Broken Strings

Head To Toe

“Here’s your ticket,” the lady we met last night hands us two tickets to the next town.

“Thank you,” Peter says with a smile. I almost feel sorry for her. How horrid it would be to sit behind that pane of glass all day every day.

“So its platform five,” Peter glances up from the tickets and then back down again. We have nothing but our backpack each and each other for company but people surround us in every direction. It is getting late, my watch says four o’clock.

“I think it’s this way,” I point to a sign that indicates the direction we desire.

“I think you’re right,” he chuckles.

We stand in a line that seems to go on forever, “Tickets please,” the man hangs out the door allowing only a small amount of space for us to get passed. An elderly lady before us hands the man her ticket and he snatches it from her, I have an urge to say something in her defence but Peter beats me to it.

“Excuse me sir, could you jump off the train to let this lady through,” the man under his navy blue cap grins a greasy smile.

“Who do you think you are buddy?” the man asks jerking his neck.

“Look I’m not looking for trouble but I just think as a man you should do the decent things and let this gorgeous lady through,” the man shakes his head and the lady tries her best to squeeze through the small space.

“Come on sir, can’t you just move for this lady?” I pipe up. The man’s steely gaze turns to me, shock and anger paints his features.

“Is there a problem here?” a police officer approached the carriage. “Can I help?”

“This man won’t move over for this lady,” a man behind me answers him.

“I think we all need to calm down. Sir, can you move over and let the lady through, it’s a man’s honour,” the man moved at his command.

“Of course,” he stepped from the train in defeat. I rolled my eyes and Peter let me on before him. I took the first seat I saw as the train became flooded with passengers.

“Crowded huh?” Peter nudged me, taking a seat beside me.

“Excuse me?” I peeped my eyes over the seat in front of me and saw a familiar elderly lady, “I just want to thank you. The world needs gentlemen and women like you two,” she smiled a sweet smile and turned back to her book.

“It’s a pleasure,” Peter replied. The woman turned back to us, she planned to start a conversation, I could see it in her eyes.

“My name is Margaret,” she stretched out her hand and Peter shook it gently, I took it from him shaking it just like he did.

“My name is Peter.”

“And I’m Amelia,” I finished.

“It’s so lovely to meet you both, where are you headed?” her voice was fragile, much like her frame.

“His uncle’s house,” I answered.

“We’re going to surprise him for his birthday,” Peter answered. I didn’t realise it was his birthday. Margaret nodded in acceptance and turned around in her seat.

“I didn’t know it was his birthday?”

“It’s not,” I was so confused now, “I had to say something, I could tell she was getting suspicious.”

“So do you think your parents are looking for you yet?” I asked.

“I don’t really know? If they were any normal parent the yes, but I haven’t checked my mobile,” with those words I realised I hadn’t checked my phone since I’d called Peter the night we’d left. I reached into my bag until I felt it, I pulled it out and switched it on.