Early Morning Express (3/3)

Jane found herself once again having trouble falling to sleep. Thoughts danced in her head. Nothing, in particular, mostly everything.

About dawn, she woke and heard newly familiar sounds outside her room. Slowly she got up, looked around her room, and exited it. Things felt different this time.

She took her time getting across the platform to the train, the only speed she knew. It was beautiful. The outside was white as a pearl. It reminded her of the trains she used to ride when she was a little girl. She felt as if it was inviting her in.

She peered into the doorway. There stood the conductor in all white. The same one she had seen a few days ago.

"Well. Hello there, Jane," he said. "Are you ready to go?"

"Yes, I think I am," She said. "I'm afraid I don't have a ticket."

"That's not a problem, Miss Jane; Someone already paid for your ticket."

She hesitantly stepped aboard. The conductor took her arm and helped her up. She turned to take a seat.

There were many people already aboard. There were gentlemen dressed in suits and hats, and women dressed in their Sunday best. She felt underdressed in her pink night robe and bunny slippers. She saw a place to sit just about five rows away, but then she noticed something. She knew these people.

There on the front row were her mom and dad. She felt like a young girl again.

"Hello, kiddo." Her father said. "We've come to welcome you home."

She quickly wrapped her arms around her father. It had been so long since she had seen him. She grabbed her mother's forearm.

She looked further down the aisle and saw many friends and family she had forgotten. Some she had only heard of and never even met. They were all there for her final ride home.

Jane took her seat. She heard the chugga chugga noises of the train as they slowly took off.

❦

"Did you hear about Jane? She went quietly in her sleep. She had the biggest smile you ever seen on her face when they found her this morning."

He shoved a spoonful of cereal in, and milk dribbled down his chin.

"Oh. She was such a sweet gal. I'll miss her."

Darla grabbed a napkin and dabbed Charles' face.

"I'll miss her too," Charles said. "We had become pretty good friends here in the joint."

"Awe. Well, I guess when it's your time, it's your time." Said Darla. She knew it was cliché, but somehow it made her feel better about losing a friend.

"Well, I guess we can't live forever after all." His leg was bouncing again, like a dog who can't control his wagging tail.

"Say. I had this unsettling dream last night. It's got me all shook."

"Is that so? Tell me all about it."

"It was the middle of the night, and I kept hearing a car honk outside. So I finally opened my apartment door, and there in the middle of the hall, was a cabby asking me if I needed a ride. I told him the cab was not for me. He agreed and tore off. It seemed so real."