Free Until We Reach Home by Lynn Austin

live and we have ours. America is a huge place, you know. It’s ten times the size of Sweden. We’ll probably never see them again once we arrive.”
    “We could ask them where they’re going, couldn’t we? Maybe—”
    “No, Kirsten. I’d rather you didn’t talk to them anymore.”
    She stomped her foot. “Why? Tell me why not!”
    “I’ve told you my reasons,” Elin said calmly. But she could tell that Kirsten wasn’t listening.
    “You’re just jealous!” Kirsten gave their steamer trunk a kick.
    Elin tried to keep her voice calm. “Those shoes are hand-me-downs, Kirsten, and they’re nearly worn out as it is. If you keep scuffing and abusing them, they’re going to fall apart and then you’ll arrive in America with bare feet.”
    “I don’t care!”
    “Come on, let’s work on our embroidery. It will help pass the time.” Elin reached inside her satchel for their mother’s sewing box, hoping to distract Kirsten. She would even let her sister use Mama’s precious silver thimble. But Kirsten made a face.
    “I’m tired of being bossed around. And I’m tired of sitting. I’m going to walk around and stretch my legs.”
    “Wait!” Elin grabbed her skirt to keep her from leaving. “You can’t wander around all alone.”
    Kirsten pried away her fingers as if removing cockleburs. “I can do whatever I want, Elin.”
    “But . . . but we have to stay together. Sofia is asleep and we can’t leave our belongings here—”
    “Eric and Hjelmer could walk with me.” The boys sat on a row of benches a short distance away. When Kirsten started to wave to them, Elin grabbed her hand and pulled it down.
    “Be reasonable, Kirsten.”
    “Why should I be? You can sit here all morning if you want to, but I’m going for a walk.” She freed her hand and strode away.
    Elin didn’t want to shout at her and cause a scene, yet she couldn’t leave Sofia alone while she chased after her. She watched in frustration as Kirsten stalked around the perimeter of the train station, taking huge, angry, man-sized strides. She had such an angry expression on her face that Elin figured she would be safe—no stranger would dare to approach her.
    Elin kept one eye on her sister and the other on the clock until half an hour had passed. Kirsten was going to wear out her shoes stomping and clomping around the building that way. She must have been watching the clock, too, because a few minutes before their train was due to arrive she finally came back and sank down on the bench beside Elin with a huff. Elin wanted to make peace.
    “I’m sorry, Kirsten. I don’t want to be bossy, but sometimes you want me to mother you and sometimes you resent it when I do. How am I supposed to know the difference?”
    “You make it sound like I cause you so much trouble,” she said sullenly. “In my opinion, you cause your own trouble by worrying so much. I can take care of myself, you know. And it’s about time you stopped babying Sofia so much and let her take care of herself, too.”
    Sofia had awakened several minutes earlier, and Elin expected her to defend herself. She hated being called a baby. But Sofia stared at the floor without speaking. In fact, she had barely spoken all morning.
    “Please, let’s not fight,” Elin said. She reached for Kirsten’s hand, and to Elin’s surprise, Kirsten’s eyes flooded with tears. “What’s wrong?”
    “I miss Mama and Papa and . . . and Nils. If only they hadn’t left us, then we wouldn’t be here in this ugly train station and . . . and . . .”
    Elin stood and drew her into her arms. Kirsten had always been close to their brother Nils and his friends, spending all of her free time with them. No wonder she needed to flirt with these new boys and win their attention. “I miss everyone, too,” Elin told her as she hugged her tightly. “I’d like to wring Nils’ neck like a chicken’s for running away like he did. And the least he could have done is written to us and told us