Everything every dream

Shaken from my sleep from the sound of the train rattling along the tracks. I woke up to the gaze of a woman and her young daughter sitting across from me. The woman’s eyes nearly peering into my soul. I wasn’t certain but I could only imagine she knew just like I did that I wasn’t supposed to be on this train. Here I was dressed in a black hoodie, jeans, black combat boots covered in dried up mud and pieces of grass. I stood out like a sore thumb.

​No wonder I had fallen asleep within thirty minutes of me sneaking on board. I hadn’t had a hot meal nor any rest in three days. Sleep was bound to find me. I wasn’t safe out in the open like this I was certain that it would soon be time for me to show a ticket that I did not have. Grabbing my black bag from under the seat I stood walking quickly down the Isles in search for an empty cart. I questioned in the back of my mind if my mother could’ve look like woman whose eyes peered my soul. I thought as I slid the door open to an empty room rushing in closing it behind me. I still couldn’t get past how beautiful she was. Her jet-black hair in curls resting against her face. Her daughter spitting image of her. My mother like that? Never, I quickly interject my own thoughts. How can someone that beautiful that wealthy leave her child at hospital only a few hours after giving birth? It didn’t matter all of that was in the past and though broke hungry and dirty I was running towards my future. A future that was unknown. Looking around the tiny room I couldn’t help would be ecstatic of my new sleeping orders. Clean a blanket from out of the overhead compartment I laid down in the seat covering myself. Hopefully if someone came looking for my ticket, they would leave me alone if I gave off the impression that I was sleeping.

​It wasn’t long before the opening of the small room door awoke me from unconsciousness. I was drained and barely had energy to stand when I pulled the cover from off my head and was met by the gaze of a man who stood 6 feet tall dress in a black suit holding a briefcase in his hand. Like me his face I was just as surprised.

​“I didn’t know anyone else had booked this cart.” he spoke with an extremely strong voice.

​“No, I didn’t.” I replied quickly, tossing the blanket onto the seat rushing past him accidentally knocking his briefcase to the floor spilling the contents on the floor.

​“I’m sorry” I yelled, frantically leaning down picking up the papers as quickly as possible.

​“Please don’t call anyone.” I requested handing him the briefcase stepping into the hall. Lifting a hand, he spoke.

​“I was just about to order dinner would you like to join me?” His question caught me off guard.

I was certain by looking at his Versace suit and Rolex watch he would be quick to turn me in.

​“No thank you I’m not hungry.” I lied as my stomach begin to rumble at the thought of food.

​ “I’d really hate to eat alone it’s my treat, really I could you some company.” He gestured waiting for me to come back inside.

Back Inside, I wasn’t certain if it was because he had just offered me meal or not but something about his smile seem comforting. Taking my seat across from him I nearly jump at the knock on the door. Sitting up straight I did my best not to look out of place.

​“Hello Mr. fort” a hostess spoke handing him two menus.

His posture stern, his voice assertive he ordered a glass of red wine a steak with potatoes, broccoli and a dinner roll.

​ “Order whatever you like.” he assured me with a wink.

​“I’ll have what he’s having.” I said making my voice deeper.

​“So, do I get to know the name of the guest?” Mr. Fort asked losing his tie.

​“John.” I blurted out quickly hoping that he wouldn’t notice it was a lie. Tell others was just something I did. I gave the name John because the night my mother dropped me off at the hospital I was registered as John Doe, it wasn’t until the nurse change me that she seen my real name stitched in my diaper. Christopher Edwin Norwood.

​“So, John how long have you been on your own?”

​ “It’s that obvious?”

​“Truthfully yes, the muddy pants gave you away.”

​ “How old are you John.”

​ “I’ll be 18 next month.”

​“Do your parents know where you are?”

​“No one ‘s worried about me.”

​ “Well John I know we just met but I’m a little worried about you.”

​“So, what are you some kind of attorney or something?” I asked changing the subject pointing at his briefcase.

​“Or something.” He replied with a smile.

The food arrived and the questions change from who I was and where I was going to what I was interested in.

​“Why Philadelphia?”

​ “No particular reason.” I replied my mouth is still full.

​ “I figured I ‘d go as far as the train would take me.”

​“Are you in the mood for dessert.” Mr. Ford asked clearly seen my need for more.

​“Are you sure? “I question still uncertain as to why he was being so nice to me.

​ “Trust me it’s not a problem, I was once where you are, and I can see myself in you.”​

​“I doubt that you were like me.”

​“You’d be surprised what I went through to get where I am today. Looks like you’ll have to eat that dessert alone we should be arriving to my stop soon.”

​Without another word he stood grabbing his briefcase but not before digging into his pocket handing me $200 and a business card with the words “Bernard fort agency” across the front.

​ “Take care of yourself kid, and if you ever need anything look me up.” He smiled then walking out the door closing it behind him.

