*I’ve moved the train below ground for the sake of my tale!
A moving stairway draws me down.
The tunnel taunts me. To my left, right, behind and before, silent figures stand like statues.
A rush of wind, a rumble, a roar. A silver snake screeches to a halt. Doors like gaping mouths, hiss open. A surging mass spews out in a bid for freedom. I’m jostled forward.
Crammed, like sardines in a can, we jerk into motion. I grip a post. We sway as one, this way, that. Nobody speaks.
We are deep underground. My body’s here, my mind’s elsewhere. Is this what it’s like? At the end?
‘… approaching Angel’ shrieks a voice. ‘Mind the gap’
Thanks to Rochelle for hosting and to Jennifer Pendergast for the photo.
Prod Froggie (gently) to see what everyone has made of it!
I;ll stay in the wiating room
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Very wise Neil!
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So good, Keith! I was with you all the way
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Thanks so much Dale.
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Excellent Keith – add the current pandemic to being crushed close together, and that’s why I’m avoiding subway travel for the near future!
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You and me too Iain!
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Reminds me of days we rode the Montreal Metro, especially in the afternoon rush homeward. :0
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I hope you didn’t get that spooked Christine!
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Keith, this is one of your best. Your descriptions are spot on. So good 🙂
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That’s so kind of you Linda, thank you.
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This reminds me of the Tube in Paris and NYC. Not something I particularly miss.
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Me too, and others as well! Thanks Gabriella.
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Very atmospheric and poetic. “Doors like gaping mouths, hiss open.” Great line! Looks like you created the artwork to accompany. Nice package, Keith!
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Creating the graphics took longer than writing the story! Thanks so much.
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You are very welcome, Keith.
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Like every metro/underground/subway i’ve experienced, all merged.
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Sorry to bring back such awful memories Mimi!
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Grim reality for some, I suppose. Great atmosphere!
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Indeed it is. Thanks so much.
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Dear Keith,
You had me right there with you. I’ve been a few of those subways in New York and Chicago. Although it sounds like your train has gone somewhat lower. 😉 Good one.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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It’s not my prefered means of transport! Cheers Rochelle
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Good story
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Thanks so much.
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The musings of a commuter, nice one! Love the artwork 🙂
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That’s nice of you , thanks so much.
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Oh, I enjoyed your storied journey, Keith. The descriptions worked. Mind the gap, indeed.
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I’m pleased! Thanks so much Bill.
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🙂
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With a pandemic on the loose, an underground train ride might just be a journey to oblivion.
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So true Liz!
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a little incovenience perhaps but it does help reach our destination. 🙂
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I can’t imagine travelling around London without it! Cheers plaridel.
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You perfectly depict the mundane horrors of the daily subway commute…and now it’s speeding to the final destination…oh my. Love this.
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Thanks so much for your lovely comment.
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Having spent enough time on subways and trains I know they can be compared to snakes and sardine cans unfortunately..mostly by someone who doesn’t enjoy snakes or sardine cans. Nice.
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In that case I can’t thank you enough for hanging aroung long enough to comment!
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Having got off at Angel in rush hour more than a few times, I can very much sympathise with this piece. Lovely take on the prompt.
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Me too having spent some time in and around Islington. Thanks so much.
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Great descriptions in this one. I truely recognise this feeling while waiting for the train!
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It’s another world down there! Thanks Laurie.
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Yikes, Keith, that’s some ride!
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Certainly was!
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I love this. Very vivid and poetic.
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Thanks so much.
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Not sure why but the story part doesn’t show on my device (it’s there, I cut n paste text into a document to read).
I really like this story, it reminds me of a ghost train, a really creepy one. Nightmare quality.
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I wonder why. Thanks for taking the trouble to track it down!
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A nailer, Keith.
The jaws of hell every day, just before 9 am.
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About right, then again at 5.30! Cheers CE.
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Yikes. Scary stuff.
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Just a bit!!! Thanks Danny.
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WOW … Keith, this is great. I was mesmerized during the entire read.
Have a wonderful weekend … Be Safe
Isadora 😎
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Thanks for your encouraging words Isadora. I did have a great weekend – I’m just back from a camping trip sleeping under the stars hence the delay in responding to your comment!
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No worries … sleeping under the stars is much more relaxing than mdeia. Hope you’re rejuvenated and ready to take life head on.
Have a happy Thursday … Isadora 😎
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Once a long time back I used to love traveling on the London Underground. How times change
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Indeed they do. Thanks Mike.
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Great description!
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Thanks so much.
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True, we all travel that gap and it is very wide.
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Indeed. Thanks James.
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Have you been following me on my daily commute? Though after working from home these days I don’t think I want to go back to the tunnel.
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Haha! I think they’ll be less busy even after things get back to normal.
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Keith, you grabbed on and took us with you! We made it through and STILL the train is speeding past. Super job!
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I wrote it in a hurry which helped! Thanks so much.
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A nightmarish quality to this. Well done.
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I’m sure to some travelling underground is pretty nightmarish! Thanks Sandra.
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Well done, your story is like a poem, with all the senses vividly described. I do not want to ride on this underground train !
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Nor me! Thanks so much.
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