“Ticket Please,” said the conductor
Steve reached into his pocket, took out his wallet, and extracted the day’s imaginary ticket.“Right here Mr. Conductor. Looking forward to the trip.” Steve said. “And we’re happy to have you, Mr. Steve. See you in the dining car.” and with that, the Conductor walked down the hall calling “Tickets please, tickets please, all aboard for the New Home Express.”
It was the beginning of another shift at “New Home for Exceptional Children.” Steve took out the heavy roll of keys, unlocked the nurse's station, and started lining up the medications for dinner. Steve had worked at New Home for more than a year now and started every shift with “The Conductor” asking for his ticket. The Conductor’s name was Matthew. He was 17 years old and had been living at New Home for most of his life. Matthew was obsessed with trains. Trains helped him feel stable and reasonably happy. Trains were always going somewhere. Somewhere better. When Matthew was not “on the train”, he was often in pain, so he liked to be in transit and Steve was always happy to hand the conductor his daily ticket.
Steve was doing his two years of community service at “New Home.” where a hundred and twenty girls and boys with emotional and developmental disabilities lived in a group setting because their parents couldn’t deal with them. Of all the kids, Steve has a special place in his heart for the Conductor who was just about to turn 18, and once that happened Matthew would have to leave New Home for an Adult Placement.
When leaving day arrived, Steve came to work with a heavy heart. He got out his keys and opened the door where the Conductor was waiting for him. “Ticket Please,” the conductor asked and Steve got it out. By lunchtime, staff for the Adult Facility arrived to take Matthew to his new home. Steve retrieved his suitcase. Matthew walked ahead of him quietly. When they got to the door, Steve stepped in front and unlocked it for Matthew who announced loudly: “This train is full and the New Home Express is leaving the station. All aboard.” Steve stood there for a while and then yelled: “God Bless you, Mr. Conductor! Have a safe trip.” Matthew tipped his hat, got into the van, and was gone.
— DanielSouthGate
Steve reached into his pocket, took out his wallet, and extracted the day’s imaginary ticket.“Right here Mr. Conductor. Looking forward to the trip.” Steve said. “And we’re happy to have you, Mr. Steve. See you in the dining car.” and with that, the Conductor walked down the hall calling “Tickets please, tickets please, all aboard for the New Home Express.”
It was the beginning of another shift at “New Home for Exceptional Children.” Steve took out the heavy roll of keys, unlocked the nurse's station, and started lining up the medications for dinner. Steve had worked at New Home for more than a year now and started every shift with “The Conductor” asking for his ticket. The Conductor’s name was Matthew. He was 17 years old and had been living at New Home for most of his life. Matthew was obsessed with trains. Trains helped him feel stable and reasonably happy. Trains were always going somewhere. Somewhere better. When Matthew was not “on the train”, he was often in pain, so he liked to be in transit and Steve was always happy to hand the conductor his daily ticket.
Steve was doing his two years of community service at “New Home.” where a hundred and twenty girls and boys with emotional and developmental disabilities lived in a group setting because their parents couldn’t deal with them. Of all the kids, Steve has a special place in his heart for the Conductor who was just about to turn 18, and once that happened Matthew would have to leave New Home for an Adult Placement.
When leaving day arrived, Steve came to work with a heavy heart. He got out his keys and opened the door where the Conductor was waiting for him. “Ticket Please,” the conductor asked and Steve got it out. By lunchtime, staff for the Adult Facility arrived to take Matthew to his new home. Steve retrieved his suitcase. Matthew walked ahead of him quietly. When they got to the door, Steve stepped in front and unlocked it for Matthew who announced loudly: “This train is full and the New Home Express is leaving the station. All aboard.” Steve stood there for a while and then yelled: “God Bless you, Mr. Conductor! Have a safe trip.” Matthew tipped his hat, got into the van, and was gone.
— DanielSouthGate
I love this. Having worked with disabled folks, I know how attached you can get.
ReplyDeleteDaniel, excellent writing. Gave me shivers (the good kind)
ReplyDeleteA bit heartwarming!~ Are you tryin' to GET to me?! ---Macoff
ReplyDelete