Chapter 7
Somewhere in North Carolina
18-19 December 2010
Sean
PAUL AND I BOARDED the train Saturday evening in a state of excitement—we were glad to be going home for the Christmas break, and we were especially glad to be let out of school a few days early, despite the crisis at home that had made it necessary. The security guy had stayed on the station platform until the train pulled out of the station, which we thought was nice of him. He told us that he’d promised our dads that he would see us safely off, and he meant to keep his promise. The train had been late when it arrived in Charleston, and it was nearly ten thirty by the time we were under way.
“Window or aisle?” Paul said as we stood in the aisle beside our seats and stowed our bags in the overhead rack.
“I’m gonna sleep
