I sat for some time as Ma cooked, I looked 'round her house and I figure she must' have it nicer now cause of her new marriage and all. I miss Ma, I haven't seen her in years, and Ma always looked real young for her age. As I sit, I think of the train ride here, it was a long ride and folks didn't seem too happy. One older white man told me to get up out of my seat. I don't like that. He said to me that I don't belong in the same train as him, he called me the n-word as I left. I felt myself tear up but I refused to let anyone see me cry. I found my own little compartment where I sat by myself under a dim light and tried to sleep awhile. I kept thinking about that man, what had I done for him to be so cruel? I decided it better to not think 'bout it no more. .
When I awoke I was nearly to Lincoln, the town in which my Ma lived. I was happy that I finally get to see Ma after all these years. When I approached the house I felt all of the blood leave my face, I felt stuck. I remember feeling the cold Illinois air at my back, somewhat pushing me toward the door. I found myself stuck again when I was 'bout to knock. I raised my hand but it froze right before the door, what would Ma say, would she be happy to see me? I forced myself to knock. As soon as I did, I heard footsteps coming toward the door. A short, slightly overweight woman wearing a white apron answered the door, Ma, she looked the same as the day I had left her, but happier. .
I reminisce on how Pa acted when I said I wanted to be a writer. He never really care for it much, he said I was going' be a working man and that's that. No more foolish dreams and what not he would say. One day he'll see these dreams aren't foolish. Pa still helped me pay for school, so I could be somebody. I'm very grateful, he wasn't always the best man, but he cared. I keep thinking 'bout how he must be doing, he just sat there motionless when I told him I was to leave to go see Ma.