THE GIRL ON THE OLD TRAM

~ Iain Kelly

Modern, sleek cars had been rolled out along the route.  At the time Jonathan travelled every morning an ancient tram still clanked and rattled along.

Accompanying him each day were the unchanging faces that shared this journey. The familiar smile and muttered greeting part of their set routine.

She appeared one grey morning. A ray of light piercing the everyday gloom. She sat opposite him. For the first few days he couldn’t making eye contact.

After a fortnight they established a nodded ‘hello’ when she took her seat.

Now Jonathan began to dream. Should he speak to her? What should he say? Was there a future for them? He resolved to talk to her the following Monday.

When she got on the tram that morning she was talking to Richard. Richard was another regular on the old tram. Richard boarded at the same stop as her.

She nodded to Jonathan as usual, then spent the rest of the journey chatting to Richard.

The next day Jonathan got an earlier tram. It was modern and sleek.

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Copyright Yinglan

Written as part of Flash Fiction for Aspiring Writers. The challenge is to write a flash fiction story in around 150 words, based on the weekly photo prompt. Thanks as always to the challenge host Priceless Joy. For more information visit HERE.

To read other stories based on this week’s prompt, visit HERE.

Published by Iain Kelly

39 year old writer, avid film viewer and book reader, employed in the media industry as a television editor.

42 thoughts on “THE GIRL ON THE OLD TRAM”

  12. Oh so sad for Jonathan! It’s so often true: You snooze, you lose. Perhaps he’ll learn his lesson and find someone better, and talk to her sooner, on the newer tram.

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  13. I really like your snippet of reality that was portrayed here. A missed connection, definitely but how many times has something similar happened to us? I hope Jonathan finds someone willing to wait for him next time 🙂

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    1. You can never be sure when you’re sitting on the tram or train whether you should talk to a stranger or not – a difficult thing to do and do without being creepy or annoying!

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  14. Maybe it was meant to be that they never spoke. Maybe he’ll find ‘the one’ on the other train. Maybe he won’t. Life leads you in ways we will never understand.

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  16. It’s always difficult to realize that your chance of getting to know someone you have an interest in will probably never happen. Hopefully, if he sees someone else he likes, he will not wait so long to engage in a meaningful conversation and will be able to get to know the person . There are many women that have the same problem. There is always that fear of rejection. I could feel his disappointment . Great story. 😊

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