Hissss! The train doors slid open. Aria held her ticket with both hands. This was her first real train ride. Beyond the doors stood soft green seats. Above them were hooks for coats. And beside one seat was a huge window. Aria hurried toward it. Her friend Kit came right behind.
They had one wish for the ride. They wanted to see their own engine. At the station, Aria had seen it ahead. It was red, with a round black lamp. But now it was far up front. Could they spot it from inside the train? They meant to try.
Before they climbed aboard, they had made a plan. Kit would have the window seat first. Aria would have it on the way back. But that big window was right there. Aria slid onto the seat beside it. She pressed her nose against the glass. Kit stopped at her elbow.
“My turn first,” said Kit. Aria held her ticket against her knee. She wanted the first look so much. The train gave a little bump. Outside, the station began to slide away. Aria stayed where she was. Kit sat beside her, away from the glass. His feet no longer swung.
Click-clack. Click-clack. Aria could feel the wheels beneath her shoes. A red leaf raced along the platform. Then the platform ended. A fence went past. Then a shed. Then three fat pumpkins by a gate. Aria pointed at each one for Kit. Surely that would help him enjoy the ride.
“Pumpkins!” she said. Kit leaned forward, but the gate was gone. Aria pointed at a cow next. By the time Kit looked, it was gone too. Telling him was not the same. She could see that now. Outside, the cow had left a wet nose print on its fence. Inside, Aria had left one on the glass.
Aria rubbed her nose print with her sleeve. She looked at Kit beside her. He still held his ticket with both hands. They had wanted this ride together. Yet she had taken his first turn. The train rocked gently beneath them. Aria lifted her nose from the window and turned toward him.
“I took your turn. I’m sorry.” Aria stood in the space by her seat. She moved aside so Kit could pass. “You sit here.” Kit slid to the window. His feet began to swing again. Aria sat beside him. She had less glass now, but she could still see out. Their shoulders touched.
The train passed a field of yellow trees. Ahead, the track made a long bend. Kit leaned toward the glass. Aria leaned forward beside him. One green carriage came into view. Then another. Then—there it was! The red engine pulled them around the curve. Its round lamp faced down the track. They had found the front of their own train.
“Hello, engine,” Aria said softly. Kit gave it a tiny wave. Then he moved his elbow closer to his side. Aria rested hers on the window ledge too. For a little while, the engine stayed in sight. Two small noses made two round marks on the glass.