We hopped off our final train looking like a mess, I'm sure; a weary looking, travel worn little mess of a family. But nobody really paid any attention to us, which I didn't mind.

Fortunately, our apartment building wasn't too long of a walk from the station. (Later on I learned that it was unfortunate that we lived so close, because trains don't care about whether or not they wake people up.)

Since Papa was familiar enough with the area, he led us to our new home. We set off, dead tired and luggage laden.

As we walked, I took in my new surroundings and a strange feeling stirred within me as I saw that it wasn't what I had been expecting.
I mean, don't get me wrong, I liked it here, it was just... different. 

It wasn't as shining and grand as I thought it would be. In fact, it seemed rather dirty. It seemed rather busy, too, for five in the afternoon. But this busy wasn't like the bright, bustling I'd expected. It just felt crowded and slightly angry(?). I don't know. I was experiencing so many different emotions it was hard to tell what was what.
After what felt like forever, Papa finally stopped in front of an old and slightly dilapidated brick building.

It had a certain kinda charm to it, I guess.

This is it?

"Charlotte!" Ma said sharply.

Whoops. Didn't mean to say that out loud, sorry.

Well, I mean, at least we had a place to stay that wasn't some shady motel, right?

Inside the building, I noticed as I trudged up the stairs, there was a faint smell of mildew, I think, and the walls were in desperate need of either re-papering or fresh paint. Every so many steps a floor board creaked, breaking the silence of the strangely quiet building.

We made it up one... then two flights of stairs before we reached our floor.

Freddy, Ma, and I all stood in the dimly lit hallway for a few moments while Pa looked for the key to our door.

In those moments I felt several different feelings in rapid succession. The first was one I couldn't name but definitely a lonely one; the next one kind of hopeful, I think.
The last one was a wave of complete and utter homesickness that washed over me. There might've been some disappointment sprinkled in somewhere too, I'm not sure.

Even though I was standing, living in the city of my dreams, I wanted nothing more than to be back home, somewhere familiar. Or to curl up in a ball and cry.
Yeah, that's gonna happen later.
Great.

Pa pushed the door open, and with a little squeak from the hinges, we were in.

"Alright, Lottie," Ma said with a sigh, "I know you're tired, we all are, but will you help me with the beds, please?"

"Yes ma'am." I replied.

After a little hunting we managed to find and turn on the gaslights so we could actually see what we were doing.

The sun had set a good twenty minutes ago, so the big window in the living room was no help.

I helped Ma make a bed for Freddy in our new bedroom (the poor kid had literally fallen asleep on the floor when we entered).
I was too tired to make my own bed, so I just crawled underneath the covers beside him, in my traveling clothes and all.