Gwena decided to keep a journal. feeling there was no better time then her first train ride to begin her first journal! Gwena decided to make it fun, by writing her journal in story form, maybe then she would stick to it ;). This is Gwena's starting entry, recording the start of the very journal she's writing in. Writing her first journal entry, about starting her journal seemed like an exciting way to begin! And it was.

Day 1-Stop 0

Gwena stepped on to the train station platform and cast her star like eyes on Menewsha’s new train: The Sprit of Calesco. The Spirit of Calesco, a bright, shiny, newly painted locomotive, just itching to leave on its travels, seemed to Gwena to be a slightly fiery looking train, but then her eyes could have been playing tricks on her. Gwena loved the look of the train station, very open and airy, with very lovely décor. Checking her watch, Gwena realized it was almost time to leave and she’d hate to get left behind. Mild mannered Gwena wandered off to show her ticket to whoever was in charge of that. Not seeing anyone to show it to, in the train station, she decided to board the train and hope she runs into the right person. Gwena stepped in and looked again for someone to show the ticket to. She wandered through a couple cars till she found what she guessed was Mr. Mayor’s personal hangout car. Since the Mayor was in talking to some girls, Gwena decided to show him her ticket, The mayor glanced at it, said it was fine, and greeted her briefly before going back to his “ladies”. Feeling there was no higher power than the Mayor, Gwena went off to look for where her sister was setting up their tavern/refreshment car. Gwena went through several cars before realizing she had lost her way and was lost. Gwena sat down in the busy little train car, she was in, and watched the children in it frolic and play. Getting up she asked a fellow traveler where the tavern car was located. The lady pointed, and Gwena went in that direction, and soon found what she wanted. Grabbing a tissue, she blew her nose, and started helping her sister set up the car. After set up, she spent the day serving refreshments to guests, and, at the end of the day, she retired for the night.

Day 2-Stop 1:Garland

Gwena awoke, bright and early, on the day The Spirit of Calesco arrived in Garland. Gwena couldn’t wait to go look around once the train stopped! Gwena remembered the Mayor saying something about Garland being a popular wedding spot, and she was hoping, maybe, she would get lucky while she was here, maybe even, with the Mayor! Nah, Gwena knew better than that, but a girl can dream. Gwena grabbed her lucky dice, and placed the poinsettia pin her Mother had given her, on her dress. Just as she decided her appearance was acceptable, a whistle signaled they were finally in Garland! Gwena could hear a dog bark outside as the train stopped. How annoying! Gwena raced to the Mayor’s car, to briefly say hello, before she went on her adventure! As Gwena entered, she overheard the Mayor talking to some folks about a grave in front of the chapel in Garland. He also told a little back story but she didn’t pay attention to that. Her attention span was lost when she heard the words “visit” and “luck”. Hoping she could be a bride, on this trip, she raced out to get herself some luck, totally forgetting to say hi to Mr. Mayor! Oh well, adventure awaits! Gwena walked into the beautiful town of Garland. It was beautiful! Garland seem to give Gwena an exhilarating feeling. Gwena raced off to find the chapel! Gwena found the chapel, and in front of it, was a strange man telling riddles. Apparently he was getting married and this was his way of celebrating. Gwena tried to head to the graves but the man stopped her. Great now she had to answer his riddle, ugh! The man asked her his riddle: What is long, white and only used once? A wedding dress she replied. The man said she got it right and gave her some string. String, Really? Gwena went over to see the grave near the chapel, and kneeling down, Gwena tore the string to shorten it. She tied it around her lucky dice, with a knot, and placed them on the grave. Gwena went back to The Spirit of Calesco. Once aboard again, Gwena went to hang out in the Mayor’s car. She didn’t feel like working just yet. The Mayor was no where to be seen, but she stayed anyway. Gwena sat down, and, while sipping her hot chocolate, a cute guy she had never seen before, dropped a wrapped box in front of her, with a note that read: To Gwena from your secret admirer. Gwena was shocked at this surprise and looked up to see the man was gone! Gwena was dumbfounded but opened the package. Inside was an adorable cat figurine! Gwena was speechless! Gwena, with a dreamy look in her eyes, picked up her gift, and went to her personal car. After writing this journal entry-she took a nap holding the figurine. She can always work tomorrow. Maybe.

