{"id":96,"date":"2022-07-13T14:23:51","date_gmt":"2022-07-13T14:23:51","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/jamortimore.com\/?p=96"},"modified":"2022-07-13T14:23:54","modified_gmt":"2022-07-13T14:23:54","slug":"remembering-joe","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/jamortimore.com\/?p=96","title":{"rendered":"Remembering Joe"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p><strong>This was entered into the competition for the RNA&#8217;s Elizabeth Goudge trophy 2021 &#8211; first line was provided, maximum 2,000 words.  I had recently been on this particular train with my boyfriend and dreamt up this story.  (It didn&#8217;t place, but the competition is huge!)<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 The woman who sat in the corner of the railway carriage with her eyes shut was attracting a good deal of attention.\u00a0 She was very old: her white hair, whilst artfully arranged, was sparse.\u00a0 Her wrinkled skin was translucent, and dappled with liver spots.\u00a0 Despite the day&#8217;s heat, she was wearing a shapeless cardigan over a thick frock.\u00a0 She hadn&#8217;t moved since the train left Bishops Lydeard, and her face was wet with tears.\u00a0 Her mask lay crumped on the table in front of her.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Excuse me?&#8221;&nbsp; Sophie hesitated in the aisle, swaying with the train&#8217;s motion.&nbsp; &#8220;Are you all right?&#8221;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; The woman opened her eyes and smiled.&nbsp; &#8220;I&#8217;m deaf, dear.&nbsp; If you take off your mask, I can lip read.&#8221;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Sophie tugged the mask down under her chin.&nbsp; &#8220;We aren&#8217;t supposed to &#8230;&#8221;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;I know.&nbsp; It&#8217;s all right.&#8221;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Sophie unhooked her mask, letting it dangle from one hand.&nbsp; &#8220;You seemed kind of upset?&#8221;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Not at all, dear.&nbsp; These are happy tears.&#8221;&nbsp; The woman wiped her face with a white handkerchief; Sophie caught a glimpse of embroidered flowers.&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;It&#8217;s the smell of the smoke, you see.&nbsp; It always takes me back.&#8221;&nbsp; The train shook as it passed over a rough piece of track and the woman gestured to the seat opposite her.&nbsp; &#8220;Why don&#8217;t you sit with me for a while &#8211; before you fall over!&#8221;&nbsp; She gave a little chuckle, her whole face lighting up.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Sophie glanced back at her boyfriend, who was chatting with the train guard; the two stood, swaying, deep in conversation, oblivious.&nbsp; The carriage jolted again; Paul had told her that the rolling stock had the wrong sort of suspension, and she guessed that was the reason for the roughness of the ride.&nbsp; &#8220;Thank you.&#8221;&nbsp; She slid onto the indicated seat.&nbsp; &#8220;Are you sure you&#8217;re well?&nbsp; And are you sure we shouldn&#8217;t be wearing our masks?&#8221;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; The woman gestured to the water bottle on the table from which a wilted paper straw extruded.&nbsp; &#8220;I&#8217;ve got a drink, so it&#8217;s all right.&nbsp; I like talking to people.&nbsp; It&#8217;s so difficult when you can&#8217;t hear their replies.&#8221;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; The train pulled to a halt at Stogumber, and Sophie&#8217;s boyfriend glanced in her direction but made no move to join her.&nbsp; A few people got on and off the train; doors slammed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;We were very young.&#8221;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Excuse me?&#8221;&nbsp; Sophie&#8217;s attention was drawn back to her fellow traveller.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Me and Joe.&#8221;&nbsp; The old woman smiled.&nbsp; &#8220;A friend leant us a caravan at Minehead for our honeymoon, you see.&nbsp; We came down on the train.&nbsp; It was such a long way.&#8221;&nbsp; She took a deep breath as the train got under way, a cloud of coal-scented smoke wafting through the open windows and temporarily obscuring the view.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;My boyfriend&#8217;s interested in these heritage railways,&#8221; Sophie said.&nbsp; &#8220;It&#8217;s my first time.&#8221;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Lovely line, this.&nbsp; And they made the carriages very nice last year, when they couldn&#8217;t run services.&#8221;&nbsp; She stroked the upholstered seat beside her with a heavily veined hand that trembled a little.&nbsp; &#8220;Almost like new.&nbsp; Almost like &#8230; I&#8217;m 97, you know; can you believe that?&#8221;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Sophie blinked, astonished.&nbsp; &#8220;You are?&#8221;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Kept all my marbles.&#8221;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;And they let you &#8230;&#8221;&nbsp; Sophie ground to a halt, realising that what she had been about to say could have been taken as deeply insulting.&nbsp; She felt out of her depth; she&#8217;d never met anyone so old.&nbsp; Somehow she&#8217;d imagined them all shut away in homes, too feeble to engage with the real world.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Oh yes.&nbsp; They know me.&#8221;&nbsp; The woman chuckled, and then glanced out of the window at the partly wooded slopes of the Quantock hills, beautifully green after the rains of May.&nbsp; &#8220;A whole week we had together, me and Joe.&#8221;&nbsp; Her voice quavered a little, but her words were clear.&nbsp; &#8220;I remember it like it was yesterday.&nbsp; Walking on the beach together, hand in hand, laughing and joking &#8230; we didn&#8217;t care if the sun was shining or if it was raining cats and dogs, it was enough just to be together.&#8221;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; There was a long silence; Sophie didn&#8217;t like to interrupt her companion&#8217;s memories.&nbsp; Eventually, the woman sighed and smiled a little.&nbsp; &#8220;And then it was over and we went home, and he got his marching orders and went off to fight in the war.