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Pockets Full

by crowspark 

Posted: 16 January 2011
Word Count: 184
Summary: Very late entry for John's Faith Hope and Charity challenge


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Kettle soup for breakfast and a crust. Charity didn't mind, she was sure that it would be today that daddy came home from war.

She skipped down the cobbled alley, down 50 Steps, swung aside the loose fence panel and slid down the bong till she reached the shunting yard. The air was filled with the clank and whoosh of steam engines. She picked her way between coal stacks and baulks of timber till she reached her secret place, beneath the water tower.

Eyes closed she listened to the blackened engines, Faith and Hope, huffing and grumbling to each other. Each surge of movement followed by the chime of complaints from jostled wagons bashing and crashing each other. And when they got their speed up the rails would start their squealing song.

What time was it? She peered at the station clock.

A faint plume on the horizon of an approaching train. Tiptoe she craned to see. Would the windows be open and crammed with the grinning faces of soldiers, waving caps, their voices raised in song?

Their pockets full of sweets from Ypres.






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Comments by other Members



V`yonne at 13:07 on 16 January 2011  Report this post
Oh Bill, Was her daddy on that train?

crowspark at 13:13 on 16 January 2011  Report this post
Hi Oonah, I'm afraid not, and there were no sweets from Ypres (or Wipers as they would have pronounced it)

Bill

Desormais at 13:22 on 16 January 2011  Report this post
Good flash Bill!
Each surge of movement followed by the chime of complaints from jostled wagons


Loved that! I remember that sound.

Sandra

crowspark at 13:41 on 16 January 2011  Report this post
Thanks Sandra. We have the Severn Valley Railway not far from here so plenty of opportunities for railway nostalgia.
As a child I used to run to the centre of a footbridge to stand in the cloud of steam and smoke as the Golden Arrow thundered beneath me.

Desormais at 13:48 on 16 January 2011  Report this post
We live within walking distance of the Nene Valley Railway Line - a magical sight. And we regularly hear the sound of the whistle on the days it's running.

Sandra

tusker at 14:18 on 16 January 2011  Report this post
Lovely Bill.

Love the sights, sounds and smells.

Poor child waiting and waiting for her Daddy to come home.

Jennifer

crowspark at 14:19 on 16 January 2011  Report this post
I've never visited there. It sounds wonderful.
I think SVR cornered the market in rolling stock so Nene Valley has mainly Swedish stock.

crowspark at 14:26 on 16 January 2011  Report this post
Thanks Jennifer.
Only missing Jenny Agutter calling "Daddy, oh my Daddy"

Bill


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