midnight express

Chapter 1

The singing of jolly folks along Merion Street echoed along the lonely alley as Casey wandered along. The elections were coming up and she had just come of age to vote. The end of the war meant a celebration all day every day and to spread the joy the American way, bars and pubs were at their best. As she hurried on to reach home before it was dark and that is when the bad men come out as so she was told. She didn't want what happened to cousin Ruby to happen to her as well, and besides, there was no one to protect young women like her because President Hoover was too busy entertaining his many many political opponents who were trying to overthrow him but that isn't something Casey was encouraged to discuss, politics was a men's topic.

Flappers were the new type of women flaunting the streets. Gangs of women with brightly coloured dresses shortened to perfection pranced around brandishing their cigarettes and brand new bobs. Often found dancing to jazz and other new music brought in by the coloured ones from Chicago as so her mother says. The coloured ones were increasing rapidly around here too. After the war, large numbers of them were starting to start their own businesses down the south and making their own music which was becoming growingly popular. Casey's best friend Angel came from that neighbourhood and was highly disliked by the white society.  Her family was constantly being chased by that horrible gang of people with white masks and robes.

As Casey finally reached the doorstep of her little cottage, she entered a set dinner table steaming with piles of hot food and Little Willy running around with his toy plane. Mr Man was due to be home any moment now as the war was over and he no longer had to be out on those horrid trenches alongside the British and French. Although he was lucky to have survived and returned home, he still bore the scars of a soldier on the field.  

Mrs Deen was a stout 50-year-old woman with auburn hair greying at the roots. She farms apple cheeks and had a jolly smile on her face whenever you see her and gave off the slight whiff of freshly baked apple pie (probably because that was about the only dessert she could make). She was often found in the kitchen with her favourite pink apron strapped around her waist, humming to the new tunes on the radio.

Mr Man was a tall gentleman with dirty blonde hair in a pageboy cut. His heavy build gives him the look of someone harsh and menacing when he was truly the opposite. the war had made him look older than he seemed and wrinkles had started to arrive across his forehead from times of worry and stress. He had a potbelly full of beer and a merry laugh to accompany it. Medals hung by his uniform as he walked by, showing off his wins from the war.

Little Willy was 6 years old and did what every other six year old would do. He played with his wooden toys (the zebra being his favourite) and refused to go to bed ever. His favourite food was chocolate cake and he despised vegetables (especially broccoli and cauliflower) with a burning passion.

"I think that we should all take a trip down to Iowa, what do you all think of that?" boomed Mr Man as he swallowed down another spoonful of his stew. "The trains have started hitting the tracks again and I think it's time for a holiday!" Casey bubbled with excitement. This was the perfect getaway from the constant celebration in New York.  "Will there be dinosaurs?", questioned Little Willy with his bright green eyes. "No Willy, I don't think there will be dinosaurs in Iowa but I'm sure we can find some random lizards jumping about" chuckled Casey.

The next morning, they made their way to the station, all packed and ready for the long journey which would end up changing their lives forever.