Previous Challenge Entry (Level 4 – Masters)
Topic: COMMUTE (07/07/16)
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TITLE: A Heart for Sausages! | Previous Challenge Entry
By Danielle King
07/14/16 -
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A nifty, underarm pong-evaluation, suggested a quick shower was called for, but, no time for the mundane. Stay focused Reginald. Settling for a blast of Dettol air freshener, he pulled on his best pants and headed out the door.
Taking precisely twenty strides he stopped dead. “Check!” Comb, humbugs, concessionary pass. And patted each tallying pocket.
“Hey Reginald,” Ted from next door held aloft spectacles. “Wouldn’t want you boarding the wrong train now, would we?”
“Thank you Ted. I left them on the wall last night, so I wouldn’t forget.”
“So you could see ‘em… without ‘em?
“Hmm... good point.” Drat! Now I have to start over. Ted shook his head as he witnessed his unconventional neighbour’s overstated gait as he pocket-patted out of sight.
Later, sitting on the draughty platform…
‘The next train to arrive on platform 2 will be the 10.20 to London Kings Cross, calling at Doncaster, Peterborough…’ The tinny tannoy system assaulted Reginald’s ears, but at least there were no delays. Now he could chill.
Meanwhile, sixty miles away in a leafy suburb near Sheffield, Penelope Potts was waiting in a bus shelter, smearing her lips ruby red.
The bus arrived on time, and Penelope Potts found a seat at the back where she continued with her beauty regime, adding a hefty dollop of blusher and two thickly pencilled brows.
“Meeting someone special Sweetie?” The lady in front unzipped her handbag.
“My friend.”
“Oh, that’s nice. Here, you might like to check your make-up in my mirror?”
“No thank you.”
“Hmm… shame.”
At the rail station bus stop, Penelope Potts disembarked to board the train to Doncaster.
Meanwhile, whistling south at speed, Reginald had time to reflect on the quirks and foibles of his fellow passengers.
A woman, with an opened magazine on her lap, wore a red jacket pulled well down over her head. She’d been there the previous week too, beneath a yellow blazer. So she can’t be dead. Hmm, possibly ugly. And the young man afflicted with a distracting eye twitch, interjected with an almighty snort. My, there’s some weirdo’s out today.
Penelope Potts, having boarded her train and walking its full length, failed to find a vacant seat. In first class, the posh collar and tie brigade, furiously hammering laptops and answering phones, were unaware of two preying eyes waiting for the kill.
Sure enough, taking a gulp of coffee and stretching his limbs, a long, skinny yuppie vacated his seat and headed for the loo. Quick as lightening, Penelope Potts was in there, and so wished her bottom wasn’t so vast.
Oblivious to much strangled mirth and pitying glances, Penelope Potts felt pleased with herself for using initiative.
Eventually, the two southbound trains pulled into Doncaster rail station. Penelope Potts and Reginald had never met in person, yet recognised each other immediately. “Did you have a good journey PP?” Hope she doesn’t mind the PP.
“Yes thank you, Reggie.” PP and Reggie… cool.
“Let’s go then.”
Side by side they walked through Doncaster’s busy streets in silence, until, “Here it is PP. What do you think?”
“Syd’s Café. Looks just like its picture on Facebook, Reggie.”
“C’mon then. Let’s eat.”
Reggie and PP were each served a meal of four fat sausages, chips and thick onion gravy, while the chef could be overheard telling a customer how Reginald had made a 75 mile round trip, every Thursday, for the past ten years. All for the love of his sausages.
Later, back at the station, Penelope Potts looked doe-eyed as they waited together for their respective trains. Should I slip my hand in his, like they do in films? Will he want to kiss me?
Reginald was pleased that PP had said how very much she enjoyed her sausages. As his return train slowed to a halt in the station, he turned to wish his social media friend a safe journey, before boarding. Once seated, he glanced through the window to see PP, tears forging rivulets through those garishly flamboyant cheeks, and thought how strange.
The station master blew his whistle. Reginald shrugged his shoulders and settled down to deliberate on the events of the day.
He very much hoped there were no peculiar people on this train…
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I was hooked from your title on. The MC reminded me a little of the character, Sheldon, from the Big Bang television show. I don' know if he will ever recognize love.