Prompt 51. Train. Witness
Title: Witness
Author: Leni
Series: Any
Word count: 500
Rating: PG
Characters: Winry. Trio.
Summary: post Promised Day. "For years, train stations were linked to goodbyes."
---
For years, train stations were linked to goodbyes.
It wasn't until she'd entered her teens that Winry realized that people also came back, and came back to stay. For some months, she had snuck down to town, walked across the platform to watch random families reunite; kisses, embraces and happy, teary-eyed "welcome home!"
Today, the Wilkes' middle son has brought his bride to visit Resembool. The entire clan seems to have gathered in one corner, parents, cousins, aunts and two dogs; ready to greet their new daughter. There's old Dr. Kent, too, returning to his wife after visiting their youngest daughter.
"Good afternoon, Miss Rockbell," a man's voice booms by her, echoed by three more highly pitched versions of the greeting.
Winry whirls, the voices familiar. "Good aft---"
But Mr. Madison is no longer there. He and three smaller shadows are hurrying to the figure at the door of the coach. Mrs. Madison, come home after two months in Central. The baby must have survived. Premature births are so risky in Resembool; she's lucky to have been visiting her sister when her fourth child arrived.
Two cars down, Myriam Tate jumps off board, careless that her mother is yelling at her to pick up her bag, and runs to hug her grandfather. Winry laughs at the sight, reminded of many recess hours when Myriam had been the only other girl to keep with the boys' games. "WINRY!" Myriam calls, miming a phone call before ducking behind her grandfather to hide from her mom's annoyance.
Winry nods, making a mental note to call her old schoolmate over the weekend, and laughs as Grandpa Tate and mother start bickering at each other while Myriam collects all their bags and herds them to the entrance. "My family is crazy," eight-year-old Myriam had declared once, looking at Winry with all the seriousness such a statement deserved. "Mom says we're the oddest bunch in the East."
A decade later, Winry still doesn't have the heart to steal that title.
"What are you doing here?" a tired voice says behind her. "I thought we were supposed to meet at home."
He'll never learn, Winry thinks.
Meanwhile, Al groans at his brother's rudeness. "Hello, Winry. Thank you for picking us up," he tries to cover, coming into her field of vision.
"Al!" The differences are obvious. He looks... stronger. Winry remembers the last time she saw him on this platform. Saying goodbye. She dispels the memory, useless now, and hugs him tighter than she's dared since his return. "You've grown!" she exclaims, leaving out that his clothes aren't hanging from his body anymore. Then she turns to the other brother. "You haven't."
Ed glares at her, but doesn't explode as he would have a year ago. "Thanks for picking us up," he repeats, managing to sound polite. Then, more truthfully. "We missed you."
"I missed you, too." Winry wonders if someone might be observing their reunion. "Let's go home, guys."
She hopes they're jealous of them.
The End
25/02/10
Author: Leni
Series: Any
Word count: 500
Rating: PG
Characters: Winry. Trio.
Summary: post Promised Day. "For years, train stations were linked to goodbyes."
---
For years, train stations were linked to goodbyes.
It wasn't until she'd entered her teens that Winry realized that people also came back, and came back to stay. For some months, she had snuck down to town, walked across the platform to watch random families reunite; kisses, embraces and happy, teary-eyed "welcome home!"
Today, the Wilkes' middle son has brought his bride to visit Resembool. The entire clan seems to have gathered in one corner, parents, cousins, aunts and two dogs; ready to greet their new daughter. There's old Dr. Kent, too, returning to his wife after visiting their youngest daughter.
"Good afternoon, Miss Rockbell," a man's voice booms by her, echoed by three more highly pitched versions of the greeting.
Winry whirls, the voices familiar. "Good aft---"
But Mr. Madison is no longer there. He and three smaller shadows are hurrying to the figure at the door of the coach. Mrs. Madison, come home after two months in Central. The baby must have survived. Premature births are so risky in Resembool; she's lucky to have been visiting her sister when her fourth child arrived.
Two cars down, Myriam Tate jumps off board, careless that her mother is yelling at her to pick up her bag, and runs to hug her grandfather. Winry laughs at the sight, reminded of many recess hours when Myriam had been the only other girl to keep with the boys' games. "WINRY!" Myriam calls, miming a phone call before ducking behind her grandfather to hide from her mom's annoyance.
Winry nods, making a mental note to call her old schoolmate over the weekend, and laughs as Grandpa Tate and mother start bickering at each other while Myriam collects all their bags and herds them to the entrance. "My family is crazy," eight-year-old Myriam had declared once, looking at Winry with all the seriousness such a statement deserved. "Mom says we're the oddest bunch in the East."
A decade later, Winry still doesn't have the heart to steal that title.
"What are you doing here?" a tired voice says behind her. "I thought we were supposed to meet at home."
He'll never learn, Winry thinks.
Meanwhile, Al groans at his brother's rudeness. "Hello, Winry. Thank you for picking us up," he tries to cover, coming into her field of vision.
"Al!" The differences are obvious. He looks... stronger. Winry remembers the last time she saw him on this platform. Saying goodbye. She dispels the memory, useless now, and hugs him tighter than she's dared since his return. "You've grown!" she exclaims, leaving out that his clothes aren't hanging from his body anymore. Then she turns to the other brother. "You haven't."
Ed glares at her, but doesn't explode as he would have a year ago. "Thanks for picking us up," he repeats, managing to sound polite. Then, more truthfully. "We missed you."
"I missed you, too." Winry wonders if someone might be observing their reunion. "Let's go home, guys."
She hopes they're jealous of them.
The End
25/02/10