This week's Words for Wednesday are: this sound
And/or: it's going to rain today; chasing storms; umbrellas; charmed; a long journey; trains
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
Fiction: April Gale and The Long Short Journey
The rain tap, tap, tap on the train windows. April Gale sighs. The long journey to her grandfather's house is getting tedious. The storm seems to be following her all the way from her house to the train platform and now here. She brushes a finger against the window pane making a streak across the steam. She hears a cough and turns to the boy on the other side of the train. He is bundled in blankets but is still shivering. She snaps her fingers and instantly, he stops shivering. She hears a sigh and turns to her aunt sitting beside her. Aunt Josephine gives April a thin raised eyebrow. April grins at her. Aunt Josephine frowns and returns to her book.
April pulls at her shawl closer around her shoulders. The train has no heating and they have been here for ten hours straight. She turns back to the window. The rain falls in larger droplets. The gray sky swims with half-black clouds. There is nothing to see in the wide grayness. April pulls the curtains closed. She glances over at the boy. He is sleeping while leaning against the train wall. His spikes of blond hair are bent at one corner. April's eyes land on the old woman sitting beside the boy. She stares at April with her lips pursed and large brown eyes almost popping out of their sockets. April gives her a small smile and turns away.
Another ten hours of this and April might just jump out the windows, that is, if she can open them. When she sat down hours ago, she had noted the windows are sealed shut. How is anyone to breathe around here? She starts to stand up but Aunt Josephine presses a hand on April's shoulder and shakes her head. April sits back and leans her head against the seat. She wishes they could just fly to her grandfather's house. She closes her eyes and imagines the train lifting off the tracks and moving forward in a moderate speed so as to have a relaxing trip.
Someone screams and April opens her eyes. The train seems to be lifting. She pushes the curtains open. The sea is getting lower and lower below them. She reaches out to grab her aunt's arm and at the same time, her aunt shoots her a look that warns of daggers and swords. April laughs lightly and drops her hand onto the armrest.
Outside, the rain seems to be moving upward. The train pauses and starts moving forward in a moderate speed. April turns her head slightly to glance at the passengers. They are keeping their heads down except for the sleeping boy who is awake and staring out the window. There are a few shouts and screams but nothing alarming, well, nothing too loud that Aunt Josephine can comment on but Aunt Josephine is busy vomiting into her small bag. Her book lays on the floor in the isles slipping back and forth.
The train speeds up and soon they are moving faster and faster that any screams coming from the passengers are drowned out by other screams. April clings to the armrests and wonders why they are moving so fast. She certainly has not pictured this. She dares a peek at the passing sky but the view moves too swiftly for her to make out any details.
Over two hours later, they begin to slow down. Then they descend back onto the tracks. April can hear the collected sighs of relief. Aunt Josephine leans back in her seat and peers at April with half-opened eyes and in a almost whisper, says, "Your grandfather is going to hear about this." Then she turns and lowers her face into her bag.
April lets out a breath. Well, there's nothing she can do to fix this but they did saved seven hours of tedious train ride. And now she realizes her powers are growing.
--- More Words for Wednesday over here ---
Fun fun fun. I like this girls abilities. Though for a second I thought your story might turn into something scary do to the sealed windows.
ReplyDeleteoh no, I don't write scary stories.
Deletethanks for stopping by, have a lovely day.
Love this. And suspect Uglemor will as well. April would fit in well with her continuing tale.
ReplyDeleteHooray for growing powers.
And from this hot side of the world hooray for rain.
I'm glad you enjoy this. I actually wrote this on a whim, I don't think much when I write.
DeleteI welcome rain any time of the year - hot or cold but definitely really good for hot days.
thank you for visiting & have a lovely day.
Elephant's Child is rigth. This is a tale rigth up my alley, even if my Susan do not have train lifting powers, her powers are growing too. Oh, and how I despice sealed windows as well. Lovely tale.
ReplyDeleteI didn't really think about it but I do like stories about people doing wild and magical things.
Deletethank you for visiting & have a lovely day.
Oh, dear. Somehow i think this is going to cause trouble, although i do understand why she would want to do such a thing.
ReplyDeletetrouble is April's middle name, okay, not really. I'm sure she would get into trouble anyway just because she has powers.
Deletethank you for visiting & have a lovely day.
Nicely done.
ReplyDeletethank you. & thanks for stopping by.
Deletehave a lovely day.
Oh well done - this is a great take on the words. May her gifts grow and grow. More on this interesting character please.
ReplyDeleteXO
WWW
PS Mine is at my blog.
I'll have to think of something because I wrote this just yesterday and had not thought much of what's next but I'm sure I'll be writing more about her.
Deletethank you for visiting & have a lovely day.
'wish power', I've often wished I had that, but I'd have to be very careful what I wished for, I tend to be a little greedy.
ReplyDeleteI hope April learns to control her growing power.
wishing is very dangerous especially if you have April's power.
Deletethank you for visiting & have a lovely day.
I had an Aunt Josephine...I also did a story....https://peppylady.blogspot.com/2019/01/wednesday-meme-number-twenty-six.html
ReplyDeleteI didn't have an aunt anything but I really likes aunts. thanks for stopping by, have a lovely day.
Deletep.s., please leave your link at the words for wednesday post. thank you.
p.p.s.I have left your link in the words for wed post for this week.
DeleteMy story will be on my blog Friday 18th
ReplyDeleteokay. you know your Friday is actually my Thursday?
Deletethank you for visiting & have a lovely day.
spellbinding!
ReplyDeleteI think so too.
Deletethanks for stopping by, have a lovely day.