The prompt this week was as follows: Our story must take
place on a train, it must include something frozen, and it must include three
3-word sentences in a row. I had fun putting this one together. I hope you
enjoy.
The Long Sleep
“I do love train rides, don’t you, Phyllis?”
“This is my first time being on a train overnight, and it is
very enjoyable. I do have to say though, Sarah, that it certainly is tiring. Ever
since I had that hot chocolate, it gets harder and harder to keep my eyes open.
It must be the way the car moves over the tracks – it’s so soothing.”
Sure is bitch, especially with a couple of benzos dissolved
in your cocoa.
“Phyllis, I knew you’d enjoy yourself. I know it’s not the most
pleasant of reasons for this trip, but having a dear friend like you with me
helps me to get through this.”
“I can’t believe we’re bringing your husband home from the
hospital in such a state. I’ve heard about this sort of thing, but I never knew
anyone who actually had it done to themselves.”
“David’s been a supporter of arrangements like this for
years. He always told me to call Dr. Jim if he was ever in a situation like
this, and the doctor would take care of everything.”
“But being frozen? It’s so extreme. Why do this?”
You knew this was going to happen, you two-faced whore.
David told you all about his plans during your last midnight romp.
“Well, he did give our family doctor a chance, but old Dr.
Mitchell couldn’t figure out what the problem was. David felt sick to his
stomach, dizzy, aches all over… The hospital ran tons of tests, but couldn’t
find anything. David believes he’s contracted some exotic disease, so to stop
its progression, he let Dr. Jim put him in a kind of hibernation. Dr. Jim took
samples and when he figures out what’s wrong, David will be defrosted. Ha! My
husband’s frozen and will ultimately be defrosted. How weird is that!”
It’s fascinating how many symptoms you can mimic with a
combination of untraceable medications.
“I can’t believe the railroad let you bring him on this run;
I mean, this is a passenger train, not cargo.”
“I’ve got medical documentation. He’s got the adjacent car
all to himself. He’s in a locked cylinder, and a cooling gas keeps running
through it to keep him cold. It’s wild. You can’t see him in there – it looks
like a purple cloud. All the controls are on the outside, so everything can be
monitored. That gas container keeps recycling, so I don’t have to do anything.”
“Amazing. Oh, sorry, I have to go again. Would you please
order me another coffee, Sarah? I need to use the Ladies.”
“No problem, Phyllis. One coffee coming up.”
And your last dose of trancs. Time to move you to your final
seat for the rest of this trip. You won’t die blind though. I’ll make sure you
know why.
“Okay now?”
“Yes. Fine.”
“Good. Let’s go back there and I’ll show you how David’s
spending the foreseeable future.”
“Is it scary, Sarah? I don’t think I could take a scare.”
“Phyllis, I told you. You can’t see him in the cylinder
because of the gas. It just looks like a big glass tube with gauges, buttons,
and a lock on the side.”
“Why is it locked?”
“For the occupant’s protection, of course. You wouldn’t want
anyone opening it up willy-nilly if you were in there, would you?”
“Absolutely not. Okay. Let’s go.”
“Wait. Did I just hear the conductor call out Batesville? I
didn’t know this train made stops.”
“Only one, then straight on to Harper. It will be dark soon
and everyone will be going to their sleeping quarters after supper.”
*****
“Here he is, Phyllis, right behind these rows of seats.”
“I need to sit down for a second, Sarah. I feel peculiar.”
“Not for long, dear friend. Yep. Dear friend, who has been
having an affair with my husband.”
“What are you…oh, I’m diz…why…key…”
“I’m unlocking my no-good cheating bastard of a husband’s
current bed so you can join him.”
“I don’t…”
“Shut up and listen. Let me help you walk over here, you
slug, and I’ll put you in here nice and cozy on top of David. You should feel
right at home now.”
“Please…Sar…I…”
“You’ll be out cold soon. Out cold. Now, that’s the funniest
thing I’ve heard all day.”
“No, Sar…Pl…”
Locked up tight. Some of that gas escaped and David’s
probably not going to survive this trip. But that’s okay since neither will his
paramour. I’m going back to my seat and order dinner.
*****
“Miss, will your lady friend be joining you for your evening
meal? Should I bring two orders?”
“No, Conductor. She got off at the last stop. Some kind of emergency.
Actually, you don’t need to ever give her another thought because I certainly
won’t.”
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