&nbsp; Like so many, he didn&#8217;t come back, so he never knew we&#8217;d made a baby that week.&#8221;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;That&#8217;s very sad,&#8221; Sophie said gently.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;It was the way things were.&#8221;&nbsp; The woman lifted her bottle of water and took a sip from the straw.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;What did you do?&#8221;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;What we all did.&nbsp; My parents helped, but mostly I raised my Susie on my own.&nbsp; She grew into a fine lass and married a nice boy.&nbsp; They had four children, and now I have three great-grandchildren as well, isn&#8217;t that amazing?&#8221;&nbsp; Sophie made the requisite noise of agreement. &#8220;But you know,&#8221; the woman sighed, &#8220;I always thought about that week, and how happy we were.&nbsp; I always planned to come down to Minehead again, but I was just too busy, and then it was too late &#8211; they closed the line.&nbsp; I thought I&#8217;d missed my chance &#8230;&#8221;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; The train drew in to Williton, and Sophie&#8217;s boyfriend came through.&nbsp; &#8220;This isn&#8217;t our seats.&#8221;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;I&#8217;ll join you in a moment.&#8221;&nbsp; Sophie watched him walk past, his camera clutched in his hand, and smiled a little.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;He seems a nice boy,&#8221; her new friend confided in her.&nbsp; &#8220;Like my Joe, he is &#8211; tall and thin.&#8221; She sat back.&nbsp; &#8220;I had so wanted to ride the railway again &#8230; when I heard it had reopened, I got my grandson to buy me a ticket.&nbsp; And I&#8217;ve come every year since, to ride down to Minehead and remember my Joe and how happy we were.&#8221;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Did the guards help you &#8230;?&#8221;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Oh, my grandson put me on the train today and his daughter will meet the train at Minehead with my wheelchair.&nbsp; The staff are so very kind.&nbsp; They know me, you see.&nbsp; Because I come every year at the same time, to let the smoke bring back my memories.&#8221;&nbsp; She paused to inhale deeply as the train departed the station.&nbsp; &#8220;One year they tried to use a diesel engine and the staff kicked up such a fuss to make sure my ride wasn&#8217;t spoilt.&nbsp; I had a ticket last year, but &#8230; well, you know what happened.&#8221;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;It was a strange year,&#8221; Sophie said.&nbsp; &#8220;I worked from home.&nbsp; I only have a bedsit, but there&#8217;s a park nearby and Paul &#8211; my boyfriend &#8211; used to come and wave at me through the window, and we could zoom each other, of course.&nbsp; I guess I was luckier than some.&#8221;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;I was one of the lucky ones too,&#8221; the woman agreed.&nbsp; &#8220;The care home took good care of me.&nbsp; Stella died, and Marian, but &#8230; I was lucky.&nbsp; The internet is amazing, isn&#8217;t it?&nbsp; We can see our families without leaving the comfort of our armchairs.&#8221;&nbsp; She chuckled.&nbsp; &#8220;My son tried to tell me I was too old to ride on the railway this year, but when I heard it would be open again in time for our anniversary I insisted.&nbsp; I just wanted to smell the smoke again and remember.&#8221;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; She inhaled deeply, and Sophie copied her.&nbsp; &#8220;It&#8217;s a very distinctive odour,&#8221; the younger woman agreed, smiling.&nbsp; &#8220;I won&#8217;t forget it in a hurry.&#8221;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;Perhaps you&#8217;ll have an anniversary of your own soon,&#8221; the woman said, nodding. &#8220;Make sure you have good memories, just in case.&nbsp; You&#8217;d better go and join your young man now.&nbsp; You&#8217;ll be able to see the sea soon &#8211; look out for it.&#8221;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8220;I will.&#8221;&nbsp; Sophie clambered out of the seat and, before putting her mask back on, said, &#8220;Thank you for telling me your story.&nbsp; I really appreciated it.&#8221;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Betty leant back as the young black woman walked away from her.&nbsp; The train chuffed onward toward Minhead and the sea.&nbsp; This would be her last journey, she thought.&nbsp; But that was all right; she&#8217;d be with Joe again soon &#8211; and it really wouldn&#8217;t be heaven if there were no steam trains.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>This was entered into the competition for the RNA&#8217;s Elizabeth Goudge trophy 2021 &#8211; first line was provided, maximum 2,000 words. I had recently been on this particular train with my boyfriend and dreamt up this story. (It didn&#8217;t place, but the competition is huge!) \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 The woman who sat in the corner of the [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-96","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-uncategorized","post-preview"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/jamortimore.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/96","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/jamortimore.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/jamortimore.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/jamortimore.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/jamortimore.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=96"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/jamortimore.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/96\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":97,"href":"https:\/\/jamortimore.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/96\/revisions\/97"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/jamortimore.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=96"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/jamortimore.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=96"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/jamortimore.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=96"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}