2887. Mother's birthday © Bruce Goodman 27 October 2023

Claire and Ted Jones and family had spent the last seven years, on the weekend nearest Ted’s mother’s birthday, at Ted’s mother’s place. She lived about an hour’s drive away. They would arrive around noon on the Saturday, stay the night, and return home around noon on the Sunday. That was the pattern of celebrating that birthday. This year Claire was seized by a terrifying premonition. She couldn’t get it out of her head. If they went to Ted’s mother’s place they would put the family