Beyond the railroad tracks - LaShante Robinson (best historical fiction books of all time .TXT) 📗

I'm different. Not on the outside, but on the inside. I see myself as the outsider who is on the inside. I can hang with the cool crowd but feel like I don't belong. "Hey Nyiimah! You want to walk with us home?" I turn around to face a few girls I hang out with on the daily basis."No thanks, Abigail. I'm taking a new way home, see ya Monday. Bye." I walked in the opposite direction, not waiting for what Abigail's next words would be.
I guess my new route would be different today. Or maybe I'll just go hang out at a new spot I found the other day. As I walked I noticed how the damp Earth sucked in the bottoms of my new leather boots. I also noticed how the Earth's rythym mesmerized me as I walked on the tinted-yellow grass. I knew my mama would be upset with me for tracking mud into the house, but I was in to much of a trance to pay much attention.
Slowly, and I mean slowly, I came out of my trance. And in front of me was the most beautiful peice of history that i have ever seen... The abandoned railroad station. I have seen many railroad stations in my fourteen years, but not one as amazing as this. This railroad station had eighteenth century wooden doors with carvings of so many things. There was a mermaid, a dwarf, a child, a girl, a man, a dog, a dragon, a giant, a kitten , a boy, and so much on one door.
I know what you're thinking, too. What in the world kind of railroad station is this? But see, I can't tell you that, because I don't know. I lighlty push the door open, which needed little effort for a door this size, and slowly stepped into the large area. It looked like a regular old station to me, but it didn't feel like one. I felt like there were people here, like my ancestors were around here somewhere sleeping the day away. So, of course I walked quietly and soflty so I wouldn't wake them from there deep slumbers.
As I was heading for the back door to go out back I noticed a latch. Everything in me told me to run. Everything but my mind, all the physical things like my legs and arms were telling me to leave. But my soul and mind were stronger, and told me I should finish this journey.
I listened to the stronger elements and walked towards the latch. I grabbed hold of the hinge, and with all my strength I pulled, I pulled hard. After all that effort I finally got the thing to open. A little peek wouldn't hurt, right? Naw. I hopped into the opening and to my surprise I landed in a long corridor that was lit by torches. Keep going my mind said. Keep going.
I kept going. Someone had been here in the last twenty-four hours and I was scared. I mean really scared. I walked, ok I tiptoed for about thirty minutes down the corridor. At the end was another old door, but it was outlined with something shiny and hard. GOLD!!! REAL LIVE GOLD!!! Ok, it wasn't alive but it was REAL. I grabbed hold of the little golden latch and pulled. This door didn't need much effort, and on the other side was so amazing I stopped breathing. And I don't do that often. Or ever.
It was beautiful. The sky was baby blue, and the clouds were magnificent.They were blue, green, yellow, and orange, all of them. The grass was plush and green. The air was breathable, and was unpolluted by human hands and resources. In the distance was... a town? Here? I never saw it on the other side. Well actually, I never saw any of this on the other side. When I was walking over here from school it looked rainy just like everything else.
Wow. OH NO! IT'S BEEN OVER TWO HOURS SINCE SCHOOL ENDED! I'm in deep when I get home. I ran as fast as my legs would carry me. Through the corridor out the front door, down the road, around the corner, through town square, while almost collididing with an old women, a dog, a cart, and the mayor. Oops. I ran into my two-story home, and up the stairs, while being bombarded with a bunch of ,"Where you beens?" and ,"Do you know what times it is, young lady?" I ignored them like always, and at the top of the stairs was who I was hoping was downstairs. "Hey pops." He looked like he was angry. "Where have you been?"
I looked down. "Daddy I wanted to take a new route home. It didn't work so well. I got lost and it took me awhile to get back where I started. I'm sorry." My old man bent down and looked at me in the eye. "Now, look here. No more new routes, because you had me worried. And you know if your mama hadn't went to the store you woulda been in some hot water, you hear me." I smiled. "Yes daddy, I hear. and I won't do it again." He looked behind me and smirked. "You better get you a mop youngin, because your mama is going to tear into your hide if you don't clean up all that mud."
I smiled. "I know I should, but I don't need it that bad." My pops laughed his deep laugh, patted me on the head and said," You will want it back after your mama gets ahold of it. So go clean it up ya little rascal." I snickered. "Ok big rascal." I cleaned up my mess, ran upstairs, and into my room. What a day. I wonder how tommorrow will be, because I know it involves what's Beyond those Railroad Tracks....Or at least I think so.(To Be Continued)

Publication Date: 07-03-2010

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