Somewhere between Purgatory and Hell, there lies a town called Redditch. People tend not to talk about the town very much, because - let's face it - if you leave Purgatory and find yourself in Redditch, then you know that the next stop is not going to be a good one.
Fortunately for the little Chinese lady sat half way along the second carriage, the train on which she travelled was heading in the other direction.
As the train pulled out of Purgatory, the Chinese lady, who was known as Bob (long story), breathed a sigh of relief. The ordeal was over - no more having to look through Peter Seago's extensive collection of photographs for her.
Bob glanced around the carriage.
Odd, she thought, as she spied a morris dancer in full costume, sat at the back. Surely he should be heading the other way...?
"Tickets please!" declared the conductor, interrupting Bob's train of thought. (Train! Geddit?) He had just entered the carriage from a doorway at the front.
"Ta love, that's great," said the conductor, after he had punched Bob's ticket. Then he continued down the aisle towards the morris man.
"A day return to Ripley Bottom please," said Morris. Yes, that really was his name.
The ticketmeister just stared at him for a moment.
"You want a return ticket to Purgatory?" he asked, with more than a hint of disbelief.
Morris nodded.
"Pull the other one mate, it's got bells on," said the conductor.
So that is precisely what Morris did, complete with a little dance and much waving of handkerchiefs.
Suddenly the train lurched, slowed, then stopped.
Oh, good grief! thought Bob. They're going to take us back to Purgatory - the photographs! Or on to Redditch and beyond!
Suddenly there was a knock at the train's window. A very persistent knock. Bob tried to ignore it, but it would not go away. Bob began to panic. Her eyes opened wide, and she sat bolt upright.
She was in bed. It had all been a dream.
There was a persistent knock on the bedroom door.
"Come in," she said.
A tall, demented looking man came in carrying a mug of hot tea and a bacon sandwich.
"Breakfast time!" declared Peter Seago, as he set down Bob's breakfast on top of the drawers next to her bed. "Get that down you. Then we can crack on with some more of my photos. I bet I haven't shown you the ones of me on my latest trip to a bothy in Wales..."
Bob picked up the bacon sandwich and stared at it dejectedly.
More photos!
Bob thought for a moment about making a break for it and climbing out of the window. But where could she go? The road outside led only to Redditch. It was either that, or keep looking through Seago's photographs. How many more could there possibly be?
It was going to be a tough choice...
Only one train this month and this was the last one?
ReplyDeleteThere'll be more trains when the snow clears!
ReplyDeleteWell I can't keep waiting at the station forever. I am getting a taxi.
ReplyDeleteI check everyday but there is no rhubarb crumbling here anymore. Its all false advertising.
ReplyDeleteDue to the high level of stress incurred by the lack of trains here, my doctor has advised me not to visit this station any longer but to seek alternative travel arrangements. It is with great regret then that I now turn to hot air balloons and failing that, the go kart of Mrs. P. Ebenezer Slunge. I wish this dire situation could have been averted but I am under doctor's orders and must comply, for the sake of my health. I am sure you understand.
ReplyDeleteTrouble is, some of us have to work for a living. Like Dave Postlethwaite. Or visit relatives elsewhere on the isle. Also, sometimes I've got to wait for my muse to turn up. (If you see him, send him this way, he's called Darren. Three feet high, ginger beard.) There will be more soon.
DeleteDont let work get in the way of your greater priorities my friend. Some things need to come before other things, just the way that beef and chicken sandwiches don't.
ReplyDeleteOh look - my muse! A new story. Cheers Darren.
DeleteNot to be read after dark...!