into town? He knows we had promised to come home safely. Where are we going?
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