During the many delays, is a writing prompt from my current work in progress, as yet untitled. The section it comes from is shown below. The story is a sequel to River Witch and a dual timeline.
Ellen sleeps against Hester’s shoulder, exhausted by travel and heat.
They had woken early, Hester to feed the chickens and the tabby, Ellen to gather a thank you posy for the neighbour who would look after both until Hester’s return. They had walked the short distance to the train station through a village already busy with the day.
Hester carried a carpet bag, grateful for summer which made only light clothing necessary. She used the hour wait at Gloucester to buy fruit to supplement the bread, cheese and remaining biscuits she had packed in a cane basket and which they ate as they journeyed to Shrewsbury.
During the many delays they sat with other stoic passengers in an airless carriage while the July sun cooked them like rabbits in a roasting tin. The breezeless day outside rendered opened windows – those that could be juddered into revealing gaps – futile. Travellers alighted, others boarded, the carriage filled and emptied, and Hester wriggled on the wooden third class seat and wished she had brought cushions.
Now the train rattles along, shrill whistles alerting any daring road users who might think about crossing to the danger steaming down the line. Ellen sleeps on. Hester too, is weary, and glad for her own and Rose’s sake that her less patient daughter is in the restful cool of Catherine’s large house in Shiphaven.
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Nothing like a train ride on a hot day LOL.
Here’s my contribution:
DURING THE MANY DELAYS
Melbourne Airport was abuzz. Lines of people stretching throughout the terminal and onto the street.
Customers were frustrated, some angry at the obvious disruption to flight schedules – fearful they would not arrive at their destination in time for appointments or arrangements already made.
A look at the departures board was enough, the word “DELAY” featuring against each flight number and airline staff unable to advise when the situation might be rectified.
Travis Keane was particularly upset. His mother, who lived in Brisbane, was dying and he was anxious to see her one more time before she passed away. When he spoke to her attending physician the previous afternoon, he had not sounded hopeful, saying she might have only another 24 hours to live.
On that advice, Travis had immediately booked flight for the next morning and now, here he was, stuck in a long immovable line with no word on when flights might resume.
Surely, this must happen soon, he thought, but just then public announcements were heard throughout the terminal about a massive digital outage which meant that all computers were down and unable to process bookings.
Travis swore under his breath. The digital age had a lot to answer for, he muttered. This didn’t happen in the old days when everything was organised on paper.
Groans could be heard all round him as fellow passengers realised they might be stuck at the airport for hours, or even days, until the problem was fixed.
Travis headed for one of the airport restaurants. At least, I may as well buy something to eat while I am waiting, he thought.
The next few hours were a nightmare, not helped by a constantly changing departures board.
Flight times would momentarily flash up – bringing hopeful smiles to those passengers affected – only to be replaced a short time later with the familiar but frustrating “DELAY” advice yet again.
During the many “DELAYS” featured on the board, passenger tempers became even more frayed until, finally, one young man snapped completely and jumped a counter to assault an airline staff member.
Security quickly grabbed the offender, but not before the staff member concerned received cuts and bruising to his face and had to be taken to hospital.
After the situation returned to normal, and the young man had been led away by police, Travis sauntered up to the counter and politely inquired whether the airline might not be able to manually process the tickets.
The young woman sympathetically looked at him and shook her head.
“Not possible, I’m afraid,” she said. “We are just not set up for that.”
Travis looked crestfallen so the airline staff member was moved to ask why he was so sad.
“My mother is dying and might only have 24 hours to live,” he replied. “I was hoping to see her before she passed away.”
“Wait here just a moment,” she said. “I’ll be right back.”
A few minutes later, the young woman returned with an older man who began speaking through the desk microphone.
“Would passengers on Virgin flight 384 to Brisbane please come to gate lounge 6,” he said. “Tickets will be processed manually.”
Murmurings could be heard among the assembled passengers, who immediately rushed to the gate lounge.
“Here you go, sir, here’s your ticket,” the young airline staff member said. “Have a nice flight.”
Travis couldn’t believe it. Not only was he boarding the Brisbane flight, but so was everyone else who had been booked on the aircraft.
As he entered the cabin, he couldn’t help but overhear the airport PA system which was now directing passengers on other flights to proceed to their respective gate lounges.
At least someone has the commons sense not to be captivated by the digital age when it totally fails, he thought with a smile.
Several hours later he was by his mother’s bed in Brisbane’s main hospital.
“Hello, mum,” he said, as she slowly opened her eyes and, with a smile, squeezed his hand.
Motivation helps ingenuity!