Shorts

The Train

The clacking of the steel wheels against the tracks were louder now, the train was pulling into the station. She sat on the bench, patiently waiting for the train to come to a near stop before picking up her backpack that sat neatly to her right. After dusting off her black pants, she stood. Slinging her bag over her shoulder she stepped into the train briskly. As she boarded, she took note of the passengers she would be riding with. The car was nearly empty, with the exception of a woman, with two men on either side of her. The two men followed her every movement. The woman seemed to be unconscious. She sat across from the group, in hopes that she could later make conversation with them if need be. No one else boarded the train at that stop. As the train started back up she began to look through her bag until she finally pulled out a book, Of Mice and Men. She read quietly, not breaking her concentration, until the next stop when a man got aboard the train, and sat directly next to her. The man pulled a pad of paper and book out of the satchel he had on his hip. He began reading, and then scribbled something on the pad of paper he had. Tearing out the sheet, he placed it in his book.

"Ah, Of Mice an Men." He said quietly. "Such a good novel."

He looked over at her with a serious look in his eyes.

"I'm reading a book with a similar theme now." He said opening his book and showing her the scribbled note.

Curious as to what he could not just tell her about his book, she read the barely legible note carefully.

It is imperative that you leave the train with me at the next stop.

Giving a small nod she replied,
"The Great Gatsby is wonderful read." She stated, nodding to show she had received his message.

Though she didn't know why, she thought it to be a good idea to trust the odd man.

The two read their books without any more words between them, until the next stop came up and the two disembarked together.

"I'm very glad that you listened to me,"The man said with a small sense of relief in his voice.

"Just why exactly was it so dire for me to get off that train?" She asked, highly aware that this may have been a bad idea.

"You mean you didn't notice?" He gasped turning to her with a look of incredulity.

"Notice what?" She asked her curiosity getting the best of her.

"That woman, "he paused pushing a hand through his hair.

"Well she was dead. Those two men were holding her up."