The Train Ride of a Lifetime

Dear Analise,

It's my final two days on this train before I reach home. The trip has been long but I believe it will have been worth it. Mr. Platt seemed to like the business opportunity that was suggested by us. Hopefully, that means our farm will soon begin to see more profit. I'm writing this letter so close to being home because I feel like there is something special about this train. The people are as kind as usual, the conductor has a smile on his face, yet I cannot quite put my finger on what it is about this train that makes me settle in a way that I have not done since I've been home. Maybe it's the way the train has the faintest rumble, the way it vibrates subtly, or possibly even the scenery of this route. If I figure it out I'll make sure to let you know.

Analise,

A kind old lady is sitting in the section ahead of mine. She only has a few items with her, but as strange as it is my eyes keep straying to the suitcase that she has. It's purple. I can't say I've ever seen a purple suitcase. I've passed the last few hours conversating with her and sharing stories. The suitcase was apparently given to her by one of her grandchildren. She says she hates the color purple but can't make herself get rid of it. She's very kind. She complimented the small black notebook that I've been writing these letters in. It's the same one that you gave me last year at Christmas. She said that she liked the golden seems on the side of the book. I thought I would let you know that I am not the only person that appreciates the gifts you give me.

My Analise,

The sun has begun to set off in the distance, there are reds, blues, and oranges slowly mixing. There aren't many trees around the area that we are passing through so I have a clear view of all the colors. I wish I had the camera that my grandma bought me because I know that you would like to paint the way these colors are interacting. Maybe when I arrive home tomorrow night I can describe them enough for you. The little old lady is getting off the train almost first thing tomorrow. She has wished me luck on the business deal that was made and I have told her to enjoy her time visiting her family. I don't know if I'll be awake in time to say goodbye to her in the morning. Hopefully, I will.

Dearest Analise,

I'm sorry for the delay in my arrival home. I know that you and the kids will be expecting me home late tonight but I have something important that I need to do before I can finish the last few hours of my journey. I awoke early this morning to the kind lady getting off the bus. She had waved to me from the window and that is when I noticed that she didn't have her beloved suitcase with her. I knew what it meant to her so before the train could leave I quickly gathered my own belongings and rushed off the train. Unfortunately, she had been ushered into a vehicle before I could reach her. I plan to ask around this small town and see if anyone knows who she is and where I can find her. I will write again as soon as I can.

Analise,

I managed to find where the lady is staying, she is apparently well known and the purple suitcase is seen quite often in these parts. Some kids even said that it was magical. I thought that was quite endearing to hear. I was asked once if I had opened the suitcase to figure out what was inside but I do not want to invade this woman's personal belongings or her privacy. Even if there is something that could have helped me locate her I don't think I would even open it then. Since it is getting late in the day now, I have decided that I will stop by in the morning to return the suitcase. For now, I am staying in a small motel. I cannot wait to come home.

Analise,

I am on the train home, I shall be arriving home later tonight. You will never believe the morning I've had. I have to control the shaking in my hands to write this letter. I walked down to the house that the lady was staying at as early as I thought reasonable. The little lady was not the one to answer the door but I soon learned that the woman that did was her daughter, the one that she was visiting. Upon noticing both myself and the suitcase that the woman had lost she invited me into her daughter's home and introduced the both of them. The kind lady's name was Lisa and her daughter's name was Susan.

They invited me to sit down for tea, I gladly accepted and explained to them my short journey to return Lisa's beloved suitcase. I told her about the people I had spoken to and when asked I told her the truth of how I never once opened the case. She had given me one of the warmest hugs I have ever received and explained to me how thankful she was and how she knew that I was telling the truth because the case had a lock that had not been broken. I hadn't even noticed that there was a lock. I simply told her I was glad that I could return it, but that I should be leaving to catch the earliest train possible.

Before I left, Lisa asked me if I wanted the contents that were in the suitcase. As curious as I was to find out what was in the oddly colored case, I denied saying that I did not need a reward for what I had done, that I was simply glad that I did.

She had smiled, hugged me again, and insisted that I take what was in the case. Despite my small arguments, she opened the suitcase to reveal 20,000 dollars. Even with my mind completely blown I still denied the gift, explaining how I could not accept something so big. She told me that she was wealthy, had too much money anyway and that she wanted to repay me for my kindness. She said that "kindness is sometimes not found easily." Lisa told me that anyone else might have taken her suitcase and the money without a single thought to return it. I tried to deny it once again but she persisted, saying that I needed it more than she did.

S o now, here I am, on the last train to home. I have my belongings, the little black notebook you gave me and now a suitcase that is not purple but black that holds more money than we made on the farm last year. Money that will help us greatly. But, as I am sitting here I am not thinking about the money. I am thinking of Lisa, the random lady that I met on the train, who has changed my life and who I have found a great friend in. That may be the best thing that came from this journey.

Analise, I cannot wait to arrive home to tell you about this in person, to tell the kids of my new found friend. This journey is not one that I will forget anytime soon.

Lisa would like to meet the kids as soon as possible. I hope you don't mind.

I will be home shortly.

Yours truly,

James.