Memories by colours(2)

Memories by colours

Chapter 2: Green of a new chance

How long has the train been going for? I’ve even spent the night sleeping here already.
Yet another morning spent with little sleep, but at least this time things are looking brighter. Ironically now I’m dying to see the rain, it has always been a beautiful sight after all except for yesterday. But no sign of that happening it seems.
And it is really boring here, the wagon is mostly empty it makes me think that it is reserved for depressed people or something. And looking through the window was of no use since the dark clouds above were casting their shadow on the plains, making for a dark uninteresting view, it's like they are there to purely flex their size instead of blessing the land with water.

So, no beautiful scenery, a gloomy place to be in, and barely any sleep…Is this going to be my routine every morning this month?? No one told me that the first step to adulthood would be this annoying to take. Let’s hope this boredom does not take over though and leads me to go wild in the city once I arrive…keep it together man, just repeat: “sleep, eat, work repeat”
Amid that storm of thoughts, a voice intruded saying:” may I sit here?”. I raised my head to see a man who looked in his thirties in front of me, dressed like a detective of some sort.
Me:” yeah sure go ahead”
Strange passenger:” thank you I really appreciate it”
Me:” don’t mention it, if anything things are rather dark in this wagon so I wouldn’t mind some company. Still, I didn’t think someone would willingly come or stay here”
Strange passenger:” then why you stayed?”
Me:” you know…when you just woke up it’s near impossible to leave bed in the first 5 minutes and that is kind of my situation now haha. Plus when I arrived, I was already tired so did not have the luxury of carefully choosing where to sit, just a spot near a window was enough”
Strange passenger:” ah I see, an emphasis on possibly enjoying the scenery along the way?”
Me:” yeah, and who would mind that?”
The man nodded along smiling, then he added.
Strange passenger:” it’s a little sad that there is not much to see though, the outside sounds like a sad oil painting due to clouds”
Me:” that’s what I was thinking: we’re stuck with this till we arrive apparently”
Strange passenger:” hopefully not, that’s a disturbing possibility to be honest”
Me:” true. By the way did you change your seat to here hoping for a better view?”
Strange passenger:” that’s part of it. The other part is that the wagon where I was is full of elderly passengers, and I don’t have a problem with them it’s just there was no one who looked… ‘alive’ “
Me:” and do I look any better? Haha I feel like a zombie here”
Strange passenger:” at least you can talk, if I opened a conversation with the others, I’d probably feel bad for making them do some effort. they looked like they could use a lot of rest. I hope I’m not intruding much by coming here friend”
Me:” no all good, like I said I don’t mind some company”

Strange passenger:” thank you. so where are you headed?”
Me:” amber city. Its my first time there”
Strange passenger:” I’m going there as well, going to substitute a teacher for history class at some school”
Me:” and I’m going to get a job. I passed the entrance exam in my village and got an acceptance letter so hopefully all goes well if I’m not late”
Strange passenger:” nice, and which job is it?”
Me:” will be writing some articles in a newspaper, it’s called ‘pen of steel’ “
Strange passenger:” oh that one? It’s like one of the top 4 selling newspapers, you’re lucky.”
Me:” yeah heard rumours about that. Can you tell me more about it and the city if possible? It’s my first time going there and a history teacher is a rare source of information that I might not come across again this soon”
Strange passenger:” sure. So amber city, as you might have heard, is like the heart of our country: full of educational institutions alongside a dozen industrial organizations with weight to their names. It’s one crowded place as a result. Got its name “amber city” from our 3rd president, and he named it so because it was the only place in which sunset made the sun look like a shiny amber stone for him.”
Me:” that is some nice lore there”
Strange passenger:” yeah. As for the ‘pen of steel’ newspaper, its founder was a rather eccentric fellow. People dubbed him ‘the man who loves nothing’ because all the articles he wrote himself were always complaining about something. Be it education, society, government etc…he named it ‘pen of steel’ as an emphasis on his unwavering will to tell things as they are, both good and bad, but more specifically the bad. On a personal note, I think the country needs people like him, and he did actually end up contributing to the fall of a former minister after exposing how he sold some hospital materials in the black market for a profit”
Me:” wow, that is kind of a lot to digest haha, thank you for the details though I really appreciate it”

