[...] This discussion closed the fourth day of their common travel up north. They've just reached their final destination: from now on each one would follow his own path. Benjamin would join Chicago by train and Joe would go on with his truck towards Colorado, in order to reach Phoenix.
The last evening they spent together in one of these stereotypical American bars. Dark atmosphere, pretty girls idling around, stage and R & B music. Sometimes and again a band would appear. However, that night there was none, the Jukebox guaranteed a nice atmosphere. The bar itself was crowded, a constant sound of chatting - American small-town-talk - filled the air. The boys found a free table and sat down with their beer.
Joe gave his new accomplice the last advise of how to act, what to do, say the least. Most of all he told him to act for himself only, that was his philosophy, "me mine, the rest can shift". This phrase was to be set in Benjamin's mind during all of the trip and for the rest of his life. Of course it was nothing new to him, he knew it since the first evening spent in Del Rio, Joe had always been a selfish guy. This ultimate talk only proved it all the more. "He wants to take the best share, he wants to benefit in this world, thanks to the world", that was clear to Benjamin by now.
Another thing came to Benjamin that night, once they had separated for good, by now he had made a great step in his existence. True, one couldn't really feel a difference at age 18, great expectations prove to be lost illusions, it's just one more ordinary day, one more year to come. But for Benjamin it proved to be the contrary. He was 18 years old and had somehow broken his past, somehow failed his life but the fact is he felt some change, it seemed to him he had become more mature, closer to adult life. This he realized. He also realized that now he'd have to break away with this dreamy, perhaps too fanciful childhood. True, it was a wonderful time even if the living conditions were rude and rather hard to get by. By now he knew he would have to forget these dreams, these wishes to become famous as a writer. He would have to grip his courage with both hands; think adult, look adult, act adult. Now it was for his own sake. Perhaps the police already knew about his presence, it was clear to him he would have to leave as soon as possible for Chicago. Joe told him he'd be safe there for there were so many other problems over there they could hardly spend time on a new affair. He had to remain discreet.
The following day Benjamin went to the station, just as it opened. "I'd like to get a ticket for Chicago, sir. I want to leave as soon as possible."
"The next train would be on Friday, is that okay?" In short, the next train was to leave only a week after. This really bothered Benjamin, for sure he didn't want to stay in town that long.
"Well…, just forget it!" he replied in a rather desperate way.
The clerk reacted to this call of desperation and suggested how to reach Chicago by other means but the railway: the Greyhound Bus Company, truckdrivers, hitchhiking... suddenly he said there was a train going further north.
"Where is it going?"
"It reaches South Dakota I guess, still it wouldn't help you, it's a merchandise line". The employee also told him it stopped at the station but very shortly and took no passengers.
Benjamin would stay close to the railroad line and wait for the train. He was already an outlaw so he could go on, he'd jump on the train and reach its final destination. All he wanted was to leave this here small town.
At 2 pm the long train struggled into the station. It was agricultural, with cattle. The first wagons were filled with cereal and the rest was filled with cows. No need to describe the odour of the train. He could read the initials ' TX ' on each wagon. Somewhere in between was a passenger wagon in which he could find some cowboys who accompanied their cattle. He was just about to jump in it when he realized this might not be the smartest thing to do. "This train comes from Texas, so I guess those people know about the hold up, and may know about me." He turned on his heels and searched for a shelter in another wagon. Too late, the whistle sound let him know he had no more time to choose. He jumped on the next wagon: bad-luck. It was a wagon full of cows. Benjamin had rather to get accustomed to the stinky beasts, for this trip was to last!
© 2012 Matt Oehler
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