The Woman Leona, and Homeless Friend John Head South Via An Empty Boxcar!
Posted: Monday, January 16, 2012
by elle kynzer
Part two of my fictional characters Leona and John, who were living on the streets of Chicago:
Leona and John stared at one another before speaking, it was John who took a look outside and noticed the southern bound freight to which the boxcar they occupied was being towed, and he said 'That's it, let's ride to a warmer place?" Leona took no time to think, and said "Yes, let's". Leona's only second thought was her grocery cart and the blanket she had left behind. She had never been adventerous but she wanted to be, so it was now or never.
A long thirty minutes indicated that John should be returning, as the boxcar hookup was completed. Leona began to worry, because she did not want an adventure by herself to an unknown place, and she was hungry and thirsty.
Soon a ragged and hard breathing John lifted a huge bag up to Leona, and she helped pull him aboard.
“Part Two of Three Part Story”
John explained that Morris, The Downtown Cafe owner, was there when he arrived and he told him the plan, so Morris loaded him up with food to take on the trip. There was a huge gallon of water in a plastic container in the bag too. Leona was so glad Morris had added the water, as that meant a quench to her thirst.
Turning over a wooden crate so they could use it for storage, the two friends put the fruit and water gifts inside. Everything other than the hot meal did not need refrigeration. What a godsend for this journey.
Some rearrangement of the wooden crates and pallets allowed for a reprieve, off of the cold metal floor. And by using the large wooden boxes, there was a visual barrier to prevent their being seen from the ground, if the boxcar was checked. Johns major concern was the metal door that was rusted and could not be closed to keep out the wind.
The two settled in for a long ride. What points south the train headed seemed like a question that hung in the air? John had been in Chicago a long time, but now he would relish getting back to Texas, but Leona had visions of Palm trees in her head. Each thought about their individual dream.
Some additional sleep and the two awoke to a long low whistle that told them a town was approaching, or a railroad crossing. John leaned out to see a billboard advertising the Indianapolis 500, so he relaxed to know they were going south as he had originally determined.
The traveling companions were feeling awful from the constant chugging and swaying of the train, and were so relieved to feel the train pulling into a station, and it seemed a break of some sort was taking place. Leona spotted the station door and knew a bathroom would be on the other side, so John helped her down.
John went alongside the train to the rear where he could see another boxcar would be hooked onto this slowly growing snake of a train. John knew that gave them about twenty minutes, and they were going to take it.
John saw a laundry across the street and headed in that direction. The attendant was out, so John took a small bucket and clean rag, then filled it up with water. A small bar of soap on the sink he slipped into his pocket. After making a bathroom stop, he picked up his washing gear and headed back to the boxcar.
Leona had made her stop, and went into the station getting some crackers and peanuts with the change she had in her pocket. The two slipped back behind the crates for a makeshift bath, after which they washed a few of their clothes and laid them over the crates to dry. Their three layers were now only two.
Before the two travelors could finish their lunch, the train began moving again. Leona knew that she would need to buy a new blanket, but her social security check would not be on her debit card for three more days, and she wondered how they would survive the cold if it got worse. Her coat wasn't heavy enough, and John's coat had some holes in it. Leona decided to just roll with it.
They huddled on the pallets that John had overlain with a few boards, it kept them up a few inches, so they could have some air between the floor of the train and them. The space was hard but safe, and both relaxed for the first time.
The sun beating down on the roof of the boxcar all day had warmed the interior. John tried again to shut the door, but it wouldn't budge. Leona went to help him, and there it was...a rock was holding the door from closing, a rock! John shoved the door several times until the rock broke and the door slammed closed. Finally, some privacy, and maybe a chance at not being discovered before reaching a warmer climate.
The constant rumbling of the wheels helped the weary couple fall asleep on hard boards with their clean dry clothes as pillows, but it meant one less shirt each for warmth under their coats. Sharing body heat the friends survived okay.
Another morning on the rails, as the sun beams shone through cracks around the door. John and Leona slowly pushed the door open, and were shocked at the fields and fields through which they were passing. The country fields were stripped and replowed until Spring, it looked so bleak and barren, but they knew a city would soon be on the horizon.
They settled back with their fruit and crackers to discuss the possibilities of a new place. John told Leona about growing up in Texas, and Leona told him of her dream to live near a beach with Palm trees. Since neither knew where the train was headed exactly, it was easy to say they would love it no matter what, just so the crime and danger was a lot less than Chicago.
A fourth day came with rain pounding on the boxcar roof and dampness, but the air was warmer and the two awoke with anticipation. Surely today there would be a long stop so they could reorient to their destination, and shop for a blanket, in case the journey had few stops.
Leona knew her money would be on the card today, so the two displaced friends could buy some items they needed, and good food to eat. Leona tried to budget in her mind, how much could they spend, and have enough for where they were going to end up.
She thought about the many homeless they had left freezing from where they had come. A screeching sound brought them to a realization, the train had stopped. Where were they? Leona peeked out the door gasped, it was New Orleans.
End of Part two, Fiction story - cont'd
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Top-level comments on this article: (2 total)My what a captivating story. Glad to stay up with the different parts. Have not read all three yet. Great job.Please log in to respond to this comment.
I am reading your story out of turn. It's still enjoyable and time well spent reading. I like the flow and the reality of the conversations. Nicely done.Please log in to respond to this comment.
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