​Grate I tucked the $200 along with the card into my pocket. A moment later the door opened the female hostess had returned, to throw me out I could only imagine. Quickly I stood from my seat.

​“No worries, John.” she assured me using my false name.

​“Mr. Fort has taken care of everything your meals paid for and you’re okay to ride into Philadelphia.” She smiled grabbing the cart

​“So how do you know Mr. fort?”

​“I don’t honestly I just met him today, who is he what does he do?” I asked intrigued

​“He owns one of the top investigation companies in the country.”

​“Oh” I replied with a worried look in my eyes.

​“Don’t worry he’s not going come looking for you.” she giggled rolling the cart out the door.

With a full stomach and a grateful heart, I laid back on the set and just as expected it wasn’t long before unconsciousness found me.

​“John” a woman’s voice called.

​“It’s time to wake up” mom I whimpered in my sleep fighting through the darkness to see her face.

​“We’re nearly to the train station.” The Voice called as my eye slowly peered open staring directly in the face of the hostess.​

​“You made to Philadelphia.” She smiled handing me a small container, inside a slice of chocolate cake.

​“Be careful out there.” smiled watching as I stepped into hall.

Grabbing my bag, I begin to retreat, but was caught off guard by the hostess voice call my name.

​“John” her voice called in the distance, then suddenly became closer. Quickly turning, I met her again smiling face waving a small black book in her hand.

​“You forgot this.”​

​“no,” I stated looking it over briefly.

​“Must belong to Mr. fort, accidentally knocked his briefcase over and I must’ve missed this. You can give it to him the next time you see him, right?” I hoped.

​“No, todays my last day.”

​“No problem.” Hoping returning this would be a good enough way to say thank you.

​ “know where I can find him?”

Quickly flipping through the pages of the book there were nothing but addresses.

​“Looks pretty important to me.”

​ “Sorry I don’t.”

​“he gave me a card I’ll just have to start there.” I smile hoping to impress her. Tucking the little black book under arm.

​“Thank you.”

​“For what?” she called after me as I walk backwards down the aisle.

​ “For not kicking me off the train.” I wink stealing one of Mr. forts moves.

Two days and five addresses and I could only hope that’s the one highlighted in Mr. Ford’s little black book would bring closer to finding him. Two of the addresses belong to abortion facilities that looked as though they have been closed years ago. I could only hope that this one belongs to someone who could give me a lead on where to find him. Every stop was a dead end but everything inside of me told me that this addressed highlighted yellow would leave me somewhere closer. With my last $75 I hoped on a greyhound to New Jersey. After walking three of the longer blocks ever I arrived at the biggest house I had ever seen.

​“Hi, I’m looking for Mr. Fort.” I replied to the lady on the intercom. With a loud buzz the gates opened.

As my foot hit the first step, I greeted by a woman wearing what looked like a cleaning outfit

​ “Who is it Margaret?” a voice called from behind her as she pushed the 12-foot door fully open.

​ “I’m looking for Mr. Ford I ran into him on the train and he dropped this.” Before I managed another word, a woman dressed in a long blue gown appeared at the door.

​ “Where did you say you found this?” she asked reaching out her hand for the book.”

​ “I found it on the train to Philadelphia.”

​“I’m Mrs. Fort.” She replied.

Without hesitation I handed her the book watching as handed it to Margaret who frantically flipped through the pages

​“Figured it was important to him.”

​“More than you know, I don’t understand how he could be so careless.”

​“I knocked over his suitcase which is why I return it.”

​ “An Honest young man.” Margaret added

​“Indeed” The women in the blue dress stated walking into the house.

​“Mr. Fort’s looking for my son, this book helps with doing so, thank you for returning it. Margaret explained. Moments before Mrs. fort returned with a check book in hand.

​“That’s not necessary.” I expressed.

​“He was kind to me.”

Waving her had she stopped me, smiling at Margaret retreated inside.

​“You see that young woman there? Her name is Margaret’s, she’s worked for me since she was eighteen. There’s no amount a of that can compare to what you just did for her.” She smiles writing on the check.

​“How old are you son?”

​“I’ll be 18 June 10th.” Mr. fort lifted her head with a smile.

“Did you come here on your own?

“Yes, mama, I don’t any family.” With a sad look in her eyes she continued.

​“Got a bank Account?”

​“Yes mama.”

“So, who do I write the check out to.”

​“Chris, Christopher Norwood.” Scribbling down my name Instantly she hands me the check with a puzzled look in her eyes.

​ “$20,000?” I nearly yelled. “I make no mistakes.” Mrs. Fort smile hugging in her arms, catching off guard.

​“And you not alone.” I didn’t understand.

​“Wait here.” She instructed rushing into the house returning with Margaret.

​“Margaret this is Christopher Norwood he turns eight on June 10th.” Margaret Grasped covering her mouth with her hand.

​“Christopher, I want you to me Margaret Norwood.” Her Voice cracked.

​“Your mother.”

Kindness is better the fortune