The next day, Grandfather drove them to the train station in Boston. The train station was very large and confusing. People rushed about in all directions and many announcements came over the loudspeakers at the same time. The Aldens stayed close to Aunt Jane as they walked through the crowded station.
Violet said, “I’ll bet there are people from all over the world in this train station. I didn’t know so many people took trains.”
“Yes,” Aunt Jane answered. “Some of them live in places where it is easier to take a train than to fly. Others don’t like to fly. Some people make train riding their hobby. They travel on every railroad in the United States at least once.”
“That sounds like a good hobby,” Benny said. “Maybe I’ll do that.”
“This is a long walk,” Violet said. “I’m glad my suitcase is small.”
“I’m getting tired, too,” Benny agreed. Then he looked at the sign on the platform. “Uh-oh! We have to go all the way back inside the station.”
“Did you forget something?” Aunt Jane asked.
“No,” Benny answered. “But the sign says Chicago. We’re going to San Francisco.”
“We change trains in Chicago,” Aunt Jane reminded him. “This is the right train. The Lake Shore Limited. It’s a single-level train. In Chicago we change to a double-decker train called the California Zephyr.”
Benny laughed. “I’m glad we’re in the right place. My suitcase is too heavy to go all the way back and try again.”
“Let’s wait right here until the conductor tells us we can board. These are the sleeping cars,” Aunt Jane said.
“How do you know?” Henry asked.
“See if you can guess,” Aunt Jane answered.
Henry studied the train for a few minutes and then he said, “These cars have smaller windows, don’t they?”
“Exactly,” Aunt Jane said.
Suddenly the children heard a loud voice shouting, “You can’t have it!”
They turned and saw a young woman with bright red hair. A taller, older woman was pulling at something large and black that the girl was holding. They were pulling very hard in opposite directions.
The older woman said, “Let go! I will not permit you to take them.”
“They’re mine!” the younger red-haired woman answered in a very loud voice.
Just then, the conductor called, “All aboard. All aboard.”
“I wonder what they’re fighting over?” Violet asked.
Jessie said, “They sound really angry. It looks like they’re fighting over that suitcase.”
“It’s not a suitcase,” Violet said. “It’s an artist’s portfolio. It’s built especially so artists can carry big drawings and paintings.”
“Do you think the young woman is the artist?” Jessie asked.
“Maybe she’s trying to take the older woman’s paintings?” Henry suggested.
Benny turned to Aunt Jane and said, “See, we aren’t even on the train and we’ve found a mystery.”
“But we must get on the train now,” Aunt Jane said. “The conductor has called twice.”
“Look!” Henry said. Just then the younger woman gave the portfolio a big tug. She pulled so hard that the older woman fell down. The younger woman looked frightened and started to walk toward the older one. Then she seemed to change her mind. She quickly grabbed her suitcase and the portfolio and jumped onto the train.
Henry ran over to the older woman and helped her up on her feet. He asked, “Are you all right?”
“Yes, of course,” the older woman said. “I just lost my balance.”
“Are you sure you’re not hurt?” Henry asked. “Do you want us to call the conductor or someone?”
“I’m fine,” the older woman said sharply.
“Did that girl take your portfolio?” Henry asked.
“No!” The older woman shook her head. “It was her portfolio. And I don’t need any help!” She turned her back on Henry and walked quickly away.
When Henry returned to his family, he said, “She’s all right. She says the portfolio belongs to the girl.”
“It was nice of you to help,” Aunt Jane said. “But we must get on the train now.”
“The red-headed girl won the tug of war,” Jessie said thoughtfully. “I hope the portfolio really is hers.”
The Aldens boarded the train and the conductor directed them to their sleeping car. The girls were in room 102 and the boys were across the hall in room 105. Benny opened the door and said, “Wow! This really is a small room! Where do we put our suitcases?”
Then he saw a doorknob beside the sink and opened it. “This is a closet,” he said. “We can put our suitcases in here.” They stowed their suitcases in the little closet and tried out the sink.
Then Benny went across the hall to visit his sisters. The girls were looking out the window at the platform. Jessie pointed. “The woman who fell down is still standing on the platform.”
“What’s she doing?” Benny asked. He looked out the window. Then he answered his own question. “She’s talking to one of the conductors.”
Henry joined them. He couldn’t quite fit into the compartment, but he stood in the corridor and scrunched down so he could see out the window. “He’s a porter,” Henry said. “The conductor is the one who says when to get on and off the train. The porters carry bags and help you.”
“She’s giving him money,” Jessie reported to the others. “It looks like a lot of money.”
“Maybe she’s buying a ticket,” Violet suggested.
“No,” Jessie said. “She can only buy a ticket at the ticket booth.”
The children watched as the porter boarded the train and the older woman stood alone on the platform.
“Why would she give the porter money when she’s not even getting on the train?” Violet wondered.
“She looks sad,” Jessie said. “I wonder what the argument was all about.”
“When I offered to call for help, she looked sort of strange,” Henry said.
I wonder why they were fighting over the port . . . port . . . ” Benny couldn’t say the new word.
“Portfolio,” Violet said. “The red-headed girl looked young. Maybe she’s an art student.”
“Maybe,” Henry said. “But let’s not waste our time talking about that. Let’s explore the train.”
“Good idea,” Benny agreed.
“We can all take a look around,” Violet agreed. “Maybe we’ll meet the art student somewhere.”
“Maybe in the snack bar,” Benny suggested.
The Alden children went out into the corridor and found Aunt Jane’s compartment. “We’re going to explore,” Benny said. “Do you want to come along?”
Aunt Jane shook her head and said, “You children can look around while I read. But be sure to save some room for dinner.”
“Don’t worry, I would never miss dinner,” Benny promised her. |