The Trackless Express

“Okay here a moss covered tree, a moss covered rock, and a stream” Joy said as she approached both and stood in between both the tree and rock. “So that makes this a station, right?”

As if answering her question, the train whistle sounded the familiar sound of its wheels chugging through. Except this was in the middle of a forest. But sure enough a train did come, and stop to a halt. “Young lady?” the train conductor asked, as though this the most normal thing in the world. “Somewhere you wish to go?”

“I…” Joy stood there with a million questions in her head. She wasn’t actually thinking this would work afterall. “I… what?!”

The train conductor simply chuckled. “Is there somewhere you wish to go?” He paused, waiting for an answer, and turned around. “Very well.”

Joy snapped back to her reality and grabbed his sleeve just as he turned his back. “I don’t know where I wish to go… But somewhere not here… is that okay?”

“Young lady, check your pocket.” The conductor replied. 

Joy did so, and dug through her pockets. In the pocket she kept her most important things in, she pulled out a light purple ticket.

“Your ticket, please.” the conductor replied.

Joy turned in her ticket, walked on the train and took her seat. 

“First timer?” The boy sitting next to her said.

“What? I— Yeah.” Joy replied.

“Not easy is it?” A new stranger replied. “Finding your spot here.”

“Joey! Long time no see mate! Name’s Hermes lately by the way, little lady.” Hermes replied. “And yours?”

“Joy.” Joy replied. “At least I think it is.”

“If you still think it is then it is, lass.” Joey said. “You’re what you wish to be called.”

“Quite so .” Hermes replied. “We’re here for the same thing, lass. Gotta find our place amidst all this.”

“But you just asked me ‘first time?’” Joy asked. “Would that not mean you’re back?”

“Will yes I need a new place to travel too.” Hermes said. “Some place else quick as wanna be.”

The train whistled again “Next stop. Shroom Shroom racetrack.” The conductor replied. “I would reckon that your new stop, Hermes?”

“I would reckon as well.” Hermes replied. “Been a while since I’ve heard of such a place that sounds like a good time.”

“On the flipside, Hermes.” Joey said.

“On the flipside, Joey.” Hermes said.

Joy watched many conversations come and go as she sat on the train. Letting stop after stop passed her by.

“Miss Joy?’ The conductor asked. “It is the last stop so perhaps this is your destination?”

“What if it’s not?” Joy asked. “What If I just wanna say here?”

With a simple tilt of his hat the conductor replied. “Then you would end up ‘stuck’ here as the old world would say.”

“Then maybe that's where I wanna go” Joy replied. “Maybe I wish to hear every story and just help where I can.”

“As conductor of this train, I must warn you that some regret that decision.” The conductor said.

“Only some?” Joy asked.

“The others are in various carts. Listening to stories as you wish to. Thought I must admit. We don't have one such person for cart 4 yet.”

“Well you do now” Joy replied.

“Well then, miss Joy.” The conductor replied. “Your ticket, please?"