Journey to The Unknown PV Evander H.B.

The train shuddered a little underfoot as it began to speed up, the regular beat of its wheels becoming like a second heart beating in time. All around him, the compartments were buzzing with activity such as laughter, conversation, children already talking as if they had known each other their whole lives. It was a comfortable kind of disarray, a beginning’s disarray.

But Evander found himself walking just a bit farther. The bag hanging off his shoulder contained nothing but a few books that his mother was sure he “would surely appreciate by the time of the feast" along with a pack of shortbread that she had surreptitiously put into it, without telling him. He could smell the woodsy smell of cedar in his woollen coat, something that made leaving behind his family a little easier.

He finally stopped when he found yet another compartment. The door was not closed all the way. Through the sliver, he saw a girl alone on the burgundy seat with a book in her hands. But there was something about the fact that her eyes were fixed on the same page for slightly too long and the way her fingers nervously played with the page.

She obviously needed order in everything around her even if she could not make herself organized. It was easy to understand how she felt. Going away from the house seemed much easier from the platform then once the train was in motion. Lifting his hand, he knocked on the door twice in a very polite manner and slid it open enough to take a peek inside.

"I hope I'm not disturbing you." There was warmth in his voice that was not found anywhere else in the corridor because of the loud self-assurance that filled it. "I have had a little difficulty finding an empty compartment." His eyes traveled to the empty seat and then back to her with apologetic smile. "Can I join you? I assure you that I'm fairly quiet." The smile became a little broader and slightly sheepish.

"Though I can't promise the trolley witch won't eventually tempt me into buying far more sweets than anyone ought to eat in a single nine hour train journey."

Almost as soon as Evander had finished settling into his place in the train car, he had noticed how often the young woman would glance over at him and then immediately turn her attention elsewhere. It did not bother him too much at first; people had a tendency to become awkward around people they had never met, especially on their first day of school, and Evander was not interested in making her more awkward than she already looked.

Evander had been distracted until the girl had opened up the yellow box and the scent of chocolate wafted to him. He had cast a look at the cookies and the berries before returning his attention to the girl, who offered them to him. For a split second, he looked surprised. And then he smiled. "Oh. Yes, please." He took one of the cookies from her carefully, not reaching for any other item that might be in the container without permission. "Thank you!" he said, taking the cookie in his hand and turning it over before biting into it.

There was a pause. "That is very good." Another bite was taken, and Evander leaned back into his seat, looking much more relaxed than he had when he first got on the train. His eyes found hers again. "I am Evander, by the way." He gave a slight nod of his head as if he were introducing himself formally someplace other than a train car. "Evander Harvey Beauchamp." He glanced at the book that the girl had just put away, curiosity crossing his face. "And you are?"