photo by Jane Bell Goldstein
Theo
by Michèle Praeger
Little Theo and his grandfather are waiting on the platform. They are going to Liverpool where Grandpa has an old buddy who fought in France during World War I.
Theo is wearing red. He specifically asked his mother to choose an outfit in that color. He also wears a blue hat with a pompom, of a slightly different red than his outfit. He’s very excited; he’s taking the train for the first time. His grandfather looks at him with pride and tenderness.
Theo can’t quite understand what the booming voice is announcing but it sounds urgent. He’s distressed. His grandpa calms him down by saying that the train will arrive soon.
Theo keeps looking towards the right where he thinks the train will be coming, but Grandpa tells him to look left. Theo cranks his neck to the left for what seems a long time. He’s getting impatient.
A raging, speeding black monster rushes towards them, steam coming out of its nostrils, in a cacophony of metal meeting metal.
Theo is terrified. He clings to Grandpa’s legs. Grandpa taps him on the head, and says, “There, there, ducky.”
But Theo shouts, “The train isn’t stopping, the train isn’t stopping!” as he anxiously looks up at his grandpa who smiles benignly at him.
The raging, steaming monster does stop, but far ahead of them.
Theo and his grandfather climb into a second-class carriage and enter a little room—pasted with photos of London and Lancashire—where they find seats. Theo looks out the window. On the platform, friends and relatives wave white handkerchiefs at the travelers. The people disappear gradually, enveloped by steam; all that is seen of them now are white dots.
With a sigh of relief, Theo settles into his seat—facing in the direction the train is traveling—and is quickly absorbed in his favorite comic, Beano, and with the adventures of Roger the Dodger. Grandpa takes out his pipe, taps it on his shoe to dislodge any old tobacco, and opens wide The Daily Mail.
All is well.
Theo is wearing red. He specifically asked his mother to choose an outfit in that color. He also wears a blue hat with a pompom, of a slightly different red than his outfit. He’s very excited; he’s taking the train for the first time. His grandfather looks at him with pride and tenderness.
Theo can’t quite understand what the booming voice is announcing but it sounds urgent. He’s distressed. His grandpa calms him down by saying that the train will arrive soon.
Theo keeps looking towards the right where he thinks the train will be coming, but Grandpa tells him to look left. Theo cranks his neck to the left for what seems a long time. He’s getting impatient.
A raging, speeding black monster rushes towards them, steam coming out of its nostrils, in a cacophony of metal meeting metal.
Theo is terrified. He clings to Grandpa’s legs. Grandpa taps him on the head, and says, “There, there, ducky.”
But Theo shouts, “The train isn’t stopping, the train isn’t stopping!” as he anxiously looks up at his grandpa who smiles benignly at him.
The raging, steaming monster does stop, but far ahead of them.
Theo and his grandfather climb into a second-class carriage and enter a little room—pasted with photos of London and Lancashire—where they find seats. Theo looks out the window. On the platform, friends and relatives wave white handkerchiefs at the travelers. The people disappear gradually, enveloped by steam; all that is seen of them now are white dots.
With a sigh of relief, Theo settles into his seat—facing in the direction the train is traveling—and is quickly absorbed in his favorite comic, Beano, and with the adventures of Roger the Dodger. Grandpa takes out his pipe, taps it on his shoe to dislodge any old tobacco, and opens wide The Daily Mail.
All is well.