The man suddenly changed to a slightly serious expression on his face, and added.
Strange passenger:” what do you think makes for a good story?”
Me:” that’s a little random, maybe even vague I guess? I think the answer will depend on the genre of the story”
Strange passenger:” but all stories have common points, like the beginning, middle, and end.”
Me:” then I guess what makes for a good story is a fitting conclusion. You can have a perfect sequence of events and a flawless start, but if the ending is out of place, it ruins it quite well.”
Strange passenger:” not a bad answer. But tell me then: how do you determine a ‘good’ start for a story?”
Me:” that’s a tricky one. Perhaps the key is in finding the right way to get the reader’s attention? Although if you ask me about an example of that I can’t come up with anything now”
Strange passenger:” I’ll tell you a little story then, and give your thoughts on its beginning.”
Me:” I’m listening, please go ahead”
Strange passenger:” there was once a man who could barely afford his everyday meal, lived in an old house, wearing clothes he bought since years. One day he was digging a hole to make a small well, only to discover an emerald stone. Though small, he knew that was more than enough to help him fend for himself should he sell it. But he thought beyond that and decided to completely change his life. For now what do you think?”
Me:” well it could use more details to introduce the man, it felt generic. But the finding of that emerald though and the little hype around his idea is a nice hook I’m interested”
Strange passenger:” indeed, a rather unique chance to completely turn things around is a good start. But imagine this: imagine the man in the story thought that what he needed to do is to sell the emerald and then throw the money in the ocean “
Me:” that’s a very strange turn of events, if anything it makes the story ridiculous now, or more of a recounting of some lunatic’s actions”
Strange passenger:” exactly. Getting an opportunity is not enough, the most important part is what you do with it. The kind of cards you were dealt does have significant value, but what is the use if you can’t use them well?”
Me:” True, even if the outcome may not be what you desire: doing the best you can with what you have can at least eliminate any sense of regret in the future.”
Strange passenger:” well said, and that is precisely what I want you to keep in mind. After you get the job don’t let things end with monotonous work and your pay check. See what you can do with the money, how to effectively improve your situation. Be wise and do not gamble but also take the chance when it is there for it may never return, and you’re already getting a very decent chance, so do not waste it young man”
Me:” to be honest…JUST working is more than enough in my case. I’m no businessman, so can’t think of ways to invest my money. I may have much to gain but should things flop I’ll have everything to lose. Still…the idea of looking beyond what exists to make a better future is plausible. If anything, it’s an eventuality… I just hope I get to do it well”
Strange passenger:” well said. Well said indeed.”

In what looked like a familiar scene, the wagon brightened like it was agreeing with us. then we looked through the window to see the plains glowing from afar. Graced by the sunlight, making them like a sea of emeralds. The scenery then was mixed with casual drops of rain, making it feel like the cycle of life for the green plains has been renewed…they’re having their own new chance, I presume?
Strange passenger:” such a beauty”
Me:” full of life, and full of hope”
We sat there silently for what felt like ages, admiring the scene. Like it was some classy painting at a museum with its own gallery. Until the train started slowing down and eventually: stopped.
Strange passenger:” Well look at that, just when I found a reason to stay longer it appears we finally arrived”
Me:” Good moments tend to fly fast after all, let’s go and not waste time”
We then descended from the train to a huge station. With people of all kinds walking around fast like doctors late to a surgery.
Once our parting point was upon us, it was time to bid farewell
Me:” glad to meet such a gentleman as yourself, may we meet again in better times, in better places”
Strange passenger:” the pleasure is mine young man, thank you for the lovely company and take care”
We shook hands, as if vowing to meet again, and then each left for his own way…

Wait…how come we talked that much without asking each other about our names?! Immediately I turned, eager to ask, but he was nowhere to be found. Well to be expected from a teacher, probably was hurrying to come on time. So I continued on my path, with that interesting encounter in mind. Once I reached the outer door, I saw a big portrait of a man above it, and guess what? It was the exact face of the teacher I came across.
Curious as I was: I asked a station worker who happened to be nearby.
Me:” excuse me but, who is that?”
Worker:” he’s Mr Verhomme, the founder of this station. A brilliant man who was once so poor until the fateful day when he found a small emerald stone, sold it, and with its money started a small shop then kept expanding until he became one of the richest men around at his time.”
Me:”…huh?”
The worker kept on talking enthusiastically:” Once he had enough money and connections, he decided to build this station as a line that the villages could use instead of spending days on foot to reach the city. And now this station stands proud thanks to him, named ‘Emerald chance’ ”
Me:” and…where is he now?”
Worker:” no longer with us in this world sadly…he died of old age 2 years ago”
Me:”…then who did i… never mind thank you”
I got out of the station after that to set out for the address written on my acceptance letter but….really who was that teacher? Did I just meet a look-alike of Mr verhomme? Or was he…

To be continued…

Let us remember, with a poem:

The journey continued, in a wagon so dark I thought it was the night
With nothing to do, or sight to admire, maybe might as well try to sleep tight
Until a noble presence arrived, seeking company with a polite tone
And who would mind? Still much better than staying alone
He introduced himself: a man who studied the long and vast history
So humble and dignified, yet it felt also like he was hiding a mystery
We talked of hope and chances; he took the role of the teacher
Instructing with examples as lessons, for wisdom he was such a preacher
And I the student, listened with care to the stories that were being told
Truly the kind of words I needed, ones I should not be too lazy to hold
Then the sun intruded, gracing our class with its smile
To bless the green plains with its warmth, after seemingly ignoring them for a while
Soon enough the rain followed suit, painting the already beautiful canvas
Adding more life to the lively scene, granting more joy to us
It did not take long after that to say goodbye to my noble instructor
Farewell for now, may we meet again when conditions become better
Though now I wonder, who are you really? You who helped me further advance
A man of the present? or a ghost from the distant past?
I’ll hold on to that question until we meet again but for now thank you
Holder of the emerald, herald of the green of a new chance

Next chapter: Yellow of laughter