The Sky Train

The Sky Train
By Paul Mc Cann

It was a very dark day in Vision Valley and for one person even more so .

Sorrowful Jones was born  blind and even though he was lonely he grew up with a positive outlook on life .

Mr Wright who owned the local green grocery gave Sorrowful Jones a job in is shop . Out in the back storeroom Sorrowful Jones packed fruit  into cardboard boxes . These boxes were then loaded on Wrights delivery truck .Mr Wright was a hard man to work for and not many people were able to stay his employee for very long except for Sorrowful Jones .Mr Wright treated Sorrowful Jones harshly and got away with it because he knew that nobody else would give him a job .

It was way past finishing time one evening when Mr Wright asked young Jones to make a special delivery to Mrs O Hara who had ordered a box of  fruit the day before .

Jones was worried about venturing beyond the areas he knew and Mrs O’Hara lived in the next village . However he told Mr Wright that said he could do the job . Mr Wright handed over some train fare and the box of fruit to Jones who set off towards Vision Valley railway station . He had a great knowledge of the streets around Vision Valley and as he walked through the dark streets he followed behind the footsteps of girls in high heels who made their way along the footpath to the top of the town . With his white stick before him Jones alerted pedestrians of his situation . They could see his siuation was difficult .

Most people now where at home or in the bars and night clubs .

Sorrowful Jones had a special delivery to do before he could go home for his dinner . As he drew near to the top of the town something strange was happening in the sky . The moon began to shimmer and dance and suddenly from out of the black sky a long silver train descended  .

Tooting its whistle and chugging its wheels the sky Train came to a rest on the pavement near Jones . Unaware what had just occurred Sorrowful Jones though he was already at the station .

“All aboard .“  A voice rang out .

Then as Sorrowful Jones stepped on the train he heard the train driver say ,

“Next stop Thirsville Village”.

“Oh good that’s where I’ve got to go “ said Jones .

But there no one there answered as the train had only empty carriages .

With a long toot of the whistle the train returned into the sky . Higher and higher it went until it was above the clouds .

Poor sorrowful Jones was not able to see any of the goings on and as far as he was concerned it was just another train trip to the next village .

“Tickets please “ Said the ticket collector and Jones immediately began to search his pockets for his ticket .

Jones smiled as he handed his ticket over to the collector who slowly checked the ticket . Shaking his head he said ,

“What’s this then ?”

“My ticket sir .“

“I’m afraid you don’t have a ticket to ride this train son . This is not good .

If you don’t have a ticket I’m afraid I will have to put you off the train “

“Please sir check my ticket again .“

The ticket collector smiled and said ,

“Is this you first time on this train or what ?”

“It is sir “

The sky train skated across sky hundreds of feet maybe thousands of feet above the ground . The blind boy pointed to the box on his lap and said ,

“Please sir can I stay on the train . Its all the money Mr Wright gave me and I have a special delivery for Mrs O’Hara from Wrights Green groceries “

The ticket collector looked at Sorrowful Jones holding the box of fruit .

“Well then I suppose we better get you there on time .“ he said .

The little blind boy breathed a sigh of relief and sat back in his seat and placed the cardboard box on the floor . 

He looked up in the direction of the ticket collector and said ,

“Thank you sir . You seem like a nice man .“

The ticket collector looked deep into the boys eyes and said ,

“Seems to me you are ok too . Enjoy the ride just look out the window and watch the stars go by like flashes of white rain my child . .“

“I  can’t sir . Can’t you see . I am blind .“

The ticket collector placed his hand on the boys eyes and said ,

“Then let there be light and let it shine bright . Let there be sight so you can see things all right .“

Suddenly Jones started to scream and shout for joy ,

“I can see . Look at everything I can see . The stars and the yonder the moon .I can see it all . Oh God thank you I can see .“

The ticket collector said ,

“Ok settle down I your seat young lad because we are pulling into Thirsville station .  “

The train rolled to a stop and Jones jumped off the train and rushed all the way along the platform screaming .

“Look at me . It’s a miracle I can see .“

The train driver peered out from the window and said ,

“Hurry up young man . I’ll wait ten minutes for you .“

Sorrowful Jones ran through the gate and straight up the main street until he came to Mrs O’Hara’s front door .

He knocked and rang the bell and slowly the door opened up .

A nice grey haired lady stood there with a warm expression on her face .

“Thank you for coming my son . It must have been a long journey for you”

“It was not so far and I can see everything .“

“ Did you catch the train ok then son?”

Jones nodded ,

“Yes . I really would like to stay and talk with you a while but I must dash because the train driver will only wait another five minutes for me .“

“here then take this for your trouble .“

]The old woman handed Sorrowful Jones a long envelope  . He put it into his pocket and thanked he before saying farewell . Then he ran back and boarded the train .

Sitting back in his seat Jones opened the envelope and taking the  letter from within he began to read it .

“Dear son .

I am Dawn your mother who had to leave the world on the day that you were born .    I am so glad to see you have grown up into such a fine young man .

I am so proud of you . One day soon when you  catch another train I will see you again . It’s a shame you can’t stay with me now but you have a long life ahead of you . The train you are on is a magic train . You already know that I’m sure . I am putting a photograph of me in with this letter . Gooybye for now my son and remember I am with you always “.

The ticket collector walked past Jones and said ,

“Time to go young man . We are pulling into Vision Valley .”

The train rolled in at the top end of town and Jones got off the train .

He waved as the train soared back into the sky and watched until it was out of sight . He then looked towards Wrights Grocery store and saw old Mr Wright closing the shutters and doors .

He shouted as he ran towards him ,

“Mr Wright I’m back .“    

“Where have you been Jones ?”

“Bringing the order to Mr’s O’Hara like you asked .“

Mr Wright seemed a little puzzled .

“Nonsense boy . I had no order for a Mrs O’Hara .“

“But you did . You told me it was on top of yesterdays list .“

“If you think you can fool me by making up some story about an order that never existed so you can get paid for work you never did then you’re wrong and if you think I am going to carry you any more then find yourself another job . That is if any one will hire a blind boy .“

Sorrowful Jones took a deep breath and said ,

“ Well that’s fine with me Mr Wright . So of you would just pay me up for what you owe me this month we will call it quits then .“

The old man put his hand into his pocket and counted out some spare change and said ,

“:Here take this and good riddance “

“How much do you pay me ?“

“More than you are worth .“

“Then here . I’ve counted it out . You’ve handed me ten sixpences and four pennies . There are three half pennies and a washer with no value at all .“

Mr Wright was perplexed very shocked .

“How do you know all that ?”

“Lets just say that for the first time I can see you for who you really are . Goodbye you sad and lonely old man .“

“Maybe I’ve been too hard Jones . Listen you can have your job back “

“I wouldn’t work for you if you got down on your knees and begged me.”

Jones turned his back and walked away throwing the small change up into the air .

 

THE  END

 

 

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