A FIRE IN THE WIND
Chapter Forty-One
Allison Courtwell sighed as she helped Jack
and Rose with their bags.
"Well," she started in a
bittersweet voice. "This is it."
Rose, Jack, and Allison were at the train
station. It was Friday morning and it was almost time for Rose and Jack to take
the train up to Chicago.
"Now remember the tickets to Denver and
the ones to Los Angeles. Oh--and don't forget to wire me as soon as you get to
California," Allison said in a rushed voice.
"Ali, please don't worry. We'll be just
fine. I'll make sure to wire you," Rose said, smiling at her friend.
"You needn't be so paranoid. Jack and I are adults. We'll be fine taking
care of ourselves."
Jack laughed. "Allison, you sound like
my mother."
Allison shrugged. "Well, how the hell
else are you going to remember your tickets?" She smiled. "Are you
sure you're all right money wise? I don't want you starving on the trip and
unable to get an apartment!"
"Yes, Ali," Rose replied,
aggravated.
"Are you sure you want to go?"
asked Allison, only half serious.
Rose looked over at Jack and then back at
Allison. "I don't think it's possible for me to be any more sure then I am
right now!"
Allison smiled. "Of course you are! I
only regret that I can't come with you two. But you know Philadelphia is my
place."
"Train fifty-three to Chicago, now
boarding!" came the voice of a young railroad worker.
Jack sighed. "Well, Rose, it's time to
leave Philly."
"Give me a minute, Jack," Rose
urged.
Jack smiled and began to gather up their
bags.
"Well," Allison began, reluctantly.
"Good-bye, Rose."
Rose gave her friend a whole-hearted hug.
"Good-bye, Ali."
"Go on." Allison chuckled.
"You'll miss the train."
Rose nodded. "Keep in touch, Ali."
Jack took Rose's hand as they went into the
train and showed the conductor their tickets. He led the two to a tranquil
corner of the train.
Jack placed Rose in the window seat, wanting
her to see the whole country.
Rose took out a book, while Jack took out his
sketchbook. After seeing Allison still outside, Rose scribbled on a piece of
paper and knocked on the window.
Allison came over, bewildered. Rose opened
the window and handed her friend small folded piece of paper.
Allison accepted it. "What's this?"
she asked, curiously.
"Open it later, Ali," Rose replied.
Allison stepped back from the train that was
now ready to depart as she looked at her friend through the window of the
train.
It was somewhat of a surreal sight. For the
first time ever, Rose looked completely content with everything. Allison
couldn't believe what had happened. A month ago, Rose was ready to kill
herself, but now she was about to fulfill her dream. She was about to see the
world with someone that was obviously going to make her happy for the rest of
her life.
Allison sighed as the train's engine began to
heat up and the train began to depart from the station.
There went Rose. Her friend who had gotten
herself into a hell of a situation but somehow managed to make everything turn
out perfect in the end. And everything would be perfect, Allison was sure.
Allison was only delighted that she had
helped make her best friend's dream come true.
Allison step into the taxi, which was waiting
for her, and she suddenly remembered the piece of paper that lay in her hand.
She opened it, gingerly, and read it to herself.
Ali--
Maybe Philadelphia isn't your place. It
wasn't mine. Remember, you laughed in class too.
--Rose
Allison smiled to herself as the taxi headed
for her house. Maybe she could learn to run away, too. Maybe someday, she would
find her Jack Dawson.