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(fic cover :3)
The sickening sun beams upon me, her luminous smile viciously invading my sore honey brown eyes. I shield my eyes with my hands, glaring at the sun before changing my direction towards Yoyle Transit, this is it. This is the only (safe) way out of Yoyle City, I'm thirsting for something new, or rather something worth living for. I've been waiting for my wounds, both physical and mental to heal whilst I've been hiding away throughout the past few months. But I am not safe here anymore, I cannot wait any longer and this is truly the only way I could ever feel better. The wind is forcing itself against me, almost as if to push me away, my bruises throb at the pressure but I continue.
I'm standing at the doors now, it's bustling to say the least, as any other train station would be. A kind elderly woman approaches me, for I am slightly below the ideal age to be venturing into places like this by myself and my under developed frame amplifies this. She cannot help herself but to feel concern for me, for she does not understand my mental capacity.
"Are you lost, honey?" She asks, speaking with a thick Yoylese accent, although I'm fluent in the language, this being my native home I truly never did pick up this accent nor do my ears appreciate listening to it. "You're awfully young to be looking to travel by yourself, maybe you've lost your mom or dad?" She smiles at me anxiously, I nonchalantly shake my head.
"No, I'm 10 years old ma'am, I legally qualify to travel here." I reassure her, putting on my sweetest smile despite my broken, blemished face. I almost take pride in the wince it puts on peoples faces, like hers right at this moment, until she places a warm hand on my shoulder. Now I am the one wincing.
"Are you okay sweetheart? I forget the age boundaries to travel in Yoyle are so young, you just look so little and I don't mean to judge but you don't seem in great shape." She yaps, my eyebrows furrow at this as my eyes trek down to my scuffed up shoes that are filled with holes. My short grey hair once fluffy and white is now noticeably greasy and limp, the two short twigs I call arms sit by my sides, bony and not to mention sun burnt. Not to mention my clothes are filthy with grime and dust, when I fled home I really only brought the essentials and could only snag a minimal amount of money, in fact I don't have enough for a train ticket today so I'm going to have to make it through this journey without and hope that I will not be spotted out for this. Otherwise, I don't know where this train will take me, certainly not Southern Goiky. My mother used to tell me they don't always check for tickets, if they don't remember to do so. Therefore, I shall be fine.
"I'm fine, thank you for your concern but I really must be off.." I stare up at the scheduled timing for the trains arrival, it's only 2 minutes away and I realise I'm going to have to sprint if I'm going to make it in time. My train will be all the way to the other side of the station.
"Ah.. okay, be safe!" She hollers out to be as I dart away, like a pocket sized grey mouse in this environment of huge, intimidating cats. I squeeze through the crowds and I finally catch a glimpse of my train, and it's doors closing in such a slow motion that it's almost comical.
"WAIT!" I yell out to no one in particular, I jump for it, landing with a thud inside of the train as the doors shut. The people sitting glare at me, like an ant infiltrating in their picnic. They're all prim and proper here, I forget there's no thugs on this side of Yoylecity, I chuckle awkwardly as I back away into a corner, I take a seat in the last empty row. I'm hoping desperately no one at any of the future spots decides to seat themselves next to me before I (hopefully) will make it to Southern Goiky, I'd be surprised if they wanted to considering I reek of sweat and dirt.
As the train continues its journey, I can't help but hold my breath, glancing left and right every other moment to watch for anyone coming to check tickets. But I don't see anyone; Wow, they really don't get thugs here often, huh?
The train halts at one moment, arriving at Northern Goiky. I honestly don't understand who would want to inhabit this place and subsequently there's really not enough people living here for there to waste building a station for. Nevertheless a few more people clamber onto the already overcrowded train, even a child looking around my age.
Wait, is he? I groan, he's sitting next to me, I suppose this is logical considering practically every seat is taken, except for the seats on my row (for obvious reasons, I could've sworn I saw people pinching their noses as they walked past me.) But also because I am the only other child aboard this train. I almost feel a bit safer now, I sink into my seat, maybe they won't even notice me if they do begin to check for tickets. I'm just praying he does not try to strike up a conversation with me.
