Short Story : Direct-non stop Train Ride
Written in both Chinese and English
Author : Philip Chan
Email: goodadvicechan@gmail.com
Blog:
Http://good-advice-book.blogspot.com
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Mary was late in catching her train to Boston. She took out a $50 bill, handing it to the taxi driver. “Keep the change.”
Running, looking at the departure board, someone’s luggage hit on her, and she fell, everything from her handbag pouring on the floor.
An announcement was made. “Last call for Boston.” A group of people rushed to platform 18 to catch the train.
Mary was able to get onto the train in time, after packing everything into her handbag.
She was relieved to sit down, putting her hand-bag on her knees, switching on her i-phone, wearing a pair of hands-off ear plugs, and putting a candy inside her mouth.
A hand tapped on her shoulder, she pulled off her hands-free earphone.
A stranger said. “You are in the wrong seat.”
Mary was angry and looked at her ticket. “Sir, I am in the right seat.”
The man argued, “Are you sure?”
Mary, full of confidence, was impatient and angry. “Sir, I am in the right seat. Go and find your own seat.”
“Can I see your ticket?”
“Why? Do I look like an old lady, not able to read the ticket?”
“I don’t mean that way; just want to make sure.”
The person, Tom, sitting next to Mary was annoyed by their conversation. “Excuse me, lady. Why don’t you show him your ticket?”
Mary reluctantly searched her handbag, handing the ticket to Tom to give it to the man demanding her seat.
He looked at the ticket and was about saying something.
Mary interrupted. “See, I told you. This is my seat. Give me back my ticket.”
The man looked at the ticket again and about to say something.
Mary raised her voice one more time. “Give me back my ticket.”
She grabbed the ticket from him but missed.
The man, looking at the ticket once more, gave the ticket back to Mary without saying a word and walked away.
“What a rude person.”
Tom knocked his head.
The train started moving. Mary closed her eyes, putting on her pair of ear plugs, listening to her favorite music.
A conductor passed by. “Ticket please.”
Tom tapped Mary’s shoulder. “Our conductor is here.”
“Ticket please.”
Mary handed the ticket to the conductor.
“Lady, you are in the right seat but the wrong train. This one is an express direct-non stop to Toronto.”
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