Golden Ticket

3: The Vessel

Everyone says take the train. It’s more efficient and eco-friendlier, that’s why they recommend it. The train I went on, seemed… different than I’d expect.

I needed to go to work, so naturally I needed to be there as quickly as possible. Boss never liked people being late, and luckily, I wasn’t one who’d be late constantly. Some days I’d struggle with traffic or another, others I woke up late form working the night before. Simply put, I’m averagely a consistent person. Though, sometimes being consistently doesn’t pay off. My car was wearing out from the tire. Walking was not an option, work was way too far.

How about the train?

“One ticket from Aurelia to Neptune please.” I directed. I stuttered more like, I wasn’t used to conversations and realized why I’d like to be independent.

The capped man didn’t think anything of it and gave me the golden ticket. A golden ticket? I looked around, no one’s ticket was shiny like this one. Everyone was a dull yellow. “The train will be here in a few minutes, please make yourself comfortable.”

I wanted to further ask why my ticket was different, but the people pushed forward and asked for their ticket. I felt a little upset they’d be so urgent, but where will that get me.

I walked forward, my backpack straps flattening to my shoulders and back. Lately, my backpack was horrendously heavy. Too many binders and books than I’d like. Boss seems to put more onto me than necessary, I always took it then.

“Hey!” I heard a loud deep tenor call out. I looked up to see a man running towards me. He wore a comfortable puff jacket with fur on the hood. His head was in a maroon beanie while his backpack pounded against his back as he ran. “Wait up!”

I put my ticket down and fixed my glasses. It was a habit to fidget with my glasses and avoid any awkward moments. I looked back, he was gone. I got up to investigate, but he was gone.

“You’re new, aren’t you sweetie?” A sweet elderly voice said next to my ear. I looked next to me, a bit startled as you’d expect, and saw an elderly woman with white hair and wrinkles lining her face. She looked comfortable as well, it was a chilly morning after all.

Though, I found it odd she’d talk to me in this. The other train passengers barely talked, if not to their own group. I reluctantly answered. “Yes. I don’t usually take the train.”

“No.” She gave a small chuckle. She held the golden ticket in her hand. I looked down, seeing that was my ticket. “You have the golden ticket.”

I was more concerned and worried from this lady. “I see that.” I answered back. My tone started turning aggressive, but I controlled that more than I led on. “Miss, that is my train ticket.”

She gave a smile and grabbed my palm. She laid the ticket delicately in my hand and clasped her hands top of mine. “Don’t ever let go.” She said with a smile. She got up and wobbled away with her wooden cane. Was that a threat? I couldn’t tell. Frankly, I was too afraid to let go now.

The train came hurling in and abruptly stopped at the station. I got up with my backpack and walked to the train conductors controlling the people traffic on boarding. “Here you go sir.” I handed him my ticket and started walking in. He held his hand out and stopped me.

“You need to wait a minute miss.” He gave me back my ticket and pushed me out of the way for the other passengers.

“Sir, I need to get to work soon.” I concerningly asked. I was growing more and more worried.

“Miss, you need to wait.” He sternly said as he entered the train. The automatic doors closed, locking me out.

Surely now, I will miss work. I was more disgruntled than excited to take a train. I turned around to see five other people.

I heard the low tenor voice groan in anguish. I looked to the right, where the voice had come from, to see the comfortable fur-hooded man holding his ticket angrily. “I need to go to work!” He banged on the door in which the train started moving. “No! You can’t seriously leave!” He started banging harder and the train only roared off. Two whistles from the horn startled him and he gave up. “Damn!” He threw his backpack off. The train passed, and the breeze had calmed down. He looked at his ticket and threw it onto the ground. He disappeared. I found myself staring that way, figuring out how he’d disappear into thin air. I looked down at my ticket, the shining gold stunned my eyes. This is magic? This is all sorcery? There isn’t anything normal about this.

“Strange new feeling, isn’t it?” I heard a new voice startle me, a black man with travel gear had sat next to me. “No need to worry, this is a ticket away.” He gave me a huge smile in his beige outfit. I felt more worried.

