So, I attended a writing group before Christmas and was given a blurb of what to write. We had to write about a journey of approximately 1,000 words.
I wrote two stories and here they are titled
The Journey and The Steps:
The Journey
“Have I got my ticket?” Anna said to herself, fumbling in her oversized black leather bag. Yes, as she pulled out a credit card sized piece of cardboard written on it; Redcar Central to London Kings Cross. She knew she had to change at Darlington; her itinerary said so. The train pulled in and she boarded.
“Tickets please?” said the Conductor. Anna handed over her ticket. It only gets looked at, to her disappointment. I thought it is suppose to be stamped, she shrugged. She gazed out of the window. Too many years she had lived here. Too many memories; some good; some pleasant; some unforgivable. Isn't that what growing up is all about?
The train moved along each station as people got off and many more got on.
“Tickets please?” What? Again? She had just shown it! The Conductor, different one this time, took her ticket, “nice bag?” she commented, “Gucci?”
“Yes, had it many years,” Anna replied.
“Are you going anywhere nice? London, it says so on your ticket,” she smiled, “a single. Are you doing anything special?” enquired the Conductor.
Wow, she asks a lot, thought Anna, a nice girl in her blue uniform. “Yes, I'm going to start a new life!”
“Well, I hope he's worth it?” smiled the Conductor again as she walked off and checked more tickets.
Worth it? There is no he at all. I'm done with this place. Anna sat up straighter in her seat, her large bag on her skin tight blue Levi's, she knew there would be no he for a long time coming. She would be too interested in settling in London first.
She fumbled with her black long sleeves feeling very nervous. This was a big deal for Anna. A challenge, a new home. Her big brown eyes moved along with the fast train scenery as a hefty man sat next to her. Thank goodness she was not going to spend too long sitting next to him; not a pleasant man. He snarled a lot too! She glanced, occasionally, at his newspaper. A trash paper, generally with nothing in it. It past the time!
The train pulled into Darlington. Anna waited an era whilst the large man hoisted himself off his seat with immense force she thought he was going to rip the seat out with his hold! He huffed and puffed. She was quite unsure what to do or where to look. It was embarrassing for her. Eventually he removed himself, she was able to manoeuvre her slim figure with her bag out of the doors and breathe a sigh of relief on the platform. She stood a moment or two to gather her thoughts before proceeding. This was it! She was finally going to London, the biggest change of her life! She was trembling, too scared to move, but she needed to catch her train. She was going to leave all in Redcar behind her and venture out. London! What was she thinking? Can she do this? A waste of effort and time if she turned back now! It had cost her a fortune. Somehow, though, she knew she was doing the right thing.
Standing on the cold platform she drew her black coat tighter around her body. She nervously looked at the screen making sure it was the right train. Damn, five minutes late. Did she have time to grab a coffee? It was so cold on the platform. Gusts of wind blew from one end to the other. She needed warmth.
“We are sorry to announce that the 11:28 Virgin Trains East Coast service to London Kings Cross is delayed for twenty minutes; two-zero minutes. This is due to trespassers on the line before Newcastle. Virgin Trains apologizes for this delay and for any inconvenience this may cause”
Damn, this is all I need, Anna thought. Better go and grab that coffee before I freeze to the platform. Off she walked to the Costa outlet for a medium skinny lattè. Other people must have had the same idea, as the queue was ten deep. Still, with nothing else to do she joined and listened to the mutterings of people's dissatisfaction,the sound of the coffee machine being extensively used; orders shouted and made; she had not expected it to be busy for a Thursday.
A tall man caught her eye. He was looking nervously around, glancing at his watch as though he was late for something. He was fidgeting with his phone staring at the screen. He couldn't be waiting for the same train as me, Anna said to herself, he looked distracted and restless.
“Medium skinny lattè and a caramel crisp,” Anna stated hers, eager to stand next to him to await the coffee. He wasn't even glancing up from his phone now. She wrapped her hands around the hot paper cup and sipped it whilst walking back to the platform to see the tall man also standing on the platforn. She alternatively stamped each foot not sure if it was nerves or the cold. This was her moment. She was ready for the next stage. She boarded the train and quickly found her seat. A few minutes later the Costa man sat next to her. His eyes still didn't leave his phone screen, so Anna diverted her gaze to the window and watched the scenery fly past.
His conversation was limited, in fact, non existent. He was concentrating too hard with his phone. Each station seemed to take forever to slow down and get moving again, as she grew closer to London. It seemed as though the journey stood still. Her eyes glazed over and flashes of her past came and went. Her palms felt sticky, she had to control her breathing to focus. It was now getting closer to the 13:49 arrival into King's Cross. The train had made up some time and the Guard announced to be arriving only ten minutes late.
Anna pulled out a picture. A picture of a female almost identical to her. A female she had learnt to be called Isabel. A twin separated from birth, she had only recently been told about. After her extensive research they were meeting for the first time. Anna couldn't wait!
The Steps
The steps led into the unknown. Jen stood at the bottom and looked up. It was going to be a long journey. A journey into what?
George nudged her “go on then! God is waiting!”
Jen gulped, “but, what if God doesn't want me?”
“What?” exclaimed George. “It's your turn. It's time to go. Of course God wants you.”
The steps, still there, looked cold and uninviting.
