I hope you enjoy my little fiction tale called ‘The Coach Trip’ – 1228 words
“I’m leaving!” I shouted. Slamming the door behind me, I left poor George with his mouth gaping in disbelief.
Due to the turmoil’s of life, writer’s block had set in half way through my novel three months before, and George, well, I didn’t know what I felt about George anymore……..
Boarding the coach just half hour later, I let out a sigh of relief, so loud that many passengers stopped to see who the disgruntled person was. Sitting down in my designated seat, I felt pleased to be beside the window. Freedom shone through that window and I needed freedom, along with some inspiration.
So, there I was, on my way to Devon. Armed with my laptop, I was looking forward to four days of uninterrupted writing to clear my head, and to have a think about what to do regarding my marriage. ‘Perhaps I should have told him where I was going’ I thought. ‘I’ll give him a call later on to let me know’.
How wonderful. No shopping, no washing up, no answering the door to sales people and best of all, I wouldn’t be kept awake with Georges snoring!
A lady sat down beside me.
“I’m Maureen” she said, offering me her hand to shake, and that is when things started to change. It was clear that Maureen liked to chat.
“And I said to him, why did you get normal eggs, why didn’t you get free range eggs – you know we always eat free range eggs?………” she ranted and continued to tell me in detail, the good and bad habits of her husband.
Maureen would not stop talking and I felt tired. Thanks to George’s vocal array of snores, I’d had another interrupted sleep the night before!
That reminded me – I had my earplugs in my handbag.
‘No,’ I told myself ‘that would be too rude – I might hurt her feelings – just persevere’
After a couple of hours, the coach came to a blunt stop and the driver’s voice bellowed from the speakers above “Ok everybody, we are having a stop here – half hour only, toilets to the back of the café. Please be back at the coach sharp, or you might be sleeping in the Motel for the night – ha ha ha”
“Very funny I’m sure” I mumbled under my breath.
I told Maureen I had some calls to make.
Fresh air hit me as I stepped out of the coach, and I felt the calm washing over me. A whole half hour away from the fastest and most monotonous talker I have ever heard. Still, it was better than sitting on my own for the seven hour journey in some ways and Maureen was friendly at least, albeit a little over the top.
Half hour went really quickly and we were promptly on our way again – Maureen in full charge of the conversation.
Then she told me of their recent party to celebrate her Fathers 85th birthday. I said that my Father was also 85.
“We celebrate every year” she said very seriously “he nearly died in the war – someone pulled him out of a trench. He had a bullet wound in his left side. It could’ve hit his heart. I wouldn’t have been born if he hadn’t been saved, so we really appreciate his life. You cannot take life for granted”. She looked a little sad and stopped talking.
After a short silence, what she had said sunk in.
“Do you know who saved his life?” I asked.
“No. Not in person anyway. He tried to find out more details but it was a difficult time and he gave up after a couple of years. His name was John and he came from Norfolk – that’s all we know. I guess he might be dead now”
“It’s possible he isn’t dead.” I said slowly. “My Father told me of a time when he pulled someone out of a trench. Badly injured, he was, and my Father hoped that he was ok. What if that was the same person? My Father’s name is John and he comes from Norwich!” I felt rather excited as I saw Maureen’s eyes gloss over.
“Arghhhh!” The next thing I knew, the coach was screeching and started to tip. I was screaming and then dark. We had crashed and I had blacked out.
I don’t remember much from then until a few days later when I woke in a Sussex Hospital. George was there when I roused – he was sitting beside me, holding my hand, as he had done every day since the accident. When I first saw him, I realised everything in a second – I love him. I love him so much. He was smiling at me and had filled the room with flowers. It smelt so beautiful.
“I know you don’t like the smell of Hospitals, so I didn’t want you complaining when you woke up” he said, warmly.
I had been in a very serious accident, and was lucky to be alive. As he looked at me adoringly, I knew in a flash that I couldn’t wait to get home with him, and his snoring would be heaven to the ears.
Then I thought of Maureen and the other passengers.
“How are they all?” I asked.
“There are a few in Hospital. Some with severe injuries, but no fatalities, thank goodness” he soothed. “I spoke to a lady called Maureen. She visited and left you this note. You have a lot to thank her for, as she helped to pull you free from a bar that had fallen on your chest – you couldn’t breathe properly. She was virtually unscathed apart from a few bruises”
“Oh my gosh!” I exclaimed feeling very grateful for being alive myself. I opened the note up …
Hi Jean, I hope that, as you read this, you are not feeling too bad. Your leg will take a while to heal, but the Doctors say you are out of danger now. Once you are feeling better, please call me and I hope we can find out more about your Father and mine…….
“Oh yes, we had been talking about Dad, that’s right” I said out loud. Our conversation came back to me.
“What did you say?” Asked George.
“Well, there’s a story….” I continued to tell George about the possibility that Maureen’s Father may have been rescued by my own Father.
I ended up in bed for three months, until my leg healed, so I had lots of time for writing after all! I also investigated the chance that I knew who my Father had saved in the war and it turned out that it was indeed Maureen’s Father that he had pulled out of the trenches all those years ago – the very same place at the same time.
We arranged for the two of them to meet up, which was a very emotional, yet wonderful reunion for them.
So, my Father had saved her Fathers life in the war and she saved my life in a coach accident – it is so strange how events can turn out.
Needless to say, I appreciate life so much more now. George and I are like delirious newlyweds again, and I have made a new best friend in Maureen. Oh yes, and I got to finish my novel – it’s at the publishers right now
By Sandra M Dean (copyright)