“I am needed at work immediately, I can’t wait for another train!” I started panicking more. I can’t afford to be late. I’m not like that, I can’t! Boss would be furious. I have all the progress reports sorted and without them today, the meeting would be a blind conference. “Is there a train coming soon. I can’t stay.”

The black man looked curiously and closed his eyes with a deep breath. “No need to worry ma’am.” He gave a smile again and turned to where the boy had disappeared. “Look at the thin air.”

I looked, see no choice. My ride had left, no train was in site, and only a golden ticket was here. I saw the boy reappear once more. Seeing him kneeling for his golden ticket and picking his backpack up. He was back. He was there! I need more sleep, this is me hallucinating.

“Theodore.” A new female voice entered. I looked in front of me to see a black lady wearing the same attire as the man next to me. Her voice was much gentler than his. “Stop scaring the poor passenger. She might not want to take it.”

He only laughed as he stood up. “My lovely pumpkin.” He took her hand and kissed gently. “It’s our job.” He flashed his golden ticket towards me. “The train will appear any minute, please carefully board.”

He looped his arm with his pumpkin’s and waltzed away. I could hear their small bickering fade away. The man in the comfy hood slumped next to me with an audible grunt. “I’m screwed.” He clutched his ticket in his fist.

I wanted to talk to him, ask him what was going on with this allusive golden ticket. But the whistle blew ahead. The train looked run down and tired. I didn’t trust it.

“That’s us.” Theodore walked back, his pumpkin still laced in her arm. “Please join us.”

The man rolled his eyes and forced himself up. I looked at the other few passengers, everyone had a clear shiny ticket in their hand. They all looked curiously at each other and at the train car. Though, they all followed in. I did the same.

The conductor was horridly pale. He was almost pure white. “Ticket?” His voice was plain yet incredibly ghostly. I hesitantly gave him my golden ticket and was pushed in.

I entered the car, seeing a few rows of puffy blue chairs worn by time. I sat down next to a window, at least I can enjoy the scenery in the meantime. A new man, one with black hair and black framed glasses, came up to me, “Is anyone sitting here?”

Though I wanted to say yes, I couldn’t bear lying to him. He had a sort of magic to him, irresistible almost. “No. You may, if you want.”

He gave a bright smile as he slid next to me. “Name’s Michael. I haven’t seen you on this train.”

“I’ve never been on.” I responded. I felt my stammering come through, what was this? I felt nervous at this new encounter. “Where are we going?”

He looked at his ticket in his hand. “Brenton for me.” He looked at mine, “Oh, I know someone in Neptune. She was a really fighter.” He gave a soft laugh, I felt tranced. This isn’t real.

“How are we on different trains?” I asked. He looked at me quizzically. The train started moving, no bell to signal or any direction, it just moved. I felt very out of the ordinary, more than earlier.

“I’m going to visit my sister in Brenton. What about you?” He ignored my question.

“I used to have work.” I sadly sighed. I felt more anger than I did sadness, however… I was more disappointed than ever. “Not anymore, I’m terribly late once this train ride ends.”

“Aw don’t think that!” He put an arm around my shoulder, I felt more awkward in this situation if I hadn’t before. He looked at me and gave a soft smile. “Look.” He gently touched my chin and turned my head towards the window.

We were underwater. The coral rushed by and the fish swam freely. Kelp ran up swaying gently. Bubbles were in the distant. This wasn’t real, this was amazing. I saw a turtle swim next to the train before diverting away. “How?” I quietly whispered. “That’s so cool.”

“You’re melting.” The man said, rather concerning me. I looked down, I was fine.

“What?” I looked at him.

“Your nervousness, it’s melting.” He took his arm off my shoulder. “This is a train through paradise. To melt any problems of yours. I get on often, my sister gives me lots of anxiety.”

A train ride to a fantasy. An experience of calming relaxation. This is all surreal to me.

A golden ticket to paradise.

Start time: 10:44 PM 1/3/19

End time: 11:58 PM 1/3/19