Destination

An echoing chime from the large clock in the main square started to ring, signifying the departure of the train. A continuous monotone chugging carried the train out of the city. The girl's eyes were glued to the window she sat next to while she started to clench at her bear.

'So… why don't we start with introductions. My name is Sofia, and I am a teacher. I'm going to visit my family.'

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Silence filled the room as Noah stared at the girl with a scowl on the opposite seat, and the girl ignored them and only focused on her bear. '… What's your name, dear?' Sofia asks as she moves to sit next to her. The little girl carried on ignoring her. Noah, in a fit of rage, started berating her.

'Why did you call me papa? Where are your parents? Are you a runaway or something? Do you have any idea how dangerous what you are doing is?'

'Hey, calm down, you'll scare her,' Sofia says.

'Ana…my name is Ana,' she said while staring at him.

'Ana, what a beautiful name. mister over here didn't mean what he said he's just worried about you.' She says while staring daggers at Noah. He raised his hands while his face contorted in confusion.

'Why don't you introduce yourself next then?' Sofia asked. Noah crossed his arms and legs as he faced the window. 'Noah, I work in entertainment.' 'Wow, for someone in the entertainment industry, you're not very entertaining.' Sofia obnoxiously remarks with a grin on her face. A slight chuckle suddenly came from beside her, and as she turned to look, Ana was covering her face, but a grin could still be seen on her face. 'Ha, you act more like a kid than Ana does.' She says as she turns to Ana and asks, 'How old are you, Ana?'

'…8, I'm turning 9,' she says with a grin on her face.

'You're so much more mature than this old man over here, Ana. He's probably in his 30s, and he's acting like an 8-year-old'

'I'm 24 way younger than an old lady like you.' he chuckles to himself. 'What?! An old lady?

At least I act 24, unlike you' she snaps back.

A slight chuckle turns into laughter as Ana buries her face in her lap.

'So Ana, where are your parents?' the smile she had vanished, and silence crept into the room again. A sudden growl came from Ana's stomach, and her eyes darted to the window.

'Pfft, this train is making some weird noises' Noah chuckles as Ana's face turns red.

'Noah, are you hungry? Because I am. What about you, Ana?'

'Do you have money? 'Noah retorts while rolling his eyes to look at her to see Sofia mouthing something to him.

(What is wrong with you) and her eyes dart to gesture at Ana. 'Now that you mention it, I am hungry. Are you staying here, kid?' he says as he stands up. 'I think I saw the dining cart on our way here. I'm going to find a seat; see you there red.'

Sofia sighs as she offers her hand to Ana. 'Let's go; we do owe you for the tickets after all.' Ana's little hand reached out, and they made their way to the dining cart.

All the seats were full, and Noah, sitting in the bar section, gestured at them. Sofia slapped her face in annoyance and mumbled to herself, 'What is that idiot doing?'

They made their way to the bar and sat down, Ana sitting between them, and Sofia leaned over Ana, who was staring at the menu, to whisper in Noah's ear. 'You do know that there is more than one dining cart on this train, right?'

'…Well, we're already sitting, and it doesn't seem like the girl minds.'

'I don't,' she comments. Sofia took a seat while staring at Noah shaking her head, and Noah shrugged and looked at the menu in front of him.

They all stared at their menus, and Sofia asked, 'Ana, what do you want?'

'I think you might have to choose for her, and I don't think she can read.' Noah comments while staring over Ana's should as she focuses intensely.

'Ana, can you read?' Sofia asks

'Yes, I can. I couldn't decide whether I should get bliny or Siriniki-- okay. I've decided I want Siriniki with cream, please.'

'Ana dear, those are deserts shouldn't you pick some actual food?'

'Aren't deserts food?'

Sofia suddenly stutters as she tries to explain, 'Y-Yes, they are, but they aren't healthy for you, which is why you can't eat them a lot.'

'But they don't have any of what I normally eat.' Sofia hesitantly asks,

'What do you normally eat then?'

