Skip to content 10589 to Gatestown – Chapter Three
This can’t be happening. This just cannot be happening!
Twenty year old Michaels mind raced as fast as the tires of his truck as he cruised along a busy stretch of road hoping to get to the hospital in a timely manner but also within the law. Time seemed to slow as he made several turns until he was on a quieter length of road leading to a massive building on the horizon; not wanting to but know he had to, Michael slowed and pulled halfway off the road allowing an oncoming ambulance the right of way. Then, once the large vehicle was in his mirrors, Michael punched the gas pedal causing the right rear tire to spin up dirt and gravel while the left rear tire chirped on the road.
Time slowed even more as Michael pulled into the buildings expansive parking lot where he weaved down several rows, parked in the first open space then killed the engine. With no time to spare he jumped from the truck going into a full galloping run towards a pair of large glass doors set under a concrete overhang marked with several signs that read ‘ambulance parking only’. Even before he could burst through the glass doors sliding open he could already make out the various fur bodies in green and blue scrubs moving about performing various tasks.
“Velstein!” Michael demanded in huffing tones. “Where are they!?!”
Hearing the commotion of agitated barking, Doctor Lester looked back to the nurses desk while signing several clipboards worth of paperwork. Sensing what he was about to get involved in, Doctor Lester ran his rottweiler paw over his face having already had an emotionally tense time within the past hour. Preparing himself, Lester stepped from unit three to the nurses station; his normally long and authoritative steps were replaced with shorter and gentler steps.
“Joseph, Elenora and Christopher Velstein – where are they!” Lester heard Michael almost shouting as he continually slammed his paws against the desktop of the nurses station. Almost instantly Lester picked up on how Michael pronounced the names – a Y sound instead of a J sound in Joseph and a rolling R in Elenora.
“I’m Doctor Alan Lester.” Lester introduced himself as he made his presence known to both Michael and the surprised receptionist behind the counter. “Please calm down, Mr…”
“Velstein. Michael Velstein.” Michael sighed and shook his head growing tired of the situation. “I got a call from THIS hospital saying that my parents and younger brother were in a bad accident…”
“Mr Velstein.” Lester interrupted Michael. “I understand, please come with me where we can talk in private.”
“Just tell me…” Michael lowered his tone, his expression softening. “…are they okay?”
Hearing this, Lester licked the corner of his lip finding it harder and harder to keep looking the koala eye to eye. “Your brothers in CCU.”
“CCU?”
“Critical care unit.” Lester answered trying to be as gentle as possible. “It’s possible he might not make it through the night.”
“What about mom and dad!?!”
“I’m sorry. I really am. We tried everything we could to save your mother but her injuries were just too severe. Paramedics said your father didn’t make it off the scene – happened so fast that he never felt a thing…”
That’s all it took. Before Lester could say anything else Michael collapsed to the floor yet in a sitting position only to bury his face in his paws. Everyone around watched as Lester sat down next to Michael offering a comforting paw on his shoulder.
Michael awoke with tears in his eyes, and for a few moments he lay in bed staring at the alarm clock – 5:15 it read in its pale green glow. He slowly brought up his right paw to his shoulder still feeling the way Doctor Lester had done it; soft and with compassion. With just that simple act, Lester said everything that words simply couldn’t convey. For the few moments Lester had his paw on Michaels shoulder they were one, they felt the others pain, they felt the others sympathy and compassion, and they both understood what the other was going through.
Still misty eyed, Michael climbed out of bed and quietly made his way down the carpeted hallway to Christopher’s room, then at the closed door, he paused and ever so carefully opened the door allowing faint traces of light from the hall to creep into the boys room. Even with the minimal amount of light, Michael could still make out the outline of Christopher sleeping soundly in bed. Instantly, flashbacks danced through Michaels mind as his thoughts regressed to an earlier time.
For several months, Michael would stop at the hospital and spend hours on end sitting by Christopher’s bedside, the younger of the two tied to all sorts of machines making him look as though he were some wild science experiment gone awry. In the first week of him doing it, Michael thought his brother wasn’t going to make it, yet, with every passing day, Christopher grew stronger and stronger until he was transferred to intensive care, then down to guarded care, then to normal care.
Even though both thought the battle was won, they knew the war was still far from other. Eventually Christopher was transferred from the hospital to a group therapy home, and, as he fought to learn how to walk and live with a permanent limp, Michael fought in court for full legal custody of his younger brother.
Michaels trance was broken by Christopher’s sudden soft whimpers and gentle thrashing about; without a lone thought of acting, Michael quietly walked over until he was within distance of Christopher’s bed where he reached out a paw to a lone night stand where he picked up a stuffed dolphin, gave it a few pets and ever so gently placed the toy on the pillows against Christopher’s face. It was almost immediate; Christopher quieted down and stopped moving marked with a deep breath and a paw moving up and wrapping itself around the stuffed dolphin.
Michael suddenly glanced up as a new sound lofted into the room. Looking around, he tried finding the source of a gentle hissing sound and metallic clanking. After searching everywhere, he strolled to the window where he peered out over the back yard and a row of trees in the distance. The sounds grew louder and harsher, yet he couldn’t find anything to explain it; within a few moments, the house shook with various items around the room rattling and bouncing around, it was then that a sharp deep whistling could be heard. The house continued shaking yet Christopher still slept. Eventually everything quieted and returned to a normal silence.
What the hell was that!?! Michael thought as he kept looking around trying to find some reason for the occurrences.
— — —
The morning sunlight was bright and every color vibrant under the suns glow. Michael adjusted a black tie complimenting a bright white shirt under a pure black uniform complete with a like colored top hat. Both he and Christopher wore the same outfit complete with adorning gold buttons and a golden pocket watch affixed to their uniform jackets.
“I feel like an idiot.” Christopher grunted and fidgeted with his sleeves. “Do we really have to wear this junk!?!”
“Yes.” Michael spoke in affirming tones. “The first tour is expected any minute now so make sure you behave and follow my lead. These people pay good money and we want to give them a good time.” Before he could say anything else, a black and silver-gray steam locomotive slowed to a gentle stop on the tracks behind them, each car that made the rest of the train was painted a gloss green with silver trim – Elkway Express was painted in crimson red on the sides of all the cars. “Right on time. All right, when the group gets here, we give them a rundown of what to expect and encourage them to have a good time. Nine fifteen this train rolls out of the station, lunch is served at one, the train rolls back into the station at five.”
“Everything stays on time and the tourists stay happy. Got it.” Christopher chuckled nodding.
“They’re paying customers, not tourists.” Michael shook his head with the faintest of sighs.
Michael instantly turned from his brother to a long wood plank walkway as approaching steps could be heard. “Smile and at least look happy!” He growled giving Christopher a low and fierce stare before returning his attention towards a large group of customers dressed in various clothing and ranging in age. “Welcome everyone to the Elkway Express scenic tour. I hope everyone brought their cameras because there’s a lot of breath taking views as we travel the countryside that still remains largely untouched by civilization.”
“Excuse me, sir?” A black and bright orange tiger dressed in jeans and a hooded shirt asked while raising his paw. Seeing Michael nodding in his direction, he continued. “Roughly how long is this trip going to last?”
“Until five PM this evening.” Michael smiled.
“Will there be lunch provided or are we going to stop at a town somewhere for food?” A female wolf asked.
“Yes ma’am, lunch will be provided by our top chef.” Again Michael smiled. “Anyone else have a question? Don’t be shy, I’ll happily answer them.” Seeing everyone remaining quiet but looking around at everyone else in the group, Michael waited a moment before proceeding. “Okay then all aboard!”
Michael and Christopher stepped aside as the large crowd funneled into a single line to board the train through the first car. With everyone accounted for, Christopher stepped up the steps and into a luxurious car only to pause and turn to find Michael whom staying on the wood platform watching for any stragglers. “Five after nine…best time yet.” Michael smirked after checking his gold pocket watch. Time passed quickly, and seeing nobody else running up to get on, Michael again checked the pocket watch then whistled and waved his hand for the engineer to see.
Slowly the locomotive inched forwards until the slack between the cars couplers drew out, then with a mighty puff from the steam engines smoke stack the entire train lurched forwards slowly picking up speed. With one final check, Michael caught up to the steps of the first car and hopped on well before the end of the platform. Once the door was shut behind him, he turned to Christopher and grinned. “You ready for an adventure?”
The End of 10589 to Gatestown – Chapter Three.
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