Snow fell thick and fast, obscuring anything more than a foot ahead and clogging up the sidewalk. Still the young woman slogged on, arms wrapped around a bundle. Her blonde hair escaping the clutches of a grey cap and her breath steaming out from the scarf wrapped around her neck. A thin wail split the silence. “Hush baby... Please hush. We’ll get warm soon, I promise my little muffin.” She bit back tears and made for the nearest light. She stumbled through the door and blinked in the brightly lit building.
“No trains today miss. Leastways, not until the clearing engine goes through.” A kindly old man in a rail attendant uniform said. The child’s cry gave him a start.
“I’m just, just getting us warm mister. No harm ok?” She sat in a stark bench and swept the melting snow from her coat and hat, gently removing the blanket from around the baby. “Mommies little muffin okay now?” The crying turned to a happy gurgle and the girl smiled.
She was startled by a gentle hand to her shoulder, the station attendant had returned, a mug in his hand. “Here young ’un drink this and get warm.” He turned to walk away but paused. “Do you need anything to heat some formula? Or is the baby alright?”
“She’ll be fine for now mister. Thanks... She had some before we got out in the weather.” The blonde haired girl smiled in thanks.
“Well just you let me know, heavens knows that we have to keep the place open... Rules is rules after all, you just holler if you need anything. I can probably fix you up with something.” He started to shuffle back to his desk and stopped once more. “What’s your name, by the way?”
“Ditzy.” She smiled. “Ditzy’s my name.”
*
The sound of the track cleaner roused Ditzy from her trance. Her baby, her precious muffin was sleeping in her arms, the image of an angel. The snow had stopped and the rails were cleared off, soon normal service would be returning. Slowly getting to her feet, Ditzy made her way to the ladies room. Still holding her baby close she took a look in the mirror, harsh neon lights making the bruises on her face show up worse.
“Seventeen, dropped out of school. A mother already and with ‘tarded up eyes. You aint no daughter of mine... Just some product of that whore mother o’ yours!” The slap cracked through the room, the dull thump of a punch followed soon after. Only the baby’s cry stopped the beating. “Get outta my house.” She’d left, and walked. Looking once more at the swelling blackness of the bruising in contrast to the lilac tufts on her little Sparkler’s head, Ditzy made up her mind.
“Mister, which train goes furthest away from here, right on, no changes?” Ditzy stood at the ticket counter. The attendant put his spectacles on and peered at the screen
“Durned newfangled...” he muttered under his breath. “Ah, here we are. Ponyville miss. The next train is at midnight, only twenty minutes to go too!” He tskd, “Long journey too, days maybe?” Ditzy’s heart sank, there was no way she could pay for a journey like that. She paused and mentally totted up what money she did have.
“How... How much for that?”
The kindly old man looked at her, noted the bruises, the haunted look in her eyes. “How much yah got?”
“Fifty bucks and some change.”
He looked her in the eye, “You’re in luck, its twenty bucks.” He looked her in the eyes again as he punched out the orders. Ditzy held back a jaw drop and instead gave a shy smile as she handed over the notes. “You’re not wanting a return I trust?”
“No sir.” She held the sleeping Sparkler tightly.
He handed over the ticket with a smile. “Safe journey now.”
*
Twenty minutes later Ditzy was boarding the late train to Ponyville. A handful of other passengers were in the carriages, most dozing lightly. Carefully walking through the quite train, Ditzy found what looked like a nice out of the way spot and settled in.
Just a few hours after the train set off and she was the furthest she had ever been to the small town she’d grown up in. Under normal circumstances, even a year ago, the prospect would have frightened her. But here? Now? With a little life that depended entirely on her to survive and proseper? It was the best thing to happen to her. Snuggling little Sparkler closer and hitching a blanket around them, she fell into a fitful sleep.
*
Dawn light shining through the window woke Ditzy, Sparkler gave a brief cry at the disturbance but settled again after a few hushes from her mother. Sitting up gently Ditzy surveyed her surroundings. No new passengers had sat around her but a train guard sat opposite. Gazing into middle distance. Catching his eye Ditzy shyly ducked. “That’s a pretty baby you have.” He smiled.
“Yes, she’s the most beautiful, but I suppose I am a little biased.” Ditzy laughed, surprising herself.
“Yeah, reminds me of my little ones. I’ll be seeing them once we reach Ponyville.” He grinned.
“Ponyville? You live there?” Ditzy perked up, she wanted to know more about her destination. That night anywhere had seemed better than “home” but now she had slept on it a nagging little voice was telling her to at least have the semblance of a plan.
“Yes ma’am, I work the rails for a four week and then do this run home for a four week, work in the station during those times. Looking to get the permanent post out there once the old guy retires.” The guard removed his hat and sat back in the chair.
“What’s it like there, in Ponyville?” Ditzy didn’t realise how wistful she sounded, but her tone struck a chord with the railway man.
“Oh, it’s a pretty little town. Proper farming community surrounded by the most gorgeous mountains and forests you ever laid eyes on. Scrap of desert at one limit, leads off to the Swaybacks. Everfree forest on the other. Loveliest place to bring up a family and great for a new start.” He smiled as light grew in Ditzy’s eyes.
“Sounds great.”
“The best ma’am. You headed there?”
Ditzy was taken aback, “Uh, yes. I sort of bought the ticket that took me furthest from my start point.” She realised what she had said and a hand flew to her mouth.
