Project story time

Another place, another time

A story based off an image from the mystery of Harris Burdick

          "You ever wonder what is across these abandoned train tracks Jersey?" Asked a young boy to his friend as he and three others all sat by the massive lake skipping stones across the water.

    "No not really. I don't come here as often as you do Max." Jersey replied. He adjusted his gray hat to block out the sunlight that was reflecting off the water.

    "I do sometimes." Max's best friend Alex said to him. "I sometimes even come here just to stare into the mist beyond. Watching the train tracks disappear into nothing."

    "Why would they build train tracks over a lake like this anyway?" A young school boy named Steven questioned. "It doesn't make that much sense to me."

    "Perhaps there's something important over there that's worth making the tracks across?" Jersey remarked.

   "Maybe. But how can we be sure of that? No one has been on this set of tracks since my grandfather passed away." Alex said. Questions and thoughts filled the little children's heads. Until Jersey had an idea. The idea was like a bullet hitting his little pan he keeps on as a hat, making it spin.

    "Why don't we go there ourselves and find out?" He suggested to his friends. This idea got his friends attention and curiosity.

    "Jersey please, you and your insane ideas never work out how they are meant to work anyway. Besides, how can we get down the tracks?", Max asked, his voice was full of doubt and skepticism, "it's too long of a walk for us. And who knows what is even over there?"

   Jersey looked out into the lake. Max was right. They couldn't get there on foot. Not quickly at least. Then he noticed something by the water. He saw a cloth and some rope, as well as sticks and two wooden bed frames. Looking around a bit more he found small wheel like pieces of wood that rolled perfectly on the train tracks.

    Then the answer to Max's doubts hit him. If there was an answer, he'd find it here.

    "Guys," he called his attention to his friends as Jersey walked over to the wood and cloth. "I have an idea!"

    Against all odds Jersey and his friends worked hard and tirelessly. Everything they needed to complete their cart was already there for them. They even managed to craft a nice looking set of chairs and platforms so they could sit on them for the journey ahead.

   Time passed and the mist started to grow thicker, as the blue skies above them turned gray and the winds became strong.

   "Jersey are you sure we should do this?" Steven asked in worry.

   "Don't worry about it. We will be fine! Now let's test to see if this baby works!" Jersey politely ordered for his team to get onto the cart. "Hold on guys!" He opened the sail to the wind and to all of their surprise the cart started to move down the tracks perfectly.

   They all looked in awe as they crossed the large sea below them. The path ahead became clearer and clearer by the meter.

   "It worked!" Alex said happily.

   "I can't believe it! It's flawless!" Max said in almost disbelief.

   "See guys? What did I tell you?" Jersey laughed happily. "Now who's ready for a little adventure?"

   His friends cheered with glee! As the cart picked up speed, sailing into the mist beyond, journeying to places they will remember for the rest of their lives.

~To be continued~