The Perfect Train

​Annabelle is excited. Today is the day she gets to travel to the “big city.”  She has dreamt of being a star her whole life. She bought her train ticket and is trying to patiently wait for her train at the station.  Annabelle is watching as people of all ages get onto their scheduled trains.  She sees their smiles and it makes her even more anxious to get to the “big city.”  A small, simple train stops right in front of her; it’s called the Train of Patience. She doesn’t recall needing to board that train so she tells the conductor it’s not her train.  Not much longer after, another train comes: the Train of Hope. Annabelle is not looking for hope, she wants fame and fortune, so she tells the conductor, again, that it’s not her train and she continues to wait.  As she waits, Annabelle imagines her Train of Fame and Fortune; large, flashy, exciting and nothing like the plain trains she’s seen so far.  Four more trains come through, the Train of Love, Determination, Compassion, and Good Will. Each train comes through the station for all who are in need of its destination. Annabelle rejects every single train because she is still waiting for her train of Fame and Fortune.  She can’t imagine why people would want to get aboard these small, rusted, boring trains. She has waited long enough for her time to shine; what are a few more hours?  

Annabelle sits and daydreams on the bench of expectation about her train. It is plush, comfortable and it serves the finest of foods and beverages. There are dancers, singers, comedians, entertainers and other public figures. She can’t wait; she knows her train is going to be perfect. As Annabelle adjusts her legs to keep them from falling asleep, she notices that she is alone.  The once, busy, loud and exciting train station, is now quiet and barren. Everyone had found a train but her.  The sun has passed, now giving way to darkness.  Annabelle looks at her ticket, broken but still holding out hope that her train will come.  Suddenly, she sees a light coming down the train tracks.  A loud, majestic horn blows as it approaches the station. She bursts with excitement, the train is getting closer and all she can notice is how breathtaking it looks.  It is better than she could have ever imagined.  The beautiful train stops in front of her.  As she smiles at the conductor, he announces, “This is the final train dear, please board.”  Annabelle reads her ticket and she looks at the train’s name.  Her heart sinks as the conductor takes her ticket, closes the doors behind her and pulls off.  The train leaves the station, taking Annabelle and her dreams to their final destination.  The conductor announces, “We hope you had a chance to take advantage of every train that was presented to you. You are now aboard your final train, destination: Death.”