Writers debate: Fiction

Jason walked to the edge of the city, where he found an old boxcar to sleep in for the night. Although it wasn't a permanent solution, he'd seen worse in the Middle East. It started to rain after the sun set he closed the door enough that he was confident that water wouldn't splash in. With only a light coat, he grew very cold in the night but the smell of the rain in the air, and the sound of the raindrops hitting the boxcar's metal roof was refreshing. Though he didn't realize it, the boxcar started to move as he slept. When he woke up and opened the car door he could see that he was slowly climbing tracks on the side of a mountain. Overwhelmed with thirst and wet from water that had come in from the boxcar's leaky roof, he sat down inside and looked at the horizon as the sun rose over a thick, damp fog that had set in over the trees below. While the experience was nothing less than sublime, Jason realized his freedom meant that his most basic needs would be contingent upon his ability to survive. And yet in this moment he was once more trapped within the boxcar, though there by choice, to roll out would mean certain death. After a few hours, the tracks leveled as the train moved closer to the valley below, where there was a town up ahead and a river within sight. He would have to get out here, because he knew that if he didn't hydrate he might go to sleep and not wake back up. Jason prepared to jump out of the train car which was now picking up considerable speed as the tracks leveled off. It was clear that the train wasn't going to stop, and the tracks turned away from the town by the river he saw in the distance. He looked up to the sky and then down to the ground and slid from the platform floor onto the ground where he landed on a rock and cut his leg open. The wound wasn't bad, but it made his walk to the town more painful. Though only five miles or so, Jason was exhausted. He fell unconscious onto the sidewalk in front of a church. Though he didn't know how long he was incapacitated, he felt water being splashed onto his face. "What's wrong, sir?" A elderly woman in a blue dress asked. "I haven't eaten or had anything to drink in almost two day now." Jason replied, still laying on the sidewalk. He noticed that the sun was beginning to set. "Let me go get my husband." She replied. "He'll be able to help you up." Within a few minutes, the elderly couple returned. The man was holding a glass of water in his hand and his wife followed by his side. As they drew nearer, the man passed off the glass of water and extended his arm as he knelt down on one knee beside Jason. "Son, it'l be alright. Put your arm around my shoulder and come inside." The man replied. "Where am I?" Jason asked. "You're outside of Elkins, West Virginia." The man replied. "Who are you?" Jason inquired further. "Reverend Talbot. This is my wife, Elizabeth Talbot." The man said as he gestured to his wife. "Who are you?" "I'm..." Jason paused, knowing that by now his name was probably nationally infamous. "I need help." "Well, that much is clear." The man said as he led Jason inside to a small table. "We're just about to have dinner. Join us." Mrs. Talbot tried to take his coat as he sat down, but knowing that it would reveal his prisoner's number he insisted that he keep it on -although he was unable to even provide an excuse as to why he wanted it to remain. They ate largely in silence, but for a brief prayer before the three began. Though a humble meal of baked chicken and mashed potatoes Jason expressed his gratitude for the couple's hospitality. Rev. Talbot, who instinctively knew that Jason was destitute, offered him a room for the night. Knowing that he had no other options, Jason reluctantly accepted. Mrs. Talbot went upstairs to make the bed, as Jason and Mr. Talbot retired to the living room. "Would you like a cup of coffee?" Rev. Talbot asked. "No. But thank you." Jason declined, as he nearly fell asleep in the chair. When Mrs. Talbot returned, she led him upstairs where fresh linens had been placed on the bed and a change of clothes was laid out. "These used to belong to our son, many years ago." Mrs. Talbot smiled. "I'm glad I never got rid of them now." Jason laid down on top of the bed completely exhausted, and fell asleep. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- The next morning, Mrs. Talbot brought biscuits and jelly with a mug of hot black coffee up to his room and set them down outside of the door. "Some breakfast, dear." She said after rapping three times lightly on the door. Jason heard the creaky boards on the stairs as Mrs. Talbot returned to the kitchen. He got out of bed, and ate both of the biscuits quickly before even thinking to put jam on them. He drank the coffee as he walked downstairs. "Would you like to stay with us for a while?" Rev. Talbot asked. "My wife and I have discussed it and you would be welcome to the room for a few nights if you would like it." Mrs. Talbot nodded her head in acknowledgement. "I..." Jason didn't know what to say. "I think I should tell you..." "Tell us what?" Mrs. Talbot asked after Jason paused, seemingly lost for words. "Tell you why I'm here." Jason responded. "Oh, that's not necessary." Mrs. Talbot replied. "You're here because you're supposed to be here. You're safe here." Jason noticed that there was no television or radio in their house. The only telephone still had a cord and hung by the cabinet on the wall. They couldn't know who he was, or why he was here. "My name is Jason." He replied, hesitantly. "It's nice to meet you, Jason." Rev. Talbot replied. "I must only ask that you help around the house if you're going to stay. There are potatoes to bring in from the garden, among a few other things." "I'd be happy too." Jason smiled as he sat down at the same table he'd eaten dinner at the night before, and reached for another biscuit from the plate in the center. "These are delicious." He said with his mouth full.