Short Stories

Prompt 1: Write about a train journey

It was a warm Sunday afternoon in southern Georgia. James and his companion, his 1-year-old golden lab Sammy, are on their way to visit his mother. He hasn't seen his mother in over 4 years due to his working habits. He had started off his journey calmly, without much trouble from the train staff about Sammy accompanying him. Suddenly at about 2 and a half hours into his travel, there is a commotion in the car ahead of him.

James springs from his seat as he hears a high pitched scream. He looks around surveying the area. Not having much training in crisis or high-stress situations, he doesn't particularly know what he is looking for. Sammy seems to know though, as he gets up with James and springs into action, the golden lab sprints down the corridor, through the doors connecting the train cars, and right into the action. James, having been stunned by his courageous dog, takes a few seconds to follow Sammy. When he eventually catches up to his brave canine, he sees Sammy having a stare down with a man holding a knife up to a young girls neck. James is completely shocked and afraid. As he slowly calms his heart, Sammy is continuing his attempt at intimidation. Fearful that his companion, or worse, the young girl, might end up getting hurt he springs into action.

He slowly constructs sentences in his head, as he doesn't want to make the situation worse. "Hello, my name is James, what is yours?" he says trying to keep his voice level and calm. "What does it matter? All you care about his this girl, no one cares about me" he snaps back. James is startled, what could have started this? Why would he do something so drastic? Although James had many questions, the only thing that matters right now is that little girl's survival. "It does matter, and even though I do care about that little girl, I also don't want you to do something you'll regret," James states, trying to be firm and concise. "I...my name is Don." the man finally states. "Okay, listen, Don, I don't know why you have her the way you do, but all I know is that if you don't let her go, you will get punished more when the police find out." Don pales, obviously, he didn't think that far ahead, I mean I don't think someone with a knife against a child was thinking too clearly in the first place. "I just..wanted to keep us together, Sarah...she was trying to keep Lynn away from me." He mumbled out, "Don, I understand that you want to keep your family together, but there are other things you can do. Please. Let me help you." James said pleading with the man.

Out of nowhere, Sammy decides it's his turn to defuse the situation, as the women beside James in the seat screams, Sammy, jumps into action, biting Dons lower arm and effectively rendering the arm with the knife useless. James then lunges at the man, tackling him to the floor of the train. The little girl -Lynn- runs to her mother's arms, and Sammy lets go when James gets Don to the floor. "I'm sorry it had to turn out this way," James tells Don after he detaines him with some scarfs that the other passengers offered. "Me too, I just wanted to keep my family together, and Sarah, she was trying to take Lynn away, and I.. I just snapped." James nods, not so much in understanding as sadness and pity for this broken desperate man.

They slowly roll up to the train station, and police officers flood the train car. "Good luck," James tells Don. He then goes to Sarah and Lynn, still embracing and crying softly in one of the seats. "I'm sorry this happen to you," James says, as Sammy rubs the little girl's leg with his face. "I'm just scared that Daddy will hurt me, or that he is mad at me" Lynn confesses, James turns to the police officers arresting Don, "I think that your Daddy is the one that was wrong and that you should be mad at him. I guarantee that no one is mad at you for what happened." Lynn nods and James and Sarah share a nod and a look of understanding, as James and Sammy, finally go to see his mother.  

A/N: Please let me know what you think!