Jen shivered. Tentatively she took the first step. She wasn't ready. Her dress swished as cold air blew down the steps. She wanted more out of life. She felt her time wasn't now; it was still too soon.
“Go on,” encouraged George through his tears. He didn't want her to go either, as though he could read her fears. He wasn't ready to face life on his own. He had to be strong. “Remember, we're doing this together,” he softly whispered, as his face began to crumble. He couldn't let her see this.
“Good for whom! You know I didn't want this!” she too fought with tears. It seemed so easy to discuss the situation, but to actually go through with it, it was bloody hard.
She took another step. Her arms by her side. Her face focusing on nothing. George wanted to pull her back. It was all a mistake. It wasn't her time. The pain on his face said it all. This was the final realisation of the course they had chosen. But why this option? There were other plans available. It seemed a long way off at the time. Yet, it was here. There was no going back. They had planned for this day. This very day. Although it didn't seem real. Jennifer continued step by step, but barely moving, moving up. George felt helpless! An invisible force grew between them. Somehow making them stronger. This wasn't going to be the end: the finale. This was the beginning of a new journey. Unfortunately, one apart. This was not what either of them had planned in their advancing years. Life can be too cruel.
Both had heavy tears rolling down their faces.
George watched Jenny grow smaller and smaller, as she kept on stepping upwards. She gradually went out of view.
“Jen!” George shouted, “Jen! Come back!” tears streamed. “Jen! I can't do this alone!” His voice broke as he fell to his knees. “Jen,” he whispered, “I miss you! I need you!” He sobbed and sobbed.
He looked up from the cobbled floor after a lengthy time. The steps had disappeared along with his beloved Jen. There was nothing there. He looked,searched. Nothing. He was told this would happen, but he didn't believe it at the time. Well, you wouldn't when it was a long time ago! It was now, all a bad dream. “No, Jen, come back,” he cried again, “don't leave me!”
She had. She had simply vanished. He shook his head disbelieving this had actually happened. All these days, years had led to this. It can't be true. He turned his back on the empty space and headed homeward.
He took out his wallet from his right trouser pocket and pulled out a photo of the two of them looking so happy. He had kept a hold of this photo to remember the good times, before it all turned sour. “Not my Jen. We had happy times,” he said to himself, running his fingers over the photo, as though he expected her to reappear.
He continued home and let himself in.
Nothing had changed. His beloved Jen didn't come out if the kitchen with her apron on to greet him. He shuffled into the kitchen. He sat, slowly, on the chair by the table and noticed a white envelope with “My George” written on it. He stared at this foreign object. For him? His hands trembled and slowly, he picked up the envelope. Opening it up carefully he pulled out the paper inside…
My George,
You knew this time would come. Don't be sad. Think of the wonderful happy times we have shared. The places we have visited. The friends we have laughed with…
Tears formed again and huge drops soaked his trousers.
… When I received the news I was dying of cancer I could not believe it myself. We explored all avenues of treatment, but it had gone too far, I was riddled with the disease. We joined together and made this painful process a bearable journey. One, we did together! I could not have got through all of this without you.
By going on The Steps to Friendships I am able to continually be with you. I will always be by your side. We still have so many places to go to.
I know you suffered, my dear George! I could hear you crying in the study. I knew it would upset you more if I told you. So, I left you to it. It broke me in two to hear you. I would listen, by the door, quietly, and feel your pain.
You were by my side throughout and now it's time to be with you always.
I have brought you the cruise we were going to do one day. We will still do this travel together. Like we planned!
Go George, throw caution to the wind and do me proud.
I promise you, I will always be next to you. My love for you will not die. My love for you will not disappear. My love for you will not stop. We will continue as though all of this has not happened. We will not stop.
My love forever
Your Jen xx
George trembled with grief. His whole body shook as he cried.
He stared at the tickets. He couldn't quite believe this was happening. He'd finally gotten tickets to their cruise. They had been talking about this for years. It had been a dream when he'd seen it advertised in the Travel Agent's brochure. All glamorous and promoting beautiful destinations.
“It's a bit pricey, Jen,” he'd said, disappointed.
“Oh George, we'll just have to work harder,” she giggled back with a wink.
George would raise an eyebrow knowing she meant he'd have to work harder. He already worked hard enough. They did enjoy a lavish lifestyle, but this round-the-world cruise for six months was the one thing he couldn't provide for. It became a long-standing joke for them. A dream and it was always a great conversation starter when entertaining. But, now, he was holding the actual tickets booked for Mr. & Mrs. George and Jennifer Halls. An outside cabin. Also included in the envelope was an invitation to attend the Captain's Ball! Something George was very keen to do. He actually had the tickets within his grasp. He looked further in the envelope and found Airline tickets from London Heathrow to Miami return. The flight was booked for the next day. Attached to the back was a post-it note saying “Go George. Pack and Go”
And, he did just that. He locked the front door and headed to London Heathrow to catch his flight.
~~~~~
Six months later he returned and walked into his house. Silence greeted him and he knew he had a long hard journey ahead of him. He developed his photos and on each one he'd taken of himself Jen was standing, grinning, next to him. Her smile radiated and the two of belonged together. He smiled too, now knowing she will not leave his side. She will always be there. The photos proved that.