"Hey there little guy? These seats aren't saved for anyone right?.. Gosh wait, of course they are your parents are probably just at the bathroom or something.. I'm so sorry I should've-" I cut him off before he can continue. There's a bit to unpack here, I do often get mistaken for the opposite sex as my hair is short and I have never looked.. girlish, to say the least. Also, I don't think he realises I'm probably around as old as he is, for my short and slim frame can often mean I'm mistaken for being a younger age. I anxiously speak up to correct him, I've never gotten out much, if you couldn't tell.
"First of all.. I am a female, honest mistake though I'm sure." I murmur, my head bowed, "Secondly, I am 10 and I am perfectly and legally old enough to travel by myself." He looks completely flustered, his face turning an almost concerning shade of pink.
"I'm so sorry! You're just quite small in comparison to myself, um.." He stops to think for a moment, I'm internally facepalming but it's also relieving to know he is as awkward as I am. "I'll introduce myself, sorry, I'm Tennis Ball, I'm 10 years old as well. I just turned 10 last week actually.." This makes sense why he'd be so eager to get on a train.
"I am Golf Ball and.." I halt for a minute, before I speak my mind "And, I really think you should stop saying 'sorry' when it isn't warranted."
"Right- sorry! Wait, no I meant- agh.." He covers his face in embarrassment, before opening back up again. "I can get a little bit repetitive sometimes.. um, I guess I can tell you some more about myself then! I'm on my way back home right now, I live in Southern Goiky with all of my friends!" He smiles sweetly, looking prideful in this revelation.
"With all of your friends? That sounds like an awfully chaotic living situation, without any adults, I mean." I ponder, but then again, my living situation with adults was quite.. chaotic, in simple terms. Tennis Ball is the first person I've met in a while who hasn't visibly grimaced at my facial.. defects during our first conversation. It's a breath of fresh air for me.
"Yeah about that we're uh.. orphans, if we weren't I would've snuck onto a train years ago! Obviously though there's always people keeping an eye on us." I raise an eyebrow, the only orphanages I've seen were ones in movies that were bleak and miserable, and the children suffered terribly. He can see this expression on my face and immediately begins rambling yet again. "It's not like the ones on TV!.. It's nice actually, Southern Goiky is really beautiful and we have a huge backyard, and a big tree and a tire swing.."
I recall that he's on a journey to Southern Goiky, remembering that I too am headed down this way.
"Oh, yes um, I am also heading to Southern Goiky.." I mumble, relieved we have at least something in common.
"Wow!" He beams, delighted, "If you don't mind me asking, where are you from? Don't take this in a bad way but you don't look at all like anyone I've ever met back home!" He's clearly referring to my bleak features, my skin is practically as grey as my hair, my eyes are huge but dull unlike people from Southern Goiky who are naturally more tanned with more vibrant, fuller features. I'd rather not tell him about my home, knowing where it could potentially lead me but I cannot skip out on it now..
"I come from Yoyle Land.." I whisper in a tiny voice, "I don't plan to return either, it is behind me now." He looks puzzled, I realise telling him this lets out a bit more context then I previously had meant to reveal.
"So, you don't have any family to bring with you?" He asks, sadly placing a subtle hand on my shoulder. I shake my head, my face hidden behind my hair. I can tell things are coming to light, my ratty appearance, my troubling features and my general dullness all adding together like a complex equation in his head. But, he is clever, I can always tell, you see.
"Are you an orphan too, Golfie?-" My eyebrows are raised at that, I have never been given that nickname before, Golf Ball isn't even technically my legal name; but that is another story for another day. "Wait! Sorry do you not like that? I'm a bit notorious for nicknames.. sorry. Ah- I'm doing it again!" He whines in his somewhat nasally voice, and I respond before he can continue.
"It's fine, I like it actually.." I give him a small smile, for the first time in our experience together. "To answer your question, technically I am not an orphan but.. I cannot return home." He clearly understands, squeezing my shoulder a little tighter, he does not dig into it any further.
