Start your story with someone sitting on a crowded train and end it with them looking out over beautiful natural scenery.

Posted in Spring on Oct 25, 2022

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✍️ 258 stories

“A Grey Train” by J Gent

Submitted to Contest #90

The train was loud and claustrophobic, and I must say I was thankful that I even secured a seat. Even then, the rush hour got the poor individuals almost squeezing against each other, and the steamy sweat smells. The ringings of the phones and the whispers of voices packed the train to the point where I became worried; that even the slightest movement could invoke a massive fight with the people around me. ‘Yeah I know right? he’s such a-’ ‘I’m sorry, I think I could be 10 minutes late as I-’ ‘Hello? Yeah. Yeah….Uh….yeah. Almost. Yea...

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“Look at Them For Me” by Victoria Warren

Submitted to Contest #90

Look at them for me Look at them. The same people on the same train, day after day, week after week. So entranced by their phones, by their music, by every other possible distraction besides the humans sitting around them. Then there's me, the entire opposite. All I can focus on is them. Skater Guy sits beside me every day, always the last one on the train. I hear the skid of his board as he comes to a halt, kicks it up into his hands and slips through right as the doors close. At first, he would pause for some time ...

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“All My Life” by Lynda Aduba

Submitted to Contest #90

Just like every other day, I have to go to work. My life is such a mess. I mean, I haven't even picked a career, and I don't even have a car. Well, today I'm taking the bus. I don't know why but it's very crowded than usual. "Hey, excuse me, can I take that seat?" I asked politely. "No can do. I am too tired," the red-headed man said. "Well, I don't care. I'm tired too!" I yelled. "Sorry. Here take my seat," the man said, frightened. I squeezed my way through the crowd of people and slumped down into...

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“A Mystery Train!” by Shelly Wota

Submitted to Contest #90

Michael received a letter stating that he was one of many who had been chosen to go on a train trip. He was told there was no need to pack anything (it would only be a one day trip), and that refreshments would be served, at no cost. He was advised to be at a certain station on a certain day and time. On the specified day, when Michael arrived at the station, he was amazed to see so many people milling...

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“Ride or die” by Lucyna Polok

Submitted to Contest #90

I tug on the fraying edge of the hole in my jeans, right above my knee. I can feel eyes on me. Not the people’s, though the train is crowded. No, I know those are my own demons watching me, crowding me, bringing forth a paranoia so potent, it makes my hands tremble. I tug and twist to busy my shaking fingers with something, all the while keeping my eyes down. Avoiding eye contact. A movement opposite of me is what causes me to lift my gaze. Boot regards me from where he sits on the bench across from mine, his eyes unreadable as ever. He l...

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“Memories” by Isabella Brown

Submitted to Contest #90

I can’t believe mom made me go. I really don’t need more time around my brothers. Those were the first thoughts that went through my head when we stepped onto the train station. See, I am now 14. My birthday was a few months ago, and I even have my driving’s permit. Unfortunately, this also means I can go to Grandma’s with my older and younger brothers without my parents. Josh is 16, and therefore has a driver’s license. He goes to South High School, where I will go next year, and is a part of the “cool group”. In Qitch, the rule is ...

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“From a Liar's Child” by Afia Dona

Submitted to Contest #90

The woman was sitting by the window of the crowded train. She had a medium sized bottle in her hand with a rolled up paper inside it. She thought twice and thrice if she should open up the rolled stuff which belonged to someone else though it somewhat interested her. She was traveling with a 'Happy camp' team to a well-known Sea site. She joined them in order to relieve her stress that was upsetting her from the past few days. Genuinely it was suggested by her husband. This time they were on their way back to the capital city were they li...

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“A New Adventure” by Amy Sutch

Submitted to Contest #90

There was the usual strain to get on the train at once. Shoulder to shoulder we pushed our way into the crowd. All the seats were taken with commuters, so I hung on to the bar and tried not to bump anyone as the train took off. My new shoes were already starting to hurt, but I needed to look my best for this interview. “I am confident,” I said to myself, as I tried to psych myself up. “I can do this.” I...

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“Trains, Trees and an Old Man” by Jacob Reed

Submitted to Contest #90

“Excuse me, sir. This is my stop.” ‘Excuse me’ was merely a courtesy on these trains. What people really meant was ‘I will do anything it takes to get to that door, even at your expense.’ “Sorry about that.” He pushed his way through the crowd of commuters and tourists to the door, before disappearing into the awaiting masses in the corridor beyond. Near the back of the car I was riding in was an elderly man watching the passengers wrestle for position. I had seen him before, never paying him much attention, but today was a leisure ...

