Web of Dreams (Casteel 5)

friendly face, so I went directly to him.

"Excuse me," I said, "but could you tell me

where I would go to buy a ticket to Texas?"

"To Texas?" he asked smiling. "Texas is a big

state." The newsstand attendant laughed. "You know

where you're going in Texas, right?"

"Yes sir, I do."

"Well," he said, "just make a right at this first

corridor and at the end of the corridor, you'll find the

ticket booths." "Thank you," I said.

"Say, that's a pretty doll you're carrying, as

pretty as you," he said. I forgot how tightly I was

holding on to Angel. I smiled and started away. "Not

running away from home, are you?" he called to me. "Oh, no, sir."

He and the newsstand attendant laughed again.

When I arrived at the ticket booth, I asked for a ticket

to Fullerton, Texas. That was really all I knew about

Grandma Jana's home. I thought once I arrived there, I

could call her to come get me.

The ticket seller smirked.

"Fullerton, Texas?" He looked at his charts.

"Don't have any train stop there, Miss. What's it

near?"

"Oh, I'm not sure. I think . . ."

"Houston? Dallas? El Paso?"

I began to panic. If I didn't choose one, he

would surely think I was a girl running away from

home. He might even signal to the policeman and

nothing would be more horrible, more embarrassing

and degrading than being brought back to Farthy in a