Young Writers Society

I believe sometimes chance creates a bit of a leeway for the past, a small opening that can bring in someone else's reality and that everyone has a chance at something. Like, having the chance to keep going. That sort of thing. Unless they wanted to blow that chance and give up. I should mention that my chances, in the beginning, are slim since most of the time, I don’t expect them. Chances just happen.

As I first came to Harrisburg, I really didn't know what to expect. I had wanted to move to Harrisburg to get away from the constant nagging of my mom and how she'd never wanted her little boy to grow up. It is also relating to how I needed a new scene and not to be cramped in our boring, small town. 

She had been worried about the trip, offering to go with me to Harrisburg beforehand and explore the place. I turned her down, to prove that her little boy had grown up. It was kind of surreal, though, since I was going to be away from my mom and sister for a year. I had to rely on people to make the decisions for me. Where I was going, what I was doing, and how I was doing it, all played an important role in my life, one way or another.

When the day came, she was crying while my younger sister, who tried pleading me to stay home earlier in the day, was fruitlessly trying to calm her down. I’m going to miss them, I had thought when I left the house. I wonder what could await me in Harrisburg.

The train ride wasn’t that bad. There was a twenty-four seven food bar in the dining cart, the showers were surprisingly working, and I was alone in my own cabin for part of the ride, until an elderly couple joined. They were nice and we chatted for a few moments about politics and schooling.

Just as the conversation began to veer to reminiscing about the good ‘ol days, my stop came up. I thanked them and got off the train, blending in with the hoards of people. Some were getting on and off, walking around, and talking about recent events or checking their phones for messages. I spotted a group of laughing teenagers and sighed. I miss my friends back home. I wonder what they're up to. 

I ended up standing on the platform, just staring at what's around me. There were a couple food carts that were selling pretzels, was across from where I was standing, a newspaper rack that had some old men surrounding it, and a stone staircase with fading posters on the walls, that led up to the streets of Harrisburg.

I decided to walk off the platform and towards the information booth, which was adjacent to the newspaper rack. A blonde haired girl had been working, typing on a keyboard and staring at a computer screen. I wonder what she does after she leaves, I asked myself. What life does she live? There was a silver bell on the counter with a small worn out note that read, ring if you need assistance.

I rang the bell with the palm of my hand. The blonde haired girl jolted from her trance and looked towards me. She seemed to be hiding her annoyance under a smile that seemed too helpful.

“Hello, sir. How may I help you?” she asked politely.

“I’m not from around here. Is there a tourist guide that I can look at?”

The girl nodded, reaching over the counter to a small organizer with pamphlets. She took a yellow pamphlet and gave it to me. “That should explain everything to Harrisburg. If you want another one, the red ones are the different restaurants you can find and the blue ones are the seasonal events.”

I thanked her and walked away. As I flipped open the yellow pamphlet, I was greeted by a rush of words and pictures. I was infatuated with the information presented to me that I ended up bumping into someone. They had short cut brown hair and beady green eyes, which was shadowed by a baseball cap they were wearing.

They stumbled backward, muttering under their breath.

I stuffed the yellow pamphlet into my bag. “I’m so sorry. I wasn’t watching where I was going and-”

“I don’t need your apologies. Just watch out where you are going, jerk,” they said, looking up. My breath caught in my throat as they moved past me. It’s only my first day here and I end up making someone mad, I thought, watching them disappear into the crowd. I hope it doesn't happen again.