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“Trainfishing” by Nikita Linivenko

Submitted to Contest #90

I give up on trying to read the Irvine Welsh novel, what with the bloke across from me yammering on. “David Bowie was such a big fan of Shallow Grave, that’s why he let Danny Boyle use his music in Trainspotting.” I nod along and out the corner of my eye tick off the people shuffling past periodically up and down the car. Much like Lavrentiy Beria, I have a knack for names and faces, but mostly faces, a nack which I, much like Stalin’s personal bitch-boy, use to screw over just about everyone I lay my eyes on. Know that bit in Fight Club, ...

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“Chinatown” by Robert Vucsko

Submitted to Contest #90

The grimy tiled walls of the curved underground tunnel rushed by as gloomily lit wall lanterns pulsed out of the darkness, marking unseen intervals as the train sped to the next stop. We hit top speed for just a few moments before the gears began their gradual wind-down as we slowed again. The linked cars rattled and swayed and screeched as we burst into the light of the LaSalle Street station. The 5:43 stopped and slid open its doors, and the train became engorged with commuters. Many more streamed down through the turnstiles as we pulled a...

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“When She Fell” by Aoife J

Submitted to Contest #90

Sarah adjusted her head against the hot glass. With the smug sun belting through the window and the knee of a tightly suited man digging into her, she was regretting her choice of transportation. She found it fitting that her final decision was one of regret. It was in keeping with the theme of her life. The man sitting next to her seemed totally unaware of his wandering knee. He spoke into his phone at a volume so high one would think he was combatting the noise inside a fighter jet cockpit, and not the modest sounds inside the carriage o...

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“An author’s indulgence (In the story at last)” by Ayesha 🌙

Submitted to Contest #90

The train dropped him off in the forest. It was a long trip, but he doesn’t mind that much. Except everyone kept shoving him. He couldn’t see any of their faces, but it was annoying. It took some energy not to get off too early, but he controlled himself. The forest was too good to miss. It is peaceful and large, and goes on for miles and miles. It snowed yesterday and it’s snowing now, light fluffy snow coasting to the ground. The circle of trees are topped with frost and sunshine, though it’s getting darker now. His footsteps make tiny imp...

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“The journey home” by Alison Clayton

Submitted to Contest #90

Jenny looked at her watch. Just made it. She’d been lucky to make it onto the train. With the weather the way it was this November evening, meant there were plenty of others in the same position as her, trying to make their way out of London on the 5.05 train to Birmingham. Dark already, it had been a hell of a miserable day. The wind was already mounting and had several times turned her umbrella inside out on the way to the station. She had left it in the nearest rubbish bin, resolving to buy another as soon as possible. Now darkness had fa...

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“Rusty train to Auntie San ” by Ja'siah Bufford

Submitted to Contest #90

Holding onto the gift that I held so dearly took a price. The only way to reach auntie San was to board the train. There were bad reviews about the train,but she insisted I go on. With every movement of the train you can hear how old and rusty it was. My mother and father would have never let me on this train if they knew where I was going. I stood up not wanting to sit in the avaliable set across me it had a wet news paper on it. Decorated with gum underneath. The train was crowded, too crowded. The train stopped and some got on the train w...

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Start your story with someone sitting on a crowded train and end it with them looking out over beautiful natural scenery.

Submissions are closed

✍️ 258 stories

“A Grey Train” by J Gent

“Look at Them For Me” by Victoria Warren

“All My Life” by Lynda Aduba

“A Mystery Train!” by Shelly Wota

“Ride or die” by Lucyna Polok

“Memories” by Isabella Brown

“From a Liar's Child” by Afia Dona

“A New Adventure” by Amy Sutch

“Trains, Trees and an Old Man” by Jacob Reed

“Trainfishing” by Nikita Linivenko

“Chinatown” by Robert Vucsko

“When She Fell” by Aoife J

“An author’s indulgence (In the story at last)” by Ayesha 🌙

“The journey home” by Alison Clayton

“Rusty train to Auntie San ” by Ja'siah Bufford

🌟 Similar prompts

Write a story that weaves together multiple lives through their connection to a particular tree.

Write a story in which an endangered species (of plant or animal) plays a central role.

Set your story in a world living with the consequences of a climate apocalypse.

Write about a community that worships Mother Nature.

Contest #90

Enter our weekly contest!

$50

Prize money

814

Contest entries

0

Stories

Win $250 in our short story competition 🏆

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