The Train Exercise

 We had to write a short story for my fiction class in 45 minutes (3 parts, 15 minutes for each) which involved a character that gets on a train, switches trains, and then either makes it to their destination or not. I thought I would share mine here. Enjoy:

Richard feels his back left pocket, the usual home to his oyster card. It’s empty. He checks his wallet and then all of his other pockets, though he knows exactly where it is -- on his nightstand.

“No worries,” he reassures himself under his breath. He buys a new oyster card and descends upon the platform. Looking down, he notices his right front pocket bulging uncomfortably. He moves his wallet around to the back and pats the tiny precious box still in the front.

“Can’t forget you.”

The train arrives and Richard shuffles inside, taking a seat next to the wall. He takes in a breath of air and looks up at the map to find the stop. Richard knows this ride well, but is too neurotic to get lost in a pair of iPod headphones. He likes having his wits about him.

Richard gets off at Victoria Station and switches lines. The new car is densely packed. A little blonde girl, who looks to be about six years old, squeezes her way through pairs of legs, book bags, and briefcases, towards Richard. The train lurches to a stop and the little girl falls forward, clutching on to Richard’s leg for support -- her nose almost diving into his pocket. Slowly, her eyes drift up towards his pale face.

“Do you have a girlfriend?” she asks.

“Um, yes, I do,” Richard responds, a bit startled by the question. He thinks to himself how insightful children are.

“Do you love her?” A sheepish grin connects her dimples in the shape of a jump rope.

“Yes,” he responds. If ever there were a time to ask that question, this was it. The answer came out of him machine-like.

“Are you going to Marry her?” the little girl continues, “I think you are.”

“And what makes you think that?”

The train lurches to a stop and the cabin empties considerably. A woman runs to the girl and picks her up.

“Elizabeth, don’t ever run away from mommy again!” The mother clutches the girl in her arms as if she had been gone for years. Richard watches the reunion reassured, but totally unaware of what is to happen next.

“Curious girl,” he remarks as he catches the woman’s gaze. They both stand there motionless as the doors close and the train begins moving again.

“Richard?” she blurts in recognition -- her voice carrying a mixture of surprise and nostalgia.

“Sarah…you have a daughter.”

“It’s good to see you too,” she retorts. Richard’s body fills with a repertoire of emotions. He feels his pockets again, his standard self-comforting motion. Everything is in its right place, yet it still feels like something is missing.

“Well this is our stop. Goodbye Richard.” Sarah takes her little girl by the hand and they exit. The girl waves goodbye as the doors close, obstructing his view. Richard sits back down in the now lonely car. Across from him sit a Persian couple, canoodling like a pair of puppies. He checks the time on his cell phone and then looks up at the map. He missed his stop. The realization sweeps over him like an unpredicted rain shower. He should have got off. He should have followed Sarah. But the opportunity had passed.