"Well.." His face is glowing at that moment, he grins with euphoria swimming in his eyes. "You can come with me!.. I mean, I know this is all a little crazy, but I don't think you're legally allowed to be living in the streets anyways. And everyone is really nice, I promise!"
"Ah- I don't know Tennis Ball we just met like two minutes ago.." I hesitate, but I hardly get a moment to think before I see someone walking along the aisles of the train.. checking tickets. I duck before I can even register my surroundings, he is already here.
"Um, may I see your tickets please?.." He asks, looking at me with a knowing expression, for I can tell he sees right through me. I am glass at this moment. Tennis Ball, oblivious happily shows him his ticket before facing in my direction along with the ticket inspector. All eyes are on me at this moment, I have failed, I can never truly be a child. I cannot be carefree, they will find my father and imprison me back into his reach. To be his punching bag again. The world is spinning until someone reaches for me in the dark.
"Hey uh.. I can pay for hers! I have money!" Tennisball reaches for my hand, pulling me back up into the light again. The ticket inspector nods, gently seizing the money from his hand.
"You're lucky you've met such a kind friend." The ticket inspector declares to me, my eyes dilate at this moment, I feel like I've just woken up from a bad dream. He walks back up the aisle, I slump down into my seat.
"Y-You didn't have to do that for me, you could have just let him kick me out.. I would've been fine! That wasn't your last ten dollars was it?.." I query, my guilt practically swallowing me. Maybe I'm just not used to having an acquaintance like this, with such a kind stranger.
"Well, I have 5 left if you're hungry.." He offers, clearly misunderstanding my words.
"No! I just meant.. I didn't want you to have to waste your money on me." I pick at my fingernails, still shaking, my panic still taunting me.
"It wasn't a waste, Golfie! We're friends now, and friends help each other." He twinkles back at me, his emerald eyes cast by a golden light the sunshine reflects onto them through the window. I feel emotional, I do not feel this way, ever. For my entire life I have just been numb, It's like I'm gaining an entirely different, confusing and new perspective in the blink of an eye.
"Thank you.. I do not know what to say.. I just.. thank you." I marvelled, he stares back at me, this seems to be a lot smaller to him.
"Golf Ball it's really fine! It was only a train ticket.. I couldn't just let them kick you off!" He exclaims.
Before long we hear the conductor announce that we've arrived in Southern Goiky. It's as if these hours have gone by like minutes and I feel like I've known Tennis Ball my entire life, we aren't as different as I had first presumed either. In the context of our interests, I mean. Nevertheless, Tennisball excitedly drags us through before anyone else can even think about exiting the train.
"Ah- what's the rush?!" I pant tiredly, my stamina is minimal. He slows down our pace and lets my hand go free.
"Sorry! My home is just 10 minutes away from here, convenient right? I'm just excited to take you there and show you around!" He beams, enthusiastically "It's our home now, Golf Ball!"
"I mean.. can this really just happen? Isn't there like.. a more complex system for kids in orphanages? I can just come and live here?" I'm asking a question I know the answer to, it's an extremely complex system and I can't just infiltrate into it. They don't know who I am, why would they even want me there? I hardly understand it myself, it's not just as simple as this like it is in the books. Tennis Ball interrupts my brooding.
"Well.. yeah, probably. But It'll be okay!" He tries to reassure me, at the end of the day.. we're just kids, but at this moment it's what I really need, I hug him, my grasp is tight and firm despite my minuscule body, he reciprocates this behaviour and we just bond in silence for a moment. Practically becoming one and in this moment.. everything is okay.
We eventually split, and venture off to this place he calls home, it's huge. A little bit like you'd see in movies or illustrated books, but it isn't bleak or dull.. it's vibrant light brought upon by the pinks and purples of the beautiful sunset here in Southern Goiky. He pushes open the gate carelessly, two pretty girls stand chattering in the doorway, oblivious to our presence until they turn their ignorant faces towards us. One of them gasps, her crimson red hair swaying in my direction, before she winces at the sight of me.
"Ew, Pencil! It's like.. dimples!"
What a surprise.