Photo prompt by Janet M. Webb
The car’s jam-packed, but I see a space, so I squeeze in. I notice her then. She has a retro look – I’m intrigued.
We’re crowded together. “Sorry,” I say, and she looks at me encouragingly, so I ask her name. She’s shy, maybe nervous.
We reach my stop; she grabs my sleeve. “Stay,” she says, and I take her hand, just like that.
Next thing I know it’s the end of the line and the car’s empty. I’m bewildered.
The driver spots me. “Ah,” he says, “you’ve met Judy. She’s been riding this trolley since 1944. Pretty cute act, eh?”
*****
You’ll enjoy reliving the trolley ride in the clip below, I believe. It’s my inspiration for my Friday Fictioneers story this week. Thanks to Rochelle Wisoff-Fields for hosting this weekly flash fiction event. Read all the other 100 word stories here.
Onto the page 
Dear Margaret,
I love how you used the trolley reference and went elsewhere. Of course, over here in the States we call them shopping carts so an American probably wouldn’t have taken the same leap. It’s one of the things I love about this diverse group. Well done.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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PS. Love the clip from one of my favorite movies. 😀
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And there I was feeling that I’d got the international differences covered by writing about a trolley car – which over here we call a tram. What a fascinating thing language is, and I do agree about the diversity of the group. It’s great to be part of it. Thanks to you for holding it all together so expertly. And thanks for your comment – I’m glad you liked where I took the prompt, and I’m glad you enjoyed the film clip.
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Modern ghost stories are hard to do. There’s something about the genre that either requires a Victorian backdrop or else that bleeds over into horror. You succeeded. Well done!
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Thank you, Neil. This is the first time I’ve tip-toed into the ghostly realm, although I have summoned up a few mythological characters from the nether regions. I’m glad you like it. I wanted to get the tone right – tricky, as you mention.
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Great story, Margaret! Of course, the video is super, too! Makes my day!
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I’m glad to have contributed to the quality of your day, Kent. That makes me happy. Thank you for your kind words.
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A lovely little ghost story! I love how the driver is used to this happening and the ghost’s demeanor made it cheerful rather than creepy. I love trolleys and trains, so much fun.
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That’s just what I was aiming for – I’m so glad it came across like that. Thank you for your encouraging comment.
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Cool and a little creepy. I got confused by “car” at first but then remembered that’s what they’re called in America. I see from your reply to Rochelle that was deliberate for the US audience!
Great story!
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Not really deliberate in that sense – I used the term because I had to call it a trolley to fit with the prompt, and so it had to be a car to go with trolley. Plus it was the song that got me going, and that was that. I didn’t even think that in other countries a shopping trolley is called a shopping cart. I’m making myself dizzy here. Sorry you got confused by ‘car’, but I’m glad you enjoyed the story at the end. And thank you for the feedback and kind comment.
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I got confused by car at first and I am American. The only trolleys we have nowadays are tourist ones that run on wheels like a bus, but still I should have got it as we refer to sections of the train as cars. I think my mind just jumped to a parking lot with shopping carts – er trolleys in them, but once I reread it again it was a fun little story.
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This is beautiful, and nothing wrong with a benevolent ghost encounter. And by now I can laugh and enjoy the many different uses of words on different things in different countries in English. There was a time when that confused me a lot. 😀 Love the video, too.
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Thanks, Gabriele. If there’s going to be a ghost in my story it has to be a nice one. I’m glad you enjoyed the story and the video. I understand your earlier confusion about English vocabulary – it’s a crazy language, but fascinating.
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Love you leap, there Margaret and the delightful Judy still riding the trams after 70 years. She was wonderful, though watching the clip, you can’t help but feel sad at how she was used and manipulated. Lovely story 🙂
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I enjoyed the clip, but I was overcome with a sadness for the same reason as you stated Lynn Love. I thought why can’t we just let people be who they really are? She had such a great talent.
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It’s hard not to view her life as a tragedy in many ways – I remember watching a drama doc on her life, how even during the filming of Oz, the studio fed her uppers to keep her working then downers when she needed to sleep. She was a very talented lady, and it is such a joyous clip – how she should be remembered 🙂
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I think I saw the same doc – it was ver sad. And I remembered a HS music teacher telling us how she was her idol and how disappointed she was when she met her and she was a drunk. Yet after seeing the doc you see why:( And yes she should be remembered for her tremendous talent and the joy it brings
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Some people lead tragically sad lives and it’s easy to see from the outside how desperate things are and how they might have been avoided, but hindsight is a great thing. A sad tale about your music teacher. Judy Garland was such a great singer, though, wasn’t she 🙂
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yes, she was
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🙂 Here, here
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Thanks, Lynn. I’m glad you enjoyed where I went with the prompt. I share your sadness about how she ended up in reality – I was thinking as I wrote that perhaps she wouldn’t mind staying on that tram forever. Oops – trolley.
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Sad to think that near the end of her life she might just have thought that. But we’ll remember her on that tram – yes tram – and smile
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Judging by the trolleys that turn up abandoned in the suburbs, I’d think it is a gang of trolley riding ghosts and not just one. 🙂
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Ha. You might be right. There’s a story in that.
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I enjoyed reading your story! And I love this movie+song! 🙂
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Thank you for commenting – I’m glad you enjoyed both.
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One of my favorite movies…and you incorporated it in your story so expertly. Not being American or British, all variations on words work for me. 😀 I enjoyed your story so much, one of the best ghost stories around here.
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I’m so glad you liked the story. Thank you for your wonderful comment. And I’m glad the word meaning variations didn’t confuse you.
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Call them what we may, your trolley took the road less traveled. I loved it. Expertly crafted. I enjoyed the video as well. Overall, a five-star visit here today.
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How nice! Thank you, Russell. I’m glowing with the reflected shine of those stars.
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A great ghostly surprise twist at the end, Margaret. I loved the song. Good writing as always. 🙂 — Suzanne
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Thank you, Suzanne. Glad you were surprised, and the song was a hit.
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I always love a ghost! Intriguing story, Margaret!
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Glad you were intrigued, Emily. I was venturing into new territory with a ghostly character. It was fun to write.
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