Describing a Scene

DESCRIBING A SCENE - A TRAIN JOURNEY

Above the chatter of the crowd I heard a distant hoot.  I turned, and saw a light still far away.  People started to gather their baggage and moved towards the platform edge; they wanted to be sure of a seat.  Ani, my elder sister, looked at me.  ‘Don’t worry, we have reservations,’ Ani reminded me.

            The engine thundered fast, followed by a long line of coaches, groaning as they came to a halt.  Before the train had completely stopped, everyone was already pushing their way aboard.  When the pushing had ceased, we climbed up into the coach and mad our way to our seats.  To our dismay, a large fat woman was lying across both of them, apparently asleep. When Ani tried to wake her, she opened one eye and muttered something we couldn’t understand.  I am sure it was something rude. However, she made one seat free, and the two of us were able to squeeze into the one place. ‘Never mind,’ whispered Ani.  ‘It’s all part of the fun.’

         We were going to stay with our cousins in Singapore.  Ani , who was 18, had promised to look after me, and our parents had agreed to let us go alone.  But even with Ani, I was feeling a little uneasy.

        We heard a whistle.  There was a sharp jerk, and the train moved off silently into the night.  I felt a bit nervous leaving the familiar, well-lit station of our home town.  But then I remembered Ani beside me; that made me feel safer.  The train began to swayas it moved faster.  The fat lady fell asleep again, and then so did Ani.  I was alone with my thoughts, which gradually changed into dreams.

        I was awoken by voices and bright lights.  ‘Gemas, Gemas,’ barked a loudspeaker.  We were at the station where the east coast and west coast lines meet for the last part of the journey to Singapore.  In the light, I saw that the fat lady had left, and Ani was asleep in her place.  A young boy came down...