On Track

Two Sho(r)t Stories

‘Double Espresso’ offers two stories for the price of one, a double hit of wordplay. The same prompt, two tales (one of 100 words, another of 50).

We are planning a 3-month rail trip, an Autumn spent criss-crossing Europe’s rail network. We will stop where we fancy, avoiding capital cities and lists of visitor attractions recommended by tourist offices. We will be guided by the words of Paul Theroux, travel writer and rail enthusiast:

“Tourists don't know where they've been, travellers don't know where they're going.”

The prompt for this serving of ‘double espresso’ is ‘The Last Train’.

If you’re sitting comfortably, and you have your ticket ready for inspection, let us begin.

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Photo by Osman Rana on Unsplash

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Nearly There

The echoing footsteps unsettled his imagination. Was it a persistent private eye flat-footing after him? An opportunist mugger? The empty underpass did nothing to slow his heart rate or silence the blood pounding in his ears. He jumped as the crackling tannoy reminded him to pick up the pace, “the 23.59 to Barking will leave shortly from Platform Two”. He engaged ‘action hero’ mode, taking stairs two-at-a-time. He’d got this, no worries, almost there. But doors slammed. The roar of a diesel engine made him miss his stride; he tumbled clumsily. Boisterous youthful taunts faded as the train pulled away.

(100 words)

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Photo by Jonathan Barreto on Unsplash

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Strangers on a Train

Seven minutes between trains was theoretically doable. But as her over-inflated pillow bounced down stairs she had no time to re-negotiate, she regretted everything. Over-packing, under-planning. Over-confidence, underwired bras. The train shivered, whistling its intentions. She shivered as the handsome stranger helped her aboard, with strong hands and twinkling intentions.

(50 words)

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There is always another way of looking at a prompt, an alternative plotline. Where would you go with the idea of ‘the last train’?