Chapter
11
It’s another mundane Monday. The sky is quite gloomy and huge puffy
grey clouds floating slowly. Rough wind shakes the trees which most of them are
nearly naked. The branches sway like they are waving to the clouds. Winter is
coming soon. I put on my thick maroon sweater and gloves. Sometimes I can’t stand
the cold even after having a nice warm shower.
I join my family in the main dining hall. Aunt Ada cooks lots of
foods today such as bacon sandwiches, porridge, tuna rolls, and mashed potatoes
and of course my favourite food of all time, garlic bread with mushroom soup.
Beatrice is the only one who is not here with us because she already left for
her college. I think she’s going to be busy on her studies and missions.
After having nice breakfast – I ate up all the bread sticks and Aunt
Ada packed me more garlic bread sticks, sandwiches and tuna rolls in two lunch
boxes with two bottles of mineral water. Dad gets the car ready in front of the
porch. Ace and Sable help me put the bags in the car boot and I check my things
again before getting in the car. Mom trots to the car afterwards with Grandma
Zelda.
Grandma Zelda hugs me and gives me a peck on both of my cheeks,
telling me to be careful along the journey. My uncles, aunties and cousins
waves me goodbye as I get on the car and rolls down the window. I wave them
back and send some flying kisses to my little cousins. Ace and Sable join me
afterwards. Dad honks the car and drives out of the driveway. I pop my head out
of the window where the wind brushes my short and choppy hair and wave at the
huge mansion.
Goodbye nice and spacious room. Goodbye big lovely mansion. Goodbye
Sewra. Till we meet again.
17 years living in that mansion give me lots of good memorable days.
I feel a little sad for leaving the house, the families. I nearly burst into
tears but crying won’t help me in this situation. Life must go on.
We don’t talk much on the way to the train station. I know Ace and
Sable are sad because I won’t live with them anymore. I know how they feel.
It’s the same when Jeff had to leave too. Sable is the saddest among two of
them. I think because he’s the youngest so he’s kind of sensitive. I can easily
recognize the feelings written on his face, not like Ace. Ace is good in hiding
his true feelings.
We arrive at the train station in 20 minutes. It’s been ten years
since I boarded the train. The last time I boarded this train when I was 7
years old. But the train has hardly changed at all; it’s still the steam train.
And yes, I’m heading to the same place like ten years ago. Not so many people
prefer to board this steam train. Sable told me that he didn’t like it too. I
know it’s because the train is slower than the electrical train. But still, I
prefer this one. Although the journey may take some times, I enjoy watching the
beautiful scenery along the way.
Mom gives me another big warm hug and so as Dad. Mom keeps reminding
me about the do’s and the don’ts; she still thinks that I’m 7, not 17. Well,
that’s a mother. Always worries about her children’s safety, especially to the
daughters. Dad gives me the last pats on the back. Then I hug Ace and Sable and
tell them to text or email me if they feel lonely. I don’t think they’ll be.
The train shriek in a shrilling voice, telling the passengers to
board immediately. I take my two bags, wave them goodbye and board the train. I
take a seat near the window and wave to my family again. The bell rings and the
whistle whistles. It’s time to go. I can hear the chugging and the train slowly
moves. I wave to them until I can’t see their figures anymore.
I look at the number on the ticket and search for my sleeping
compartment. The compartment is quite comfortable with bed and a seat near the
panoramic window. I put my bag pack on the bed and take a seat. I can see rows
of tall buildings and houses. When I was little, Jeff and I love to sit near
the panoramic window. Sometimes we popped our heads from the window to feel the
wind blew on our faces. Sometimes we liked to wave at the people who lives
nearby the railway.
Half an hour later, the train enters the countryside. This is the
scene that I’ve been waiting. I can see lots of farms; farmers are doing their jobs and their live stocks
munching the grasses. I can see some horses too. Few minutes later, my stomach
grumbles. I decide to have my lunch at the dining section.
I take a seat quite far from the chattering folks; only few of
teenagers that can be seen around here. I open my first lunchbox which contains
3 bacon sandwiches and 5 garlic bread sticks. As I munch the sandwiches, I spot
a guy who is disturbingly familiar. He’s wearing a black leather jacket with
dark blue jeans. Wait a minute! Isn’t that Stefan?
Our eyes meet and that guy approaches to my seat. It is Stefan! What
is he doing here?
“Alice? What are you doing here?” he asks.
“What do you mean ‘what am I doing here’? What are you doing here?” I frown. This is
getting suspicious. Is he following me?