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Words: - puppet, clever

Day 4-Stop 2:Reinsend

Gwena stared out the window of the train. She watched the scenery change as the train worked its way to Reinsend, the Spirit of Calesco’s next destination. The train started to slow down, and a whistle blew to signal the trains arrival, as it did the day before. The train came to a complete stop and Gwena got up from her seat. Gwena walked out of the train and looked at the beautiful village of Reinsend that lay before her eyes. Gwena was just stepping out of the train when a horde of stampeding reindeer ran, on top of her, into the train. Gwena brushed herself off. She could hear the reindeer, inside the train, trying to steal the Mayors breakfast. “Poor Mr. Mayor,” she thought. Poor man losing his breakfast to stampeding reindeer! Although, the Reindeer actually ran over her, so maybe she was the poor one in this equation? She felt sorry for the Mayor, none the less, though. As Gwena finished straightening her dress, the owner of the reindeer tore past her, into the train, after his reindeer. Gwena considered helping horde the reindeer but decided not too. Gwena toured the village, and walking through, she found a lovely souvenir shop, selling cards. Gwena went in and bought one, intending to send it to her Mother. She put the card in her purse and headed next to a local bake shop. The bakers were allowing folks to try out the pastry arts, so Gwena decided to go in and give it a try. Gwena under the direction and supervision of the baker, baked some lovely scones to replace the mayors ruined breakfast. Scones in hand Gwena exited the bake shop. A reindeer-pulled sleigh trotted past her and stopped. The man driving the sleigh, offered Gwena a ride. Gwena gladly accepted. Gwena asked the man if he could take her into the forests surrounding Reinsend. The man said he could and would do so directly. The man drove the sleigh just past a stationary store, into the forest beyond. The man stopped the sleigh and Gwena lighted off the sleigh and walked delicately into the forest. Once deeper in the forest, Gwena sat down on a rock to enjoy the scenery. She was just enjoying the view when a rabbit leaped into her lap. Gwena took out her handy camera, and snapped a photo of the gorgeous rabbit. The rabbit, scared off by the flash, scurried deeper into the forest. Gwena had her fill of the scenery, so she headed back towards the man and his sleigh. Half way back Gwena found something blocked her path! She felt around in front of her, something was definitely there, but she saw nothing. “It must be those invisible cows I read about” Gwena mused. Well, in any case the cows or whatever it was blocked her path. But clever Gwena was determined, she hopped on the back of the invisible entity, but unfortunately it refused to move. Gwena not giving up, pulled a pencil out of her purse and gently poked it. The cow flashed through the woods toward Reinsend. Gwena and the invisible cow strode into town. On their way in, Gwena saw a man raking leaves & needles left by the trees. She had no clue why he was doing that. Gwena noticed the stationary store she saw earlier, she slowed, and stopped her invisible ride, and headed into the store. Gwena quickly bought some glue and started to mount her cow, but she couldn’t find it again, because, well its invisible. Gwena sighed and looked through the rest of the shops. In the end she bought herself a puppet to scare her sister with, and postcard depicting a volcano. Gwena took another sleigh back to the Spirit of Calesco. As she headed back inside, for the day, she caught a glimpse of people setting up for a parade. She smiled. Once inside, she went to the Mayor, and gave him the scones. The Mayor was glad for the replaced breakfast and thanked her. Gwena sat down and watched the people outside. Looking out, she couldn’t help but think what a wonderful trip this has been so far. Gwena can hardly wait to see where this trip leads her to next.

Day 6-stop 3:Icy Peaks

A new day, more adventure. Gwena watched the scenery through the window, as the train stopped in Icy Peaks. Gwena heard a “crunch” sound as the train crushed ice, that was frozen over the tracks. As Gwena emerged from the train, she eyed the sculptures made by the Icy Peak citizens, that dotted the scenery. She went to the front of the train and, with a bucket, collected the ice from around the train, intending to use it to keep drinks cold later. Gwena put the bucket in her room, and left it, while she toured Icy Peaks. She looked through the shops when suddenly she spotted a dragon flying overhead, as she exited a clothing store. Intrigued, Gwena decided to take a hike up the mountains of Ice Peaks. Gwena hiked up a mountain with a local guide. They hiked for two hours before deciding to head back down the mountain. Gwena arrived back in town. Disappointed, she decided to head back to the Spirit of Calesco earlier than usual. Upon reaching the train, she spied everyone, passenger and crew alike, going haywire, over what she wasn’t sure. Upon inquiry, Gwena found out there was mold on the train! “Oh, no”, she thought, “how dreadful”, she continued. Gwena entered the train just as the source of the chaos was found. Seeing several crew, gathered round her room, she went over. Apparently mold was found in her room. Gwena went in her room. As she entered, The Mayor scolded her severely while pointing to her melted bucket of ice. Gwena outraged, looked at the scene and discovered there wasn’t any danger. They merely needed to throw out the bucket, as apparently, the bucket was moldy before she filled it with Ice. Gwena insisted the bucket was not hers, that she had lifted it from Nalin’s room while he was absent from it. Gwena took some duct tape and taped the entire bucket shut. She escorted the bucket out of the train and discarded it accordingly. When finished, she returned to the others and demanded solatium from the Mayor. The Mayor refused, and walked back to his car. Gwena was insulted, the incident not being her fault, after all. She couldn’t help but think what a banal train this was. Of course she thought it out of anger. She decided sleep would calm her and she went to bed.