“Sounds like a good plan, ain’t anywhere nicer to go to than Ponyville. Heck, all of Canter State is the best of the country.” He thumped his chest, “Then I always have been a Canter State guy.” His voice softened. “You’ll like it there.” With a smile and a tip of his hat as he replaced it, the guard stood. “Now I have some rounds to make, then we’re putting in briefly at the next stop. Nice speakin’ to you.”
Ditzy nodded her thanks and began to rummage in her rucksack for her bottled water and the baby formula. Sparkler wouldn’t sleep for much longer and she’d certainly want food and a change.
*
“Last call for Ponyville!” The train guard, Ticket Clipper as he’d told Ditzy the day before, called. “Last call!” The train whistled and began to move, the doors shut and Clipper returned to his seat near Ditzy. “You excited?”
“Of course I am!” Ditzy grinned, she had really started to feel much more upbeat in the past two days since leaving her old home. The bruises on her face were fading and Sparkler was doing fine. She’d enthralled most of the train crew since they’d settled into the journey, hot water and formula appeared right on time, usually as a gift from one of the catering staff or some other passenger who had been enchanted by the gurgling bundle. “We’re going to have a new start. I just need to find a place to stay and someone who’ll give me a job.” She tried not to let the optimism fade from her voice as she contemplated the next step.
“Now don’t go concerning yourself Ditzy, Ponyville is a hospitable town, we’ll figure you something out. Ain’t anyone who’d turn away mother ‘n’ baby. No way.” Clipper nodded firmly. “We’re just thirty minutes out now, so keep on smilin’!” Ditzy gave her best and tried to quell the fear rising from the pit of her stomach.
*
“Welcome to Ponyville Ditzy.” Clipper smiled, a wide sweep of his arm proudly presenting his home town. “Now, I just got some things to sort out, but you sit for a while and we’ll get you a warm bed for at least tonight.” Ditzy gave her thanks and sat on an upholstered seat in the station waiting room. She watched her new benefactor undertake some formalities of his job but was surprised when the door was opened by two shouting excited children.
“Daddy! Daddy!” The smallest of them, a little boy, called running up to Clipper. The elder, a girl, followed close behind.
“Tin and Tea! Why ain’t you a sight for sore eyes. C’me’re and give your daddy a big ol’ hug!” The man crouched down and swept the giggling pair into a bear hug, standing up with both of them in his arms. Hi wife entered the building then and joined in with the embrace. Ditzy smiled at the scene. Even something like this was unusual in her life.
Clipper whispered something to his wife, who tweaked his cheek affectionately and left the group hug. She approached Ditzy with a smile, “Hi there, you’re Ditzy right?” When the blonde girl nodded she smiled further. “Ticket told me about your, ah, situation... Would you like to stay with us a while until you find your feet here?” She smiled warmly at the youngster and her little baby. “Oh, how rude of me, I’m Rose.” She proffered a hand. Ditzy shook it in greeting.
“That would be fantastic Mrs Clipper, I really wasn’t sure of anything past getting as far away from that place as possible.” She winced a little, “I even chose Ponyville by chance.” She turned her frown into a rueful grin. “If you are sure it’s ok for me to stay for a while? I won’t be a bother?”
“Darling, my husband told me about you over the phone two nights ago, I told him there and then that I’d take you in. The kids’ll love having someone else around the place and a baby to coo over.” She laughed, a lovely lilting sound, not the kind Ditzy usually heard, “And we might just need a babysitter some nights.” She winked and Ditzy smiled with a blush.
“Thank you very very much. I... this is just great. Thank you!” Ditzy smiled near to the point of tears as the family lead her away from the train station. Getting on the train had been her first step towards a new life. Leaving this station was the first step of her new life. For the first time in a while Ditzy was glad.
Ditzy stayed with the Clipper family all winter, Ticket managed to get his promotion to Station Manager and Rose helped Ditzy with Sparkler just as Ditzy helped mind her host’s children. Christmas came and went happily for all six of them and as New Year flew by Ditzy had become well known in town. Spring arrived with a job for her and another step on towards her desired goal.
*
Today was the day Ditzy would be moving out. Tea and Tin begged her to stay but she told them she had to get out on her own for everyone but she would come and visit often. Rose smiled her happy-sad smile and wished Ditzy luck. With a group hug and a final wave she walked the three blocks to her little apartment with Sparkler chuckling in her stroller.
*
Soon enough Ditzy had settled into a routine of work, chores, home and visiting her friends and adopted family. When Sparkler was old enough for day-care Ditzy was able to take more hours which gave her more money to spend on luxuries. Her small apartment was swapped for a slightly larger one, with more room for a growing child.
When Sparkler Started school Ditzy was able to take on the job of mail-woman and soon her life was exactly how she had never dreamed. She had her own place, a job she enjoyed that let her be outdoors and meeting people. Her little girl was thriving and her social circle was loving, active and cared for her. She was the happiest in her life since she had been tearfully ushered from a drab little station building to the arms of a loving family.
There was only one thing missing in her life, something that on the odd dark night or cold morning would strike her at her very core and bring on the tiny pricks of tears in her eyes. She needed someone special, someone just for her and Sparkler, someone to love and protect them. However guys were not her strong suite and many men she met were put off by a child. So Ditzy resigned herself to this, her life was 90% perfect as it was. Or so she told herself.
Little did she know that things were about to change for the better...