The Surprise by Donna Page 10/04/2021 ©

 The Surprise by Donna Page 10/04/2021 ©

“Its just an envelope, right?” Elizabeth told herself.

Sure, it was from Blake & Russel Law. Sure, Grandpa Lewis had said she would get a surprise from him when she turned 21. And he was the first Blake in Blake & Russel. And she was 21 yesterday.

Lewis had died when she was just 12 years old. He had told her about the surprise in the weeks before his death.  She had all but forgotten about it.  Her Grandmother gave her Lewis’s pocket watch when he past.  At 12 that was a great surprise.  She loved that watch; she had always been mesmerised by the movement.  She carried it everywhere.

She sat with the watch in her hand.  The side etching rubbed smooth from Elizabeth running her fingers around the Elgin watch face when she was sad, nervous or studying. According to the back it was a railroad model.  This made her smile, she would always imagine Grandpa as the Fat Controller from Thomas, looking at his watch, keeping the trains on time.

With watch in one hand, gently rubbing the face with her thumb, and the envelope in her other, she walked down the paddock to the big Ghost Gum.  The same tree Grandpa tied a tyre to when she was little.  The same tree he etched her name in when she was three.  She could read it then, now it was high amongst the branches.

Resting against the tree, Elizabeth took a deep breath. She knew Grandpa Lewis was a good man.  He had lived comfortably and worked hard.  He gave of himself always.  Giving was part of his world.  He taught her that hard work was the way to success.

She opened the letter slowly.  Out fell a photograph.  Grandpa and a newborn baby. On the back was written “Our Angel arrived today” and her birthdate. 

Along with the photo was a bankbook. One of those old fashion grey ones.  The ones that looked a bit like it had fabric covers. Still in the plastic sleeve. Pulling it free of its sleeve was hard.  Been in there for quite some time.  It felt frail to touch.  Her name was on the front in Grandpa’s graceful handwriting.

Elizabeth slowly opened the book.  Elizabeth Angel Parker-Blake and the words “In Trust” was typed on the first page.

The second page contained only one entry, on the date of her birth.  One single deposit, an amount that will change world. An amount a newly graduated teacher could only dream about. An amount with 7 digits.

Elizabeth found her phone and tapped in the number for her Aunt Belle.  She was the family accountant.   “Hi Aunty, ummm, could you answer a question for me, how much interest would a bank account earn in 21 years”.

The Waiting Room by Donna Page 28/06/2021 ©

 

The Waiting Room by Donna Page 28/06/2021 ©

It is dark, the windows and door boarded over, cobwebs holding the boards in place.  The inside has not seen light in decades. 

She looks around, wondering how she got in there.  The last thing she could remember was stepping off the footpath.  When she awoke, she was in this room.  She could smell the age, the dust, stopping short of the smell of death but only just.

As her eyes adjusted, she could see several people sitting on the chairs.  The sign above the doorway said next train in ten minutes.  That was odd.  When did she come to a train station? Why is the room boarded up? How are the people supposed to get on the train?

She felt strangely peaceful.  She wasn’t scared, just confused.  She looked down and saw that she was still in her favourite boots, her jeans were slightly dirty but everything else was exactly the same as she remembered. Remembered, when she stepped off the footpath. 

She sat down on the closest chair.  The lady next to her startled shook her head and moved down one seat, clearly not interested in engaging.  She shrugged and sat back.  Closing her eyes trying to think.  How did she get here?

She had been having a great day, lunch with friends, patted the most gorgeous puppy, had one, no two glasses of wine.  They chatted and laughed.  Told stories of lockdown and much wanted holidays.  Everyone was happy, leaving the stress of the world outside the café. A one hour lunch turned into a four hour hoot.  No one wanted to go home.

She could remember leaving the café heading towards her car across the road.  Just as she stepped off the footpath, one of the girls yelled something.  She turned round to see what she wanted and… And what?  That was it.  That is all she could remember.  How strange.

None of the girls were in the room.  Obviously, they had gone, and she had somehow driven here and come inside.  But there was no door.  How the heck did she get in?  A bell rang, bringing her back to the present.  A message came through the air, seemingly from nowhere. 

“All passengers for the 4pm please commence boarding now.”

4pm? Was she supposed to be on the 4pm? Where was the 4pm heading?  What was the 4pm?

Three people stood up and walked through the doorway.  She knew what she saw but she couldn’t believe what she saw.  There is no way that people can walk through a big wooden board.  Was she seeing things? Maybe she should go and find someone who could answer all her questions.

She got up and walked towards the door.  She figured if they could go through then she could.  The board must be a curtain. She walked toward the doorway and went to step through.  Bang! She ran smack into the board, which was clearly held on by more than cobwebs. What? How?

A man wearing a dusty blue uniform came over and placed his hand on her shoulder.  Again, she felt strangely calm.  He looked at her and said, “Sorry love, you can only leave when your train comes” He looked at his clipboard “You are on the 5pm train, just take a seat and you will be able to go through the door when it arrives.” She hadn’t noticed him before.

“What do you mean I am on the 5pm train? I haven’t even bought a ticket.”

“Sorry love, you bought your ticket when you stepped off the footpath.”

And then she realised.