The Book of Serenity

Chapter 1

Chapter 1

The sound of thunder awakens me. The ground rumbles. I look out the window. Then the train pulls in front of the house across the street. Where does that even go? It must be pretty secret if comes at midnight. Of course the trains don't run that late, but I've gotten used to it over the past three years. And I know better than to question something I'm not willing to get into.

The rain pounds on the ground outside. It's a little awkward that I haven't even met the man across the street, even after three years.

It's a school night, again. I don't even try to get sleep any more. It doesn't bother me. I'm one of the kids who just does what's necessary at school and tries not to get into anything.

At about seven o'clock I walk towards the bus as the low fog covers my feet.

My steps feel off today, and I almost trip when I lift my foot to step on the bus. Normally, I would sit with one of my friends, but today I needed some time alone.

The bus started to move and I could feel my head slightly jerk back. I feel a little too curious. The kids at school, even some of my friends, have been telling me for years that he is ... just a little odd, maybe even a kind of scary. But what do they know, they're not his neighbor, I am. And I am becoming a little determined to find out a little more about my situation.

"What am I thinking?" I tell myself, "This is not the time to come up with ideas to spy on my neighbor; I have to focus on school." But I know I am just coming up with excuses because I'm not the one to focus on school.

Before I can even focus on anything suspicious across the street, the bus moves out of our little neighborhood... I guess. As we pass by the train stop, I notice the train that always comes at midnight, the midnight train. A large, bright orange sign is posted on the front the midnight train that reads "OUT OF ORDER". Does that company know that it actually does work? Do they know where it goes? And if so, who rides it, that man across the street? How would they know? No wait, here's my best question yet: Why do I care? This guy has never been a bother before. Why should I get into this?

I drop the conversation with myself.

The bus stops at the door of the school. As I walk in the building I am discouraged by the dull colors of the walls and the strict teachers patrolling the hallways as they pass by. Of course they will not officially start school until a very specific 8:00. That means we sit in the hallway, bored out of our eye sockets, until that time... how "professional".

People start to make jokes about my neighbor but to me, it's not something to joke around about. I laugh anyway, but I try to leave the subject alone most of the time.

I also try to hide my curiosity, although, I can never really get the thought of that train out of my mind.

The teachers start to shoo us upstairs. I can't stop staring at nothing, lost in my thoughts. I look around at the people. It's like a stampede. All I see are the flashes of instances where people almost run me over.

I walk in the room right before the bell. I start to read a book to pass the time of homeroom, but all I see is a blank page. I'm too focused on all of the thoughts bouncing around in my head.

I'm caught not paying attention in Reading. I dose off once or twice in Science. And in English I find myself drawing the symbols I noticed of the train.

By Sixth period, I realize I must write down my thoughts. I remember my thoughts from this morning about not getting interested in the subject, and how I'm doing the opposite of what I planned to do. But this time I don't feel interested but grabbed by the idea, the insanely crazy idea of the oddly strange things this all could mean.

Just then I come to my senses and realize that Sixth period is not the time to do things that aren't class work. Mr. Hedrick is staring down at me as I struggle to make a convincing, quick first paragraph of my Social Studies essay.

"I need see you after class," he says as he slightly laughs at my failed attempt at a paragraph.

"Oh shit!" I think to myself.

Then I enter my mind and see all of the possibilities of what could be going on about that train. The thought that bothers me the most is the man getting on the train for reasons that have to do with me.

I am awakened to real life with the sound of the bell. After everyone else leaves I go to Mr. Hedrick.

"You wanted to see me," I say.

"Oh, yeah, come out in the hallway," he replies. Fortunately, for me, he doesn't seem too mad.

"What's up with you today?" he asks, "You're not usually a bad student." "I don't think you're just avoiding class, I think something's going on," he suggests.

"No, I was just avoiding class," I reply. He takes a deep breath then ever so slightly smiles.

"Look, I need to get to seventh period," I say as I head to the stairs. He sets his hand on my shoulder.

"What's happened," he says with just a little frustration.

"Even if there was something wrong, I wouldn't tell you or hardly anyone else in this school," I snap back.

Then, silence. He doesn't know how to respond. We just look at each other for a while. He looks at my long, brown hair as I look at his intimidating appearance. And we both get distracted, not even thinking about the original conversation.

"Well, you can go now," he says as he walks back into his room. I walk down the stairs as quickly as possible, hoping he wouldn't stop me.

I get through gym just fine, though I find myself staring into space a lot of the time.

As soon as the bell rings I'm out the door. However, I have mixed feelings about getting home. School sucks, but what about the man across the street.

I can't think as much on the ride home. The bus is crowded, and I'm about to fall off the edge of the seat.

The bus gets to my stop, and I'm almost scared to get off. Each step is more intimidating. Then, I walk around the other side, and the only thing standing between me and the house across the street is the bus. Then, it drives away, and a blow of wind follows. Along with it comes the pure smell of autumn

However, as the bus drives away, I notice the man across the street getting his mail. I see him, and he sees me. The world is silent except for the sound of the wind. His piercing blue eyes stare into mine. I pretend not to be afraid.

Even though I'm scared, I walk away slowly, trying to hide my fear. I keep looking at him through the window. He just stands there and enjoys the smeel of autumn. I start to feel more comfortable, as if we had some connection there that we didn't before.

I begin to memorize some features, as anyone would do after seeing someone for the first time. Tall. Dark brown hair about down to his shoulders. And a dark teal trench coat covers his back and arms.

I walk away from the window with a strange emotion. I'm scared and interested. He walks away eventually, slowly like me.

That night I wake up again around twelve o'clock. The train comes as always. It's steam fills the air. It's engine rumbles the ground. This time I'm actually interested rather than scared for my life. I absorb all the details of the train, then project them on this blank, white sheet that seems boring at a first glance but when used properly can explain the most complex of ideas.

Then, I see a familiar figure. Tall. Hair about down to the shoulders. And a long trench coat that covers his back and arms.

I'm not surprised that the man is riding the train. I again get that strange emotion. Scared but interested.

The train is older looking. It's not modern or new. It's black and matches the midnight sky except for the sparkling stars and the glowing moon that causes a beautiful shine on the side of the train. I stare at the three symbols on the front. I haven't gotten to see them for very long before. They appear to be a lion, coyote, and bird. My drawings look better than the ones I did in English class. Before I know it the train jerks forward and slowly starts to head to its next destination.

I'm not sure, but I think the man notices me. He stares and I stare like we did when I got off the bus.