I kept my head down and my hands in my pockets as I boarded the train, the cold was brutal against my skin.
I sat in the first maroon colored, polyester seat I came upon. The others remained empty.
The Conductor turned from his position at the door and walked briskly towards me. His tiny steps didn’t match the length of his long legs. I didn’t recognize him.
Shyly, I lifted my head and then spoke in a whisper “I don’t need a ticket to ride this train.” My Grandfather won a bet many years ago, my family traveled for free.
“I am not hear to collect a ticket, my dear.” He pulled out a deck of playing cards from his waistline and removed them from the box. He placed his thumb on top of the stack and fanned through them. One by one they fell and scattered across the floor. Suddenly, a violent wind swept through the car. All but one of the cards disappeared.
I looked towards his name tag. Scribbled on the silver plating was the inscription “Dealer”
“That card is yours.” He pointed at the single card laying unluckily on the dust covered floor. His nails long and brittle.
I glanced up at his face, there was nothing, only a void. I’d seen his type before.
He reached towards his leather boot and took from it a scroll. As he unrolled the paper, he read:“Forty years from this day, the first relative of said Gambler to board the train must retrieve an Ace from the dealer in a scatter game. This will allow them to maintain free traveling status. Winnings will be null and void for all of said Gamblers descendants should another card be picked up.” Your Grandfather signed this agreement. He held it closer to me. I suppose my families trips were becoming costly.
I got up slowly from my seat. I was nearly his same height. I looked again at his face. His eyes blue, his lips a bright red, his nose was long and pointed at the tip. I could see all of him now.
I bent down near the card I was dealt. I hovered my hand above it and then returned quickly to my upright position, leaving the card in it’s place.
“There is nothing on your scroll!” I snatched the blank sheet from his hands and tossed it on the floor next to what I knew to be the three of diamonds.
“My grandfather made a living by reading people’s faces. Did you not think I knew you were bluffing?”
Leesa Writes 