by Rebecca Rehm

Created on: July 14, 2009

I had been researching my family off and on for nearly ten years; Genealogical research was sometimes quite a challenge because various family members were terribly elusive and managed to avoid having their names published. My grandfather, Jack Farris seemed to have left no trail and most of the living relatives that should possess some clues just did not want to talk.

It was by luck I managed to find Merlin, he wasn't a relative but he claimed to have known Grandpa and was willing to meet with me. The only catch was where he wanted to meet seemed a little odd. I was to meet him at a train yard on passenger car #47. Now this in it itself should have been cause for alarm. Nevertheless, in the grips of my obsession, my brain generally stopped working and this time was no exception.

As I pulled into the train yard, I was overwhelmed with a feeling of dread, as if maybe I should turn around and go, but no not me! The need to solve this mystery overpowered self-preservation. I found the Passenger car in an abandoned corner of the yard and to make matters worse, I had to park and walk quite a ways to it. What a creepy place to be alone at night, for all I know the call I received could have been to lure me out here for who knows what reason. But my obsession overruled any rational thought I might have had and my common sense took the night off, so I moved on armed only with a flashlight, I went on drawn by the soft shimmering light in the window.

The moment I opened the door a surge of fear and every other emotion known to man paralyzed me. This was a fine time for the warning bells to start chiming! It took a few minutes to regain control of myself at which point I began to question my wisdom in coming here by myself on the word of a strange voice on the other end of a telephone. What a brilliant thing to do. I don't even know his last name and no one knows where I am, but I can fix that, I thought as I pulled out my cell phone; Great! It's dead!

Merlin, I shouted: What kind of trick is this? Show yourself right now! A man appeared dressed in a conductor's uniform he introduced himself as Merlin. I asked him what kind of game he was playing.

He calmly said look around you motioning with his hand, as I swept the car with my eyes, I quickly noticed that children occupied every seat. What is this I asked what are you doing with them?

He pointed at a boy who was looking at me intently and then Merlin vanished. I began yelling at the empty space where he had stood, Merlin I'm not a babysitter, Where are you?

The boy got up from his seat and started towards me. Self-preservation finally kicked in as I got to my feet I took off in a dead run for the door but in my panic, I tripped over a suitcase and wham! I went head long into the door knocking myself silly, the boy grasped my hand and pulled me to my feet don't be afraid he said I won't hurt you. Who are you I asked; He said my name is; Jack.... Jack Farris You see, this is an orphan train and I am here to answer your questions.

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