I almost had a heart attack as I watched her, run towards the door, as it slowly started to close…
“Yoh, Yoh, Yoh!!! No mamma!!!”. “Jirre nee!”
Time stood still, as she placed her right foot on the edge of the doorway. OMG! Her baby on her back! A narrow gap, doors sliding, a train moving, people shouting…everything moved in slow motion…Then two hands reached out and pulled her onto the moving train.
Her baby’s blanket, caught in the door, as it shut. Mere inches between a sickening reality of how easily her baby could have been a squishy mush on a dirty railway line!
“Yoh! Die vrou is mos bevok! Mamma het jy a death wish vir jou en jou kind? Yoh, haibo!!!”
Slowly, remembering to breath, I watched as she loosened the knot of the blanket below her breast. Sliding her child from her back, onto her lap. Relieved that she made the train, a plus carriage, fortunately not filled to the brim with human sardines! She seemed oblivious to the risk she just took.
Oh, my gosh, the horrors, if not for those two hands that caught her as she embarked the moving train!!
“Vok, die vrou is mos stupid! Net gister is iemand geflatline van hardloop vir die trein! Jirre en nogal met n kind op haar rug!”
The next thing, ticket checks, she’s hauled off at the next station, she jumped a Plus Carriage, with no ticket!
That one time, she risked her life and that of her child’s, only to be escorted off the train at the next stop! A R40 fine, a hour delay!
I must ask, is this the sum value of your life and that of your child’s? R40!
“That One Time”, is this week’s title of a tandem blog, 3 bloggers 1 title. All published on the same day at the same time. Read my fellow tandem blogger’s interpretation by following the below links. Comments are welcome!
Celeste: Surviving Jonkersville
Sad that this happens more often than not. Very well written, Chevone.
Thanks Shelley. Yes Shelley, again witnessed a similar incident today – young lady holding on to train doors while it’s moving, urging her friend to jump in. Thankfully no one was injured.
Oh my hat Chev, you just reminded me of many of those situations. Happened on a daily basis ony my line. Not always moms with kids but I’ve witnessed many of those too. I remembered the grip of fear as I closed my eyes and turned away from possibly seeing a tragic accident.
Fictional post edging on our daily reality when traveling by train. It is very scary to watch people risk their lives every day…I mean, wtf runs after a freaking moving train!!??
I’ve seen the real version of your fictional post on more than one occassion that’s why it’s doubly scary. It happened exactly the way you explained it except for the fine bit. I may have been the person cursing like that mind you. Like you say, who runs after a moving train. Either the very brave or very stupid.
Very well.written Chevon ….so true!
Thanks Lavona 🙂
Very well written Chev! I always say there are two things I won’t run for: a man and a train.
Thanks Zayaan, fully agree with you on those two things!