The train makes no stops. We move only forward, with no real knowledge of
where we
are headed. Some may jump on and off at their own risk, but it is a
dangerous jump, for
we will not slow down for them. We, however, do not even have that option.
We must
remain onboard at all times, constantly pushing onward. I am your conductor,
and I
repeat, this train makes no stops.
BRANDON
I blew it, its as simple as that. I often gaze down at my hands and remember
that there is
more wrong with them than my chewed up cuticles. It is her hands that aren't
squeezing
them anymore. The distance, I told her. We were going to be too far apart
and it could
never work. Was that it? Could it never work? Shouldn't real love supercede
mileage? If
there was any question that it was love, all I had to do was take one glance
at her deep
October brown eyes, and I was convinced that it was for real. Convinced and
petrified.
Convinced that she would always be there for me, and petrified for that
exact same
reason. Was that all that I should hope for in this life? If only I knew
then what I do
know, if only I knew that the answer to that question is YES. But there was
no way for
me to know that then without knowing this now. Emptiness. If only I could go
back, if
only there was some way to turn this whole thing around.
CONDUCTOR
This train does not move in reverse. Nor do we have the capabilities to
stop. Enjoy the
beautiful scenery while you can, because tomorrow we will be beyond it. We
will travel
through hills and valleys, deserts and swamps, and you will be here to see
it all. Onward
we go.
JAMIE
When I go to sleep at night, I imagine myself falling into a black hole.
Constantly falling
deeper and deeper into the abyss until the mercy of unconsciousness blankets
me. For the
last year, since the accident, this is the only time that I have been happy:
when I have
been able to not think for six hours. Sometimes, though, I still see it in
my dreams. My
little brother Jake, who died in that car. The car that I drove. He was
fooling with the
cassette player like always, so I told him to shut the hell up and shoved
him back into his
seat...and...I didn't see that the light was red, I didn't. He was only ten.
And the last
thing he remembers is me telling him to shut the hell up. I wish he wouldn't
have. If only
he hadn't shut up. The light was red, and I didn't stop. Why couldn't I have
stopped?
CONDUCTOR
The train makes no stops. Some people fall from the train, some jump, but we
are
fastened in tightly. We can remember those who we once shared a seat with,
but there is
no going back for them. This train only moves forward.
JANICE
Mirrors are strange objects. I used one every day for seventeen years and
never really
looked into it. I knew all along what he was doing, but for some reason, I
kept silent. All
of the women and boozing that he thought I didn't know about. And I played
along!
Family first, I told myself. Don't make it difficult for the children. Deep
inside me, I
didn't believe that. The kids knew everything I did...they're sharp. But it
was the only
excuse I could give myself to continue to look in that mirror each morning.
One morning I finally woke up. I finally looked in that mirror and was
stunned at what
was looking back at me. It was a beautiful woman that for the last seventeen
years my
husband did not see. I left him that day. Along with the kids. And I swear
to God that I
will never look back.
CONDUCTOR
For the well being of our passengers, we do not recommend looking back.
What's behind
us is gone, there is no going back. Because this train only moves forward.
This train
makes no stops.
"Vignettes Onboard"
IS COPYRIGHTED MATERIAL AND MAY NOT BE DOWNLOADED, TRANSMITTED,
PRINTED OR PERFORMED WITHOUT THE EXPRESS PERMISSION OF THE
AUTHOR
"Vignettes Onboard"
debuted February 2, 2001,
performed by Sarah Scott, Luke Pingel, Ryan Heitz, and Deb Erickson.
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