a normal problem in the middle of such an abnormal situation. It was how kinner were! For a moment, she closed her eyes and gave thanks to the Lord for bringing Katie and her brother into her life.
If she had still been traveling alone, too afraid to speak to anyone, the situation would be unbearable.
“Lucy?” Katie whispered, her voice impatient as she squirmed. “What should we do? I’ve gotta go.”
Lucy couldn’t help but notice that Katie had now looped her into the problem. “I think we should be patient for a little bit longer, dear. Our attendant should let us know what is happening any moment.”
“But—”
“Enough, Katie,” Calvin said sharply.
Lucy squeezed the little girl’s shoulders. “If no one comes in five minutes, I’ll walk you down.”
“Promise?”
“Of course,” she replied, though she hoped it wouldn’t come to that. Walking through the dim light with a child while stepping over fallen luggage and other personal items would be quite an obstacle course.
Luckily, right then, their attendant stepped into the train car, a flashlight beaming in his hand.
Immediately, everyone halted their conversations and looked his way.
“Quiet! Quiet, please.” After he cleared his throat, he spoke again. “I regret to inform you all that due to circumstances beyond our control, we will have to unload the train.”
“What happened?” Katie’s Uncle John called out, his deep voice full of authority.
“The engineer has not informed me,” the attendant replied primly.
“Well, why not?” another man called out.
Lucy leaned forward to hear the answer. But instead of responding to the question, the attendant turned forceful. “Please, everyone, remain calm. I know some of you have experienced some injuries, and others are terribly shaken up. The engineer has called ahead and requested medical assistance.”
As various people murmured about their slight injuries, Lucy noticed that Calvin merely sat silently—as if his forehead weren’t bleeding. “At the moment, we are attempting to turn on our emergency power source. With any luck, the lights will flicker on in a few moments.”
A few moments later, the attendant spoke again. “Buses have arrived,” he proclaimed. “We will unload and take you to Toledo. There, we will do our best to rebook all of you in a timely fashion. For everyone’s safety, please gather your items and move forward.”
Around her people groaned but were fairly obedient as they gathered their belongings.
Katie scrambled to her feet. “Oh, I hope we can hurry! I’ve really gotta go.”
“We’ll do our best,” Lucy promised with a wink in Calvin’s direction as they stepped into the aisle.
Calvin took his sister’s hand. “You hold my hand until I find you a bathroom. I don’t want to lose you.”
“I won’t let go,” Katie promised, her tone of voice high and excited. Just as if they were on a wonderful-gut adventure.
Doing her best to look eager for the adventure, too, Lucy smiled Katie’s way as she joined the line. They’d taken about five steps when she realized that she’d been so preoccupied with Katie that she’d completely forgotten her quilt bag. It was still on her seat. She stepped to the side.
“Lucy?” Calvin asked over his shoulder.
“I forgot my bag. You go ahead in line and then I’ll catch up.”
Katie’s eyes widened. “But what if we lose ya?”
“You won’t,” Lucy promised. “We’re all going to the same place.”
“Should we wait for you?”
“Now you want to wait?” Calvin asked his sister. “After doing nothing but complaining about needing to visit the restroom? I think not. Lucy, we’ll see you on the bus.”
Lucy waved to Katie. “I’ll be right behind you two.”
Katie bit her lip. “But—”
Their uncle stepped in. “Come now, Katie. You are holding up the line. And you need to find a washroom, A.S.A.P.”
Looking over her shoulder one last time, Katie gave Lucy a little wave, then obediently turned and walked forward. Moments later, they were off the train.
It took Lucy quite some time to backtrack to her seat. After she did, she slipped the handles of her bag over her arm and waited for another break in line.
But the attendant’s voice had gotten more shrill. And whether it was that or the thunderstorm outside, the line of people began to jostle even more. Tension rose in her as she looked from one face to the next.
The moment that she stepped out of the train car, rain pattered against her skin. “Come along,” another train employee called out, his face and voice barely visible under all of his rain gear.
Lucy looked for Calvin and Katie. Surely they were out of the restroom by