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Week 14 - Creative Writing- Humanities

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Edited by Stephen Walsh, Tuesday, 1 Jun 2021, 10:24

Someone is waiting for a train. They have a suitcase that contains an object they wish to conceal. Imagine for a moment you are this character – put yourself in their shoes and ask yourself the following questions, then write the answers down in your writer’s notebook: 

  1. What’s your name?
  2. What do you do for a living?
  3. Where do you live?
  4. Do you have a family? If so, who are they?
  5. Etc etc

Now you know ten things about your character. Write a short paragraph about the character based on the details you’ve created for them. Don’t write a description of them, instead use the details to create the beginning of a story. For example, if your character is wearing a heavy coat (Detail 7) and the day is warm, they might feel uncomfortable but be afraid to take it off because they are ashamed of their clothing because they are homeless (Detail 3).

Waiting For The Train

The 2:12 from Brighton. The 2:13 from Colchester. The 2:15 from Kidderminster. They had all come and gone. He watched the passengers unload, shuffle through the turnstiles and go on their merry way. No stragglers. No suspicious looking loiters.

He had the name McCarthy or McGowan scribbled on a piece of paper. They had never met but he found himself staring at the more bedraggled members of the crowd. He couldn’t help it. He had packed the suitcase personally so he knew exactly what was inside.

“What are you fucking looking at?”

Terry turned away. His eyes had lingered on the man with the limp for too long. That’s all he needed, beaten up in the middle of the station and have the contents of the suitcase spill on to the ground for all to see.

“Why do I have to deliver this to a train station?” he had asked his boss, earlier in the day “Why can’t we put it in a box and ship it like normal?”

“You’ve a lot to learn, Terry,” his boss had answered. “Some clients require discretion. They don’t want a package arriving at their house where their wife or parents can find it.”

The two weeks working in “Come and Get it” were an real eyeopener. He was learning all the time, sometimes too much. From 8am to 5pm he was surrounded by dolls, dildos and scented lubrication. The place made him realize he had lived a sheltered existence. Never in his wildest imagination would he have guessed that butt plugs came in so many shapes and sizes.

Business was booming. The accessories were flying our the door. But he could take no joy from the success. None of his family or friends knew where he worked. He had tried to tell them but the words paint factory came out of his mouth instead. Now he has to have detailed conversations with his father about emulsions and colour shadings.

Another crowd spilled on to the platform. This time it was the 2:18 from Birmingham. Passengers flocked towards the turnstiles and Terry moved closer against the wall with the suitcase. The contents rattled about inside. The simulation 1000, the prostate massager and complementary lube. The Dirty Weekend for One bundle. 

He threw intermittent glances at the crowd, looking for likely contenders. He just wanted this over and done with now.

Then, as he scanned the faces he noticed someone familiar amongst the strangers.

He turned away but it was too late.

“Terry. Is that you?”

There was nowhere to run, nowhere to hide.

“Hey there,” Terry said.

He rested his eyes on the man but he couldn’t figure out who it was.

“I had heard you came to the city,” he said.

He knew this man but he just couldn’t place the face.

“Your mother tells me you’re working in a paint factory. Good for you.”

It was then the stubborn penny finally dislodged itself and fell into the slot. He was the shopkeeper from his parents’ estate.

“Did you come in on the train? We could’ve had a cup of tea together.”

Terry picked the suitcase from the ground. “Sorry I’m in a bit of a hurry,” he said. “Got to get back and... mix those paints.”

“Lovely to see you Terry,” the man said.

“Nice to see you too, Mr. McGinty.”


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