There was a loud crashing sound, matched with a high pitch screeching. The entire train was shaking. Paul turned, opened his eyes to see that it was dark outside. They were still moving along the track, but not as smoothly as before. He turned to see Doug waking as well, as confused as he was. What was going on? Paul propped himself up to see what was happening behind him. Just as he turned he saw the train car begin to bend. He could see out the window that the train was beginning to jack-knife. He literally saw a corresponding train car bending directly towards the side of the train he and Doug were seated on. Paul’s heart was racing. He grabbed Doug’s arm and pointed out the window.
“Move,” Paul shouted desperately.
Suddenly Paul felt a wave a pressure push him into Paul and against the train wall across from where they were sitting. He was thrown from that wall to the ceiling and then crashing to the floor. The car was full of screaming. Glass was breaking and you could hear metal grinding against metal. Paul didn’t know which way was up. It kept changing. He felt like a helpless rag doll being tossed around. He had pain all over, his leg especially. It felt like thousands of hammers and knives taking their turn over and over again. It was so bad he could hardly bare it. Every time he was tossed around the train car his leg would hit a seat or the floor or a loose piece of baggage and the pain would shoot up Paul’s entire body.
Suddenly the movement stopped. It was still. Paul’s leg was throbbing, he could feel, what he assumed to be blood, dripping down his face. It was warm, and mixed with tears pouring out of his eyes. He heard several women crying, men screaming in pain, and yet he could still hear the silence of the night. He knew they were in a remote area, far from nearby help. Paul attempted to call out to Doug, but he couldn’t. The pain in his body was so unbearable he couldn’t move. All he could do was lie there and listen to the others call out in pain. He briefly prayed that someone would come and find them, but as time passed and Paul grew weaker, he began to fear he’d never see his wife again. He closed his eyes and thought back to their last night on their honeymoon. Paul was so sunburn he couldn’t move. Jo wanted to feel bad for him, but it was just so funny to her. He was not the type of guy to burn, but when you fall asleep on a beach for hours, it’s bound to happen to anyone. Their last night was spent in their hotel room Paul covered in Aloe and Jo sitting far enough away not to touch and disturb the sunburn. They just looked at each other and made small talk. Jo would make fun of Paul and he would pout. It was a night that, at the time, he thought was ruined, a bad end to a good trip. However, now as he lied on the bed of this train, unable to move, filled with an indescribable pain, it was this night he thought of. He found comfort in knowing that it was never anything that he said or did for Jo that made her happy. It was just the time they spent together. He missed that time, and would do anything for even just one more minute of it.
Tuesday, November 17, 2009
The Rookie
Jimmy was filled with emotion. Did that all really just happen? Just months ago he was a chemistry teacher and a high school baseball coach, now he just pitched in a Major League game. His hear was racing after that final strikeout. As he ran off the field he saw his friend Brooks, who had been called up with him, standing their waiting to congratulate him.
"Awesome work man," Brooks shouted over the sound of the crowd.
"Thanks," Jimmy responded.
As the team entered the tunnel and headed toward the clubhouse, Jimmy could feel his heart racing. He had wanted this since he was a little boy. His dad's military assignments forced him to move around a lot and it wasn't until he was nearly 14 that he got to play consistently on one baseball team for an entire summer. Of all places, in the football state of Texas. Jimmy had many cards against him, but he still did it. He made it to the majors, against all odds and his Dad's unsupportive attitude. He made it.
As Jimmy exited the clubhouse after the game, he was swarmed by reporters.
"How does it feel," one shouted.
"What pitches did you throw," another reporter followed.
"I, um, I feel great. It's a dream come true. Fastballs, I threw fastballs," Jimmy was overwhelmed.
As the questions kept coming, Jimmy saw a familiar face at the back of the player entrance. It was his father.
"Excuse me," Jimmy said to the reporters, "I'll be right back."
Jimmy walked to his father and asked him what he was doing there.
"I wasn't going to miss this one," Jimmy's dad said softly. Jimmy's dad referring to all the baseball game of Jimmy's he had missed in the past.
"I'm proud of you son," he continued holding back his tears.
Jimmy smiled a little, unsure what to do. His dad turned and began to walk away.
"Dad," Jimmy stopped his dad from walking away. "I'd like you to have this," Jimmy said while pulling a baseball out of his pocket. Jimmy was giving his dad the baseball from his first Major League start. He realized that despite the man his dad was, he was trying to make up for it now. His dad knew that Jimmy loved baseball and that this is where his dreams came true.
His dad smiled, turned, and walked away, tossing the ball in his hand. Jimmy felt a calm within him that he hadn't felt in years. Like he had finally settled his differences with his dad.
Jimmy then turned to see his loving wife waiting for him, tears in her eyes at what she just witnessed.
"Awesome work man," Brooks shouted over the sound of the crowd.
"Thanks," Jimmy responded.
As the team entered the tunnel and headed toward the clubhouse, Jimmy could feel his heart racing. He had wanted this since he was a little boy. His dad's military assignments forced him to move around a lot and it wasn't until he was nearly 14 that he got to play consistently on one baseball team for an entire summer. Of all places, in the football state of Texas. Jimmy had many cards against him, but he still did it. He made it to the majors, against all odds and his Dad's unsupportive attitude. He made it.
As Jimmy exited the clubhouse after the game, he was swarmed by reporters.
"How does it feel," one shouted.
"What pitches did you throw," another reporter followed.
"I, um, I feel great. It's a dream come true. Fastballs, I threw fastballs," Jimmy was overwhelmed.
As the questions kept coming, Jimmy saw a familiar face at the back of the player entrance. It was his father.
"Excuse me," Jimmy said to the reporters, "I'll be right back."
Jimmy walked to his father and asked him what he was doing there.
"I wasn't going to miss this one," Jimmy's dad said softly. Jimmy's dad referring to all the baseball game of Jimmy's he had missed in the past.
"I'm proud of you son," he continued holding back his tears.
Jimmy smiled a little, unsure what to do. His dad turned and began to walk away.
"Dad," Jimmy stopped his dad from walking away. "I'd like you to have this," Jimmy said while pulling a baseball out of his pocket. Jimmy was giving his dad the baseball from his first Major League start. He realized that despite the man his dad was, he was trying to make up for it now. His dad knew that Jimmy loved baseball and that this is where his dreams came true.
His dad smiled, turned, and walked away, tossing the ball in his hand. Jimmy felt a calm within him that he hadn't felt in years. Like he had finally settled his differences with his dad.
Jimmy then turned to see his loving wife waiting for him, tears in her eyes at what she just witnessed.
Bad Date Good Date?
Yesssss! I finally have a date. Haha. I knew the picture of my neighbor at the beach would draw some lucky lady to want to meet me. Yea so I'm not the "best looking" guy in the world, but everybody has their issues. For some, it may be a faded tan, or a bad hair day. For me? We who needs all their teeth anyway. I'm so excited, only 12 minutes until I get to meet her.
We are meeting in a centralized location. I chose the Mall of America. She gets the idea that we are going to hit up one of the ritzy restaurants. I'll buy a dinner with all that money I claim I have. But oh no, don't worry. I have a plan. We'll end up in the food court, I'll make her buy her own food and she'll see just how humble I really am. I know a woman can pay for her own food. I know a woman doesn't need an expensive meal or a dressed up guy. I am going to wow her with a food court dinner and my rockin' Star Trek t-shirt. I can not wait!
Standing in the rotunda, waiting to meet her. I remember her picture vividly. I keep looking for her. My heart is fluttering with excitement. I've never really had a date before. What is it like? Do you think I'll get to hold her hand?
There she is! I see her. In the blue scarf like she said she's be wearing. Wow, she's pretty, and really dressed up. Hmmm. Maybe a little too dressed up for the food court. I wonder if I should have prefaced my plan with some instruction? Oh well. McDonald's here we come. I'm waving now, I told her I'd have a yellow rose in my hand. She clearly sees me. I'm waving the rose and delicately yelling her name.
"Ashley! Ashley! Over here!" I yell jumping up and down.
She keeps walking though, faster it appears than she was before she saw me. As I walk towards her, to try and keep up, she ducks into a woman's bathroom. Of course, she is just being polite and using the facilities now, as to not take away time from our date. I politely wait out side, sitting on the bench awaiting her exit from the restroom.
As I wait I picture her reaction when she see what our after dinner activity will be. We will take the lightrail to the downtown area, where I will show humility once again as I pretend to "forget" my wallet as we order our drinks, forcing her to pay. This will surely so her how willing I am to never forget how important of a person she is.
It's been a while, I wonder if she's ok? Maybe it was a bad burrito or something at lunch, but she's been in there for like 20 minutes. Hmmm. Nobody has really come out, I should ask someone for help.
"Excuse me, Ma'am," I say to the classy janitor lady, "My date went in there about 24 minutes ago and has not exited yet."
"I'm sorry sir, but the bathroom is empty," she politely answered as she mopped the floor in front of the Dairy Queen.
"That's impossible," I exclaim determined. "I've been watching the door the entire time."
"Hmmm," the lady sounds as she drains the muck water off her mop, "I don't know how to tell you this but that's the entrance to the bathroom sir. The exit is to the left about 20 feet."
Could it be true? Did she really stand me up? Impossible. I picked the perfect picture, I bought the yellow rose, I wore my best Star Trek T-shirt. Why wouldn't she want to date me? She would. Of course she would. It must have been the bad burrito. She was too embarrassed to see me. Of course that's what it is. I'm going to go home right now and send her a Get Well E-Card so she knows it's ok. What a perfect end to a well, kind of evening.
We are meeting in a centralized location. I chose the Mall of America. She gets the idea that we are going to hit up one of the ritzy restaurants. I'll buy a dinner with all that money I claim I have. But oh no, don't worry. I have a plan. We'll end up in the food court, I'll make her buy her own food and she'll see just how humble I really am. I know a woman can pay for her own food. I know a woman doesn't need an expensive meal or a dressed up guy. I am going to wow her with a food court dinner and my rockin' Star Trek t-shirt. I can not wait!
Standing in the rotunda, waiting to meet her. I remember her picture vividly. I keep looking for her. My heart is fluttering with excitement. I've never really had a date before. What is it like? Do you think I'll get to hold her hand?
There she is! I see her. In the blue scarf like she said she's be wearing. Wow, she's pretty, and really dressed up. Hmmm. Maybe a little too dressed up for the food court. I wonder if I should have prefaced my plan with some instruction? Oh well. McDonald's here we come. I'm waving now, I told her I'd have a yellow rose in my hand. She clearly sees me. I'm waving the rose and delicately yelling her name.
"Ashley! Ashley! Over here!" I yell jumping up and down.
She keeps walking though, faster it appears than she was before she saw me. As I walk towards her, to try and keep up, she ducks into a woman's bathroom. Of course, she is just being polite and using the facilities now, as to not take away time from our date. I politely wait out side, sitting on the bench awaiting her exit from the restroom.
As I wait I picture her reaction when she see what our after dinner activity will be. We will take the lightrail to the downtown area, where I will show humility once again as I pretend to "forget" my wallet as we order our drinks, forcing her to pay. This will surely so her how willing I am to never forget how important of a person she is.
It's been a while, I wonder if she's ok? Maybe it was a bad burrito or something at lunch, but she's been in there for like 20 minutes. Hmmm. Nobody has really come out, I should ask someone for help.
"Excuse me, Ma'am," I say to the classy janitor lady, "My date went in there about 24 minutes ago and has not exited yet."
"I'm sorry sir, but the bathroom is empty," she politely answered as she mopped the floor in front of the Dairy Queen.
"That's impossible," I exclaim determined. "I've been watching the door the entire time."
"Hmmm," the lady sounds as she drains the muck water off her mop, "I don't know how to tell you this but that's the entrance to the bathroom sir. The exit is to the left about 20 feet."
Could it be true? Did she really stand me up? Impossible. I picked the perfect picture, I bought the yellow rose, I wore my best Star Trek T-shirt. Why wouldn't she want to date me? She would. Of course she would. It must have been the bad burrito. She was too embarrassed to see me. Of course that's what it is. I'm going to go home right now and send her a Get Well E-Card so she knows it's ok. What a perfect end to a well, kind of evening.
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