The Zephyr . 3
HER
She sat there writing in her journal. She wasn't sure who would ever read it but her, but it was a fun thought to imagine reading it years from now and see the whole thing in her mind like a movie.
She could envision all over the race through the night. Construction and the clueless slowed down the pace. The minutes kept dropping off the clock. The train was in the station, there were people getting on the train. She ran from the car into the station. No one there but an old drunk in the corner. She paced a moment, thinking what to do, and peered out the glass of the door at the train. She stepped back to the counter.
The door from the train side of the station opened and in strode a laughing man. "I bet you are here for a ticket."
She passed him her ID card, "Caramel Dulce". He pulled out the prepared ticket from the counter desk and passed it through the window.
He then started laughing again. "Cutting it a bit close, no? It's out that door to the left."
She half dashed, half stumbled through the door, trying to run with her suitcase. A Conductor was waiting at the train, and waived her to the last car. Up the stairs with the bag was no easy task, for the stairs were narrow and made to fit in a small space while her bag was definitely not. She decided quickly at the top of the stairs and turned left toward the back of the car. Seats were available by the windows there and she definitely wanted to see everything she could.
Caramel thought, " I made it right on the dot when I handed him the ID, and a minute late onto the train itself, but I made it. The train was still there because I had prepaid my ticket. "
Ironically, just as they closed the doors behind her, the engineer came out on the P.A. to advise that bad weather ahead had generated a call from the main office and the train was to wait for the go-ahead.
A cross-country train ride was a treat she had given herself. It was a desire left over from being a child. She intended to absorb every part of it, to view everything, and sleep could come later.
The Conductor brought her a pillow and asked if she needed a blanket. She smiled at him and declined the blanket. He moved on down the aisle and she noticed he checked with each person. The excitement of finally getting to do the trip was amazing.
She began to jot down the notes that would bring it all back later. The bag someone had made of a zippered blanket bag. The Reclining seats that had mesh pockets on the backs. The funny smell - half pleasant and half , well, half something she couldn't place for the moment. It wasn't unpleasant, just... just a tiny bit odd.
The announcement came over the PA that they had the go-ahead now and would be leaving the station. The train began moving, and the rain meant she she could focus on the inside without missing anything outside. The PA was then taken over by a man who began listing the times the Dining Car would be open, and the times the Lounge/Snack Car would be open. Or she thought that was what he was saying, it was too low to be clear. She fleetingly wondered if food was available 24 hours a day, or just at meal times.
The ride itself was a bit like driving on rough country roads, without the need to slow for tractors. There was a far-away sound of the train whistle, frequent in the rural area they were in. The whistle blew each time they approached a road or town she supposed. She was suddenly glad her destination had placed her in the last car. The whistle would be amusing, but not irritating. Closer at hand, she could hear part of a conversation taking place at the far end of the car. The conductor was telling amusing stories to the children riding there. Their laughter, and that of the adults in that spot made her laugh all the way in the back half of the car where she sat.
The words came on the PA that the weather looked better ahead, and that the cars would now be dimmed for the benefit of those who wished to sleep. The Conductor, or Car Attendant as he called himself, had achieved his goal. The children settled down in giggling pairs, and even the adults looked much more comfortable. They didn't seem at all worried about the wind or weather now.
She had pulled out her journal notebook and started to record the trip. There, up to date, and not even painful.
She sat there writing in her journal. She wasn't sure who would ever read it but her, but it was a fun thought to imagine reading it years from now and see the whole thing in her mind like a movie.
She could envision all over the race through the night. Construction and the clueless slowed down the pace. The minutes kept dropping off the clock. The train was in the station, there were people getting on the train. She ran from the car into the station. No one there but an old drunk in the corner. She paced a moment, thinking what to do, and peered out the glass of the door at the train. She stepped back to the counter.
The door from the train side of the station opened and in strode a laughing man. "I bet you are here for a ticket."
She passed him her ID card, "Caramel Dulce". He pulled out the prepared ticket from the counter desk and passed it through the window.
He then started laughing again. "Cutting it a bit close, no? It's out that door to the left."
She half dashed, half stumbled through the door, trying to run with her suitcase. A Conductor was waiting at the train, and waived her to the last car. Up the stairs with the bag was no easy task, for the stairs were narrow and made to fit in a small space while her bag was definitely not. She decided quickly at the top of the stairs and turned left toward the back of the car. Seats were available by the windows there and she definitely wanted to see everything she could.
Caramel thought, " I made it right on the dot when I handed him the ID, and a minute late onto the train itself, but I made it. The train was still there because I had prepaid my ticket. "
Ironically, just as they closed the doors behind her, the engineer came out on the P.A. to advise that bad weather ahead had generated a call from the main office and the train was to wait for the go-ahead.
A cross-country train ride was a treat she had given herself. It was a desire left over from being a child. She intended to absorb every part of it, to view everything, and sleep could come later.
The Conductor brought her a pillow and asked if she needed a blanket. She smiled at him and declined the blanket. He moved on down the aisle and she noticed he checked with each person. The excitement of finally getting to do the trip was amazing.
She began to jot down the notes that would bring it all back later. The bag someone had made of a zippered blanket bag. The Reclining seats that had mesh pockets on the backs. The funny smell - half pleasant and half , well, half something she couldn't place for the moment. It wasn't unpleasant, just... just a tiny bit odd.
The announcement came over the PA that they had the go-ahead now and would be leaving the station. The train began moving, and the rain meant she she could focus on the inside without missing anything outside. The PA was then taken over by a man who began listing the times the Dining Car would be open, and the times the Lounge/Snack Car would be open. Or she thought that was what he was saying, it was too low to be clear. She fleetingly wondered if food was available 24 hours a day, or just at meal times.
The ride itself was a bit like driving on rough country roads, without the need to slow for tractors. There was a far-away sound of the train whistle, frequent in the rural area they were in. The whistle blew each time they approached a road or town she supposed. She was suddenly glad her destination had placed her in the last car. The whistle would be amusing, but not irritating. Closer at hand, she could hear part of a conversation taking place at the far end of the car. The conductor was telling amusing stories to the children riding there. Their laughter, and that of the adults in that spot made her laugh all the way in the back half of the car where she sat.
The words came on the PA that the weather looked better ahead, and that the cars would now be dimmed for the benefit of those who wished to sleep. The Conductor, or Car Attendant as he called himself, had achieved his goal. The children settled down in giggling pairs, and even the adults looked much more comfortable. They didn't seem at all worried about the wind or weather now.
She had pulled out her journal notebook and started to record the trip. There, up to date, and not even painful.
posted by Unknown at 3:41 PM
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