Stories by Anne Knight
A
Winter Train Journey
It was afternoon when we set off to Glossop, our heavy coats on to
keep out the cold.
We arrived at Manchester but just missed the train for Glossop and had
half an hour to wait, so walked round the shops at Piccadilly, then back
to the platform. Nearly time, it’s pulling in. We got on, found a seat
for two. Not too crowded!
It pulled out of Piccadilly on its journey to Glossop. Once out of the
city we came across large patches of hore frost; thick, dense, sparkling
with winter sun. It hadn’t thawed for the sun hadn’t melted it. It lay
on the ground, even some walls had heavy frost stuck to them. The trees,
tall, black, slender; their branches some thick, some not. The baby
branches like tiny fingers, they look so frail as though they could
snap. The narrow branches reminded me of fine lace.
Arriving at Dinting Station, the old station crumbling, boys got on from
their school. Lots of them, I mean lots. When we arrived at Glossop the
boys all tumbled out of their doors, rushing, hurrying home, another day
for them finished.
Ben and I made or way to the health shop, picked up what I wanted and
paid. I have been going to that shop for over twenty years. We went to
the market and found a cafe. Tea plus tea cakes, they were nice. Books
to read upon the shelf. Have a read while you drink or wait. A relaxing
moment. Tea plus tea cakes. We set off for the train, looking, as we
walk, at the market.
Once more we arrive at the station and have less than five minutes to
wait. As we find a seat for two, the train slowly moves out. Again I
look at the trees. The sky had changed colour through lilac and soft
greys with a pink warm cloud across the greys. As we journey I spot a
robin on a branch. I could see its red breast as we trundled along on
our journey. There were more birds in the trees, for they knew they had
to rest. The branches still black plus the deep frost. I looked to the
left. The sky was in many shades of red. The sun would soon go down and
it turned from a deep orange to a deeper red. The sky was so beautiful.
Ben looked through the window on the right so we could see the sun
without looking straight at it. As we watched it go down there came
purples and finally darkness.
Just another train to get now we’ve arrived at Piccadilly. We stayed on
the same platform but Ben saw the train was crowded and went to the
monitor. The train for Hazel Grove was in. I was glad to get that
instead of the Middlesborough train as it wasn’t packed.
Nice ride back. Left the train at Stockport and was soon home. Fires
plus tea.