Day 8-Stop 4:Saint’s Pole

Incorrigible Gwena awoke early, the Spirit of Calesco pulling in to Saint’s Pole an hour later. The train whistle blew as the train started to stop. After she dressed, she pulled out her calculator , and added up how many days were left of the train trip. The answer, of course, was not very many. Gwena went to the dining car and had jelly on some toast. When finished with her breakfast, Gwena went to see the sights of Saint’s Pole. Gwena went to a toymaker to learn how to craft a toy to take back to Cessy. Inside the toymaker’s shop, he was found to be an irascible sort of man. Deciding, maybe, their personalities might clash, Gwena decided to try a different toymaker. The next one Gwena tried, was a female toymaker, that was a bit lachrymose, but Gwena thought she could stand her long enough to learn something. Gwena made a little toy soldier for Cessy, and started to head back to the Spirit of Calesco. On her way back Gwena hit the jackpot and found tons of money laying on the ground. Seeing no one around, Gwena pocketed the money and continued on her way. Gwena saw the train, and was running to it, when she tripped on something right in front of the train, and twisted her right ankle. Looking down, she saw she tripped over someone’s hat! She looked at the hat and thought how irresponsible the person was for leaving the hat there. Having nothing better to do, Gwena put on the pirate-like hat and called for help. After a few minutes of yelling, the Mayor came and helped her into the train and onto a seat. Gwena asked the Mayor to find Cessy for her. The Mayor agreed and went to look for her. After about an hour, Cessy came skipping to Gwena and sat down by her. Gwena handed Cessy the toy soldier she made and told her a small story about him: “Once long ago, this toy soldier was a brave knight who looked after Mr. Mayor. But misfortune befell the knight and he turned forever into a toy. The End” . Cessy was excited and ran off to show the soldier to the Mayor. Gwena was delighted that Cessy was happy. Gwena fell asleep, and slept for the rest of the day.

Day 10-Stop 5: Rochelle Harbor

Gwena stood outside the Spirit of Calesco. She was attempting to measure the length of the train, as she had neglected to do so on previous days. And seeing her trip was almost over, she thought, “why not do it now!” Gwena, never being very good at these sorts of things, gave up, as she was completely inundated by the task. Gwena walked off to check out the Sugar Plum village, the Mayor had mentioned, when describing Rochelle Harbor. Gwena loved sweets and she found many kinds to please her mouth with, while roaming the sweets fair. At one table, Gwena got herself something to drink that almost made her gag as it was very acerbic tasting. Turns out it was unsweetened lemonade, which seemed a little odd for a sweets fair. She decided who ever made the lemonade needed to ameliorate themselves, and soon, before someone else tasted that drink. Gwena continued looking around. While browsing the place, Gwena noticed a hive of some kind, and decided to steer clear of it, just in case it was dangerous. Gwena happened to see a large rock nearby and, being a fun loving person, decided to get on it. After climbing up, Gwena jumped off the edge of it. “That was a lot of fun”, she thought to herself. Gwena watched the finale of the Sugar Plum village, and as part of a toast, she drank a fancy cocktail drink, that she thought was delicious. Much better than that lemonade. Before heading back to the train, Gwena found a place to get her ears pierced and stopped and had that done. Now she could wear more earrings. Gwena was back in the Spirit of Calesco, enjoying listening to the Mayor and her sister talk, when she started to cough. Gwena coughed, then she sneezed, then she coughed again. Apparently, she must have gotten infected somewhere along the line and now has a cold. Though she knew a cold wasn’t a very serious disease, she decided to go lie down in her room, for the rest of the trip anyway or ,well, until she recovered, whichever came first.