Runaway Train

The train car is filled with passengers sitting across from each other in cozy booths. Christmas lights are strewn across the ceiling and around the windows. There's a small tree in the back corner covered in tinsel with several wrapped packages beneath. Some passengers are smiling and pointing while others are looking out the windows. Some are sleeping. Bing Crosby Christmas carols blast over the intercom.

June sits in one of those booths, asleep. A purple fleece blanket covers her lap. Next to her an elderly gentleman holds her hand. He is James. They are both in their nineties. James is engaged in conversation with a much younger man sitting across from June,

The engine rumbles and chugs as the train speeds along the track CLICKETTY-CLACK. CLICKETTY-CLACK The smoke rising high in the sky from the steam engine can be seen through the rail car windows. As the train goes faster the chugging sound increases. The bell and whistle sounds are loud and clear. The train car sways slightly as it slows down to round a curve The brakes SCREECH and HISS.

The motion and sound startle June awake She is confused by her surroundings.

The ticket collector moves through the car collecting tickets from the passengers.

June becomes visibly anxious. “Oh my, I don't know where I am. I don't seem to have a ticket.” She looks up at the ticket man, “Please, can you help me?”

The younger man sitting across from her smiles and interrupts, “I have this.”

June looks at him and asks, “ Where am I? Who am i? Who are you?’

“Whoa, slow down, My name is Jackson. I'm visiting family.” he responded. “We're on a train to New York.”

June looks out the window, sees the Statue of Liberty, and smiles, “Oh yes, I remember now.”

She turns her attention back to Jackson, “Have you seen Jimmy?“ She asks.

“I'm not sure if I have or not. Who is he and what does he look like?' He inquires.

She becomes very animated as she describes him “Ooh he’s so handsome! He has dark hair. And the most beautiful blue eyes. Like Paul Newman, And he's very tall.”

Jackson laughs at her. “Yes, but who is he?”

In that moment she realizes the gentleman beside her is holding her hand. She snatches it away.

“My boyfriend of course!” she continues, “My head rests on his chest so perfectly.” she explains rather wistfully.

She hesitates and peers into the gentleman’s eyes. “You remind me of him a little. Your eyes. But you are much older. He’s only 23.”

Jackson asks, “And how old are you?”

June answers, “19. I’m 19. How old do I look?’

Jackson just smiles and says, “Lovely and young, very young.”

“He’s in the air force.” she continues. “After the war we’re getting married. Do you know if the war is over? He’s meeting me and we are going to get married.”

The gentleman smiles, “He’s a very lucky man.”

June smiles back with vacant eyes.

The ticket collector returns, this time with a serving cart. It's decorated with garland. The entire rail car smells of ginger cookies and hot chocolate.

He asks, “Ma’am would you like some juice or water? Hot chocolate? A cookie? Anything to eat or drink?”

She shakes her head no.

He turns to James, “Sir, would you care for anything?”

James smiles and takes a cookie.

Jackson shakes his head no.

The rhythmic sound of the train CLICKETTY-CLACK puts June back to sleep.

Every once in a while a passenger asks to get off the train but it just keeps speeding along without stopping.

Bing Crosby’s I'll Be Home For Christmas blasts over the intercom.

Eventually the train comes to a stop.

The music stops and the doors open. Several people enter to assist the passengers.

They line up to exit the train one by one.

Now the only wheels are the silent wheels of their wheelchairs.

The train is actually a room which has been transformed into a rail car and the windows are flat screen TVs playing an outdoor scenery loop.

A young lady walks toward June.

She smiles at her and asks, ‘Miss June you had a visitor today, did you see him?’

Jackson, the handsome elderly gentleman sitting across from June smiles.

James squeezes her hand gently from beside her.

She snatches her hand away and mumbles “I don’t know you.” Pauses and looks at him closer, “Do I know you?”

James smiles with sad eyes.

Jackson pushes James's wheelchair, walking behind June and her caregiver as they weave their way down the hallway toward June's room.

The blanket slips from her lap and gets caught in the back wheel of her wheelchair.

Jackson stops the wheelchair while James bends over and picks it up.

The caregiver turns June’s wheelchair around to back it through the doorway.

Jackson pulls James’s wheelchair close to June’s. James leans in and tucks the blanket around June.

She reaches up to touch his cheek. “Fly Boy? Oh Jimmie,” tears stream down her face.

James pulls her close to kiss her and calls her his “June Bug”.

“June Bug my love!”

‘Jimmie I’ve been looking for you for so long, Where have you been?’

‘I'm right here, my love. I've always been right here.”

She begins to push him away.

“June Bug, it's been a long time since you called me Fly Boy,” James says, holding back tears.

She stares back at him blankly as she's pulled through the doorway.

Jackson watches through tear filled eyes and whispers,, “I love you grandma.”

The nurse smiles and nods at them. “See you tomorrow?” she asks.

They both nod back at her and say, “Yes, tomorrow.”

Jackson turns his grandfather's wheelchair around to take him back to his room.

The door behind them clicks closed.

The sign over the door reads “Memory Care”.