'It changes nana would change what she makes periodically. Today it's Schnitzel, and tomorrow it could be spaghetti and the day after maybe Paella.'

As she finished listing the dishes, Noah and Sofia stared at each other in amazement. Noah mouthing (what is Paella?).

'Ah, perhaps I could help,' the bartender said.

'We have chicken Pilaf if you'd like. It is similar to Paella. We can make it on a large plate, and you could all share how's that? And we could even get you the Siriniki on the side.' He suggests looking at Sofia and Noah, who agreed in confusion.

Not knowing what they had just bought, they sat there nervously waiting. 'What did we just buy?' Noah sighs while looking at Ana, who answered with

'It's small white things that…like have chicken and veggies.'

'Small? White things?' Noah and Sofia ask, staring at Ana, who just shrugs and remarks, 'you'll know it when you see it.'

While they waited, a group of men holding instruments came in and played. 'So…how long till we arrive at Warsaw?' Ana asked softly.

'About two days.' Noah says while looking at her as all her focus was on the musicians.

'So…where are you going after that?'

'I'll see,' she answers calmly.

'Do you even have money?' Noah asks again.

'I'll see,' she repeats.

The three remained silent until their food arrived. To their surprise, it was a giant plate of rice. The different colors from the vegetables mixed with the created a master-level art piece. A deep sigh came from both Sofia and Noah, followed by a large rumble of their stomachs.

'See? I told you, you'd know it when you see it.' Ana chuckles.

After eating, Ana fell asleep on the counter.

'Ha, I wish I was as carefree as her.' Noah commented as he picked her up and took her to their cabin, after which he returned to the bar. As he returned, he found Sofia sitting with a glass of wine, staring at a couple enjoying the music together, laughing.

'Someone on your mind?' Noah remarks as he takes his seat.

'No, I was just wondering how long it will be until they break up.' She says while chuckling.

'One of whatever she's having,' Noah says before turning to look at the couple. 'I'd give it about two years before his hair starts falling off and he leaves her.' Noah says while chuckling.

'Here, sir' he chugs the glass and gestures for another one before turning to Sofia.

'Usually, people follow up with a great story after saying something like that. So, let me guess your fiancée ran out on you?' She stares at him before gesturing for another glass.

'I don't remember us being close enough for that kind of talk.'

'I got a response, meaning I was close… why'd you leave him? Did he cheat?' She smiles at him before chugging another glass. 'No… that's not it; if he did, you would have already called him a bastard. So why'd you leave him?'

Sofia suddenly chuckles 'wow, you're good at this. Are you a detective or something?' He takes another chug before answering,

'Not exactly I'm used to scenes like this until this afternoon until this I was bartending as a part-timer. See, I told you my story now how about you.'

Her smile slowly disappeared before she started to chuckle and shake her head. 'He was perfect.' 'Doubt it,' Noah remarks. 'Ah, that's where you're wrong. We grew up together. I'm from Painswick.'

'You're an English woman!? Ha, who'd have thought.' he interrupts

'Shush, it's my story, not yours.' Two more glasses arrive. 'Sorry, Painswick right?' 'Yeah, I was saying, His father owned a local pub and mine a clinic. We were a match at birth, they said. He wanted me to stay there with him. But when I got a position in St. Pietersburg--I couldn't turn it down. So I broke things off with him.'

'Damn…to each their own I guess.'

He says as he lifts his glass for a toast. After a few more glasses Sofia passed out and Noah was about to carry her to the cabin. He then notices that he left her glasses on the bar counter so he returns to pick them up.

'Excuse me, sir the bill.'

The bartender said with a large smile on his face. Noah chuckled 'okay since red is out I'll take it.' As soon as he looked at the bill his eyes blew up as he started to stutter. 'Wait let me go get red, the woman who was with me moments ago she's meant to pay half.'

'Sir the bill' the bartender says as his grip on Noah's hand tightens. There was a lot of sniffling in the cabin that night

The next two days went by in a flash. They had to switch trains at Moscow before finally arriving in Warsaw.