“I’m going to the Academy but I will be staying at my friend’s house
for few days. What about you?” he answers and sits in front of me.
“I’m going to the Academy too but I’m staying at my relative’s at
Street 69,” I take another bite, not to bother to ask him if he wants some.
“You come here alone?” he asks.
Hello. Am I sitting with somebody else here?
“Yeah. And you?”
“Tavis is here too but he’s having a tantrum in our sleeping
compartment. I think you should talk to him. He doesn’t want to listen to me,”
he sighs. “Can you come with me after you finish your lunch?”
I think for few seconds and nod. Stefan thanks me and takes out his
lunch box. We have silence lunch and after that I follow him to his sleeping
compartment which is next to mine.
Tavis is pouting and look at the window. Stefan tells him that I’m
here and Tavis turns to me and suddenly jumps from his seat and hugs me tight.
He’s glad that I’m here. He lets go off me when Stefan clears his throats few
times. I bring my lunch box and offer him the sandwiches.
He eats the sandwiches happily and tells me that he doesn’t want to
come in the first place. Uncle Azure forced him to have his special training at
the Academy for his carelessness. No wonder he’s been matched with Raina. Both
of them are careless. I think Raina should have the special training with Tavis
too rather than forcing her to memorize every single spell in three days. Raina
love spell-casting so there will be no problem for her in doing that.
Tavis nags about Uncle Azure being unfair for half an hour. Stefan
and I are being good listeners. As I see Tavis has let go all of his
unsatisfying feeling, I ask him to play I Spot. He agrees and we start asking
question of things that we spot along the way. Stefan joins the game too but
his questions are too easy. Tavis then feels tired and falls asleep.
Before I leave the compartment, Stefan thanks me and at the same
time apologizing for the trouble. I tell him not to worry because I enjoy listening
to Tavis’ nagging. Tavis is just like Sable. They like to nag until they feel
satisfied. I go back to my compartment and lay on the bed. I look at my watch;
two more hours before I reach my destination. I think I’m going to catch few winks.
14 comments:
Yay 1st comment
The narration is a bit dull compared to the others, a break to the readers before something big happen I hope. Stefan looks more lively now haha
i know...i know. haha. i'm going to develop on the 'quite' charachter. and some of new characters will be introduced in the next chapter :)
here i come. i can see few prominent grammar mistakes. eh macam saya dah pula examiner. hehe.
foods should be food right? just to list and few more.
the plot, yes agree with Fred, quite dull. bit pointless but still and enjoyable post. and after so long waiting for this, we are still starving, please continue as soon as possible :P
Fred? *looks around*
chakir: i think u can be good examiner! haha! u can be my examiner!
yeah, i know it's dull. but hey, it's a starting for Alice and Stefan's new journey. :P
anyway, i'll update ASAP!
farid: chakir created an English name for u. haha!
Yay! Next chapter!
batrisyia: next chapter is up! go read! haha!
My reading sequence got messed up. I ended up reading the 12th chapter before 11th.
Anyways, quite contrary to what others felt, I actually found this chapter very interesting. Maybe it's because of the reason that I enjoy reading interactions between the characters. It is so, because such conversations bring about deeper meaning to the depth of characters. It shows the past and present equations between them. It also gives insight into the future prospects of the story.
Details are essential because readers have no idea about the writer's perspective.
Another plus of your story is the swing between primitive and modern technology. At one point it's e-mail and at the other end it's a steam engine. I love this amalgamation.
I am a fan of your story. A bit of work on your grammar and you're good to roll.
sui: i think i need to re-learn grammar. haha :)
i love to mix between primitive and modern technology. my story timeline is the present so there'll be a lot on the latest gadgets. maybe i should include iPhone. haha!
thanks for being my fan :) i'm your big fan too ^^
haha. good la sngat. i could only point out singular and plural mistakes. other than that i dont really see it.
yeh Fred. haha. ada sorang kawan namanya farid n orng panggil dia Fred.
chakir: that shows u r a good observant. i have 8 more days before the school starts so i want to write at least 5 more chapters. haha
fulaweh. kena beat ni. hehe. got lots of things hanging about the new story but dont know where to start. haha
chakir: hahahaha!!! semangat membara ni. tapi nk fokus dua lagi cerita melayu. hehe. have to create a schedule.
Yeay yeay! It's the beginning of Alice and Stefan XD Bytheway this chapter reminds me of the moment I first went to boarding school. Dang it feels like yesterday :)
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