Crunch: The Train To Tucumcari
Crunch: The Train To Tucumcari
Writing Exercise #43
Edit: I forgot to update the prompt questions below. If you already saw this, there’s new questions! Whoops!
For
’s Blue Wednesday I shared a song:After listening to it a few times, I gotta write something inspired by it. I’m also going to use the prompt, also from Derek, “This Ain’t Your Train, Son”.
If you have ideas for Prompts, Crunches, Sprints, Relays, Stretches, or other writing exercises in the future, please leave them in the comments! If you would like to write your own take for this exercise, please comment with a link so that I can see what you wrote and support your work, maybe even share your version with my subscribers. Please let me know if you have any thoughts, comments, or constructive criticisms as well!
Enjoy!
Crunch: “This Ain’t Your Train, Son”
“Can I help you, son?”
Herb startled, not expecting to see anyone awake this early at the railyard. “Who are you?” he asked the man, whose face remained in the shadowy dark of the train car.
“I asked you first.”
“You can help me up. Just trying to get on the train, like the rest of you.”
“These men didn’t try. Where’s your ticket.”
“I don’t have one.”
“These men did.”
“They’re drifters, I’m fixin’ to drift. Are you going to help me up or am I going to have to climb up?”
“You’re not gettin’ me, son.” His voice growled with a menacing air, like his voice was escaping from behind tumbling stones.
“Who appointed you keeper of this train car?” Herb asked, irritated.
The ominous man laughed. “That’s a longer story than I care to tell.”
“Isn’t this the train to Tucumcari?”
“Yes and no. This train passes every town. It’ll pass through Tucumcari.”
“Where’s it heading?”
“When it’s time for you to ride this train you’ll know. That’s how I know.”
“How you know what?”
“This ain’t your train, son. I’ll be back for you—not today.”
“I don’t even know you. What do you mean you’ll be back?”
“Name’s Charon.” The train groaned to life, steam rose from the deep black engine. Charon tossed Herb’s bag back to him. “See you ‘round, Herb.”
The train began easing away, it’s engine churning slowly. Herb was left staring with his mouth open. In the distance, a dog barked.
(250 words )
The Promptee Has Become The Promptor
Your feedback helps to improve my writing. I would really appreciate a comment on your thoughts on this writing exercise. Consider telling me your thoughts about:
Do you like greek mythology?
Have you ever ridden a train?
If you were on death row (heaven forbid!) what would your last meal be?
Thank you for reading! I hope you enjoy! Come back next week for another writing exercise!
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Thank you and God bless!
Cool take on the ferryman.
Do you like greek mythology?
A great deal. Fortunate to live near a museum and art gallery that hosts a large collection of, mostly, Roman-era statues as well as Victorian ones alongside high art oil paintings of the most famous stories.
Have you ever ridden a train?
Too many. Before my wife and I lived together (and before we were married) one of us would be on a train every week to see each other. The weekends that didn't happen I would travel to see friends in other cities by train.
If you were on death row (heaven forbid!) what would your last meal be?
Very hard to answer but I'd probably want to cook it myself whatever it was.
1. I think Greek mythology is interesting; I haven't studied it intensely, though. One of these days I'm going to listen to an Audible recording I have of Dan Stevens (Matthew Crawley from Downton Abbey) reading the Iliad and the Odyssey, and that I look forward to.
2. Only the little zoo ones and the DC Metro back in '02. It was interesting.
3. A bottle of Vault soda, if there's any left on Earth, and Northern black cherry ice cream. If you gotta go, why not treat yourself? Also, with the time they'd spend looking for the Vault soft drink, maybe my lawyers would be able to file an appeal and get me out of there.