The Slow Train to Wellington.

“James Wentworth you are going to have a great trip”,
I re-assured myself.
With my ticket in hand I bordered the train in Blacktown,
I was 17 and it was 1958 and I didn’t have a care in the world.
My Parents gave me a packed lunch and reason to believe in myself,
I discovered that Love is more important than money.
Once on the train I sat down in a quiet part near the window.
I didn’t want to miss the Glorious Australian landscape,
Eucalyptus trees shaded the kangaroo and I smiled.

I sat back to enjoy my ham and cheese sandwiches,
And I noticed an old man staring at me.
“Gotta light son?” he said in voice softer than his life.
“Sorry”  I replied, I don’t smoke.
“It’s okay I should give up anyway I got the big C”
I guessed that the big C was Cancer but no-one ever said the word.
“So where you headed, Son?”
“Wellington” I answered quickly.
“Oh Wellington.Now thats’ a nice town near the river.
“The Macquarie River I think’s it’s called.”
I got my first slap in the face near that river.
Elaine Charlesworth her name was.
She had the most beautiful  eyes and a heart that gave a weak man courage.
I loved her so much. But Love travels  down a twisting road.
One night after the dance I tried to kiss her.
Well she took a step back and smacked me in the face.
“I am not that kinda girl” she said and stormed o ff.
About that time the War started so I had to leave Wellington. Sad really.
When I got back she had married some landowner named Cedrick.”
So now I’ll probably shed a tear for her when we get there.
First love,son, it stays with ya until the end.
Anyway I’ll leave ya alone I need to find a match to light my cigarette,
Nice to meet you. Jock’s me name.”

It was strange to listen to that old man.
I didn’t get a chance to speak but it was allright.
We stopped in Bathurst for a short while.
Only a dozen passengers got on the train.
There was a young couple and a woman with 3 kids.
The woman sat next to me and yelled at her kids to behave.
Out the window I saw Jock struggling with some luggage.

The lids were annoying like most kids.
I kept smiling at their antics.

The lady reached out and said “Hullo I’m, Elaine”
“I hate my name I was named after my Mother.”
“Nice to meet you my name is James,” I mumbled.
I thought for a moment that her name was Elaine.
but the times couldn’t be right. She seemed too young.
“So were you off to James ?”she asked.
“I am going to Wellington. I’ve been offered a job on the Newspaper.
Oh that’s wonderful. I’m going there too.
We used to live there when I was a kid but Mum
married again and we went to Bathurst. But i’m going back to Wellington.
That’s if I don’t get arrested for murdering my kids.
I smiled knowing she was joking.

The time passes slowly on a train. The Sun seems to stand still
I don’t know why but I had to ask.
“Would you tell me your last name?” I inquired.
“Wilson, my name’s Wilson, why do you ask?
Oh I just met a Man who said he love a girl called Elaine.
“It’s a common name ,My mother’s name.
She was Elaine Charlesworth but I’m a Wilson now.

My mouth stayed open as I recovered from the shock.
“He said he love a girl called Elaine Charlesworth from Wellington”
“Oh my God that was my Mother.”
Where is he?
“He got off at Bathurst”
“That is so funny. She said. My Mother used to go on about
The boyfriend she slapped in the face once.
She said he was the love of her live.
I always wondered what happened to him.
“He’s got cancer”, I said without thinking.
“He said that Love travels down a twisting road.”
It sure does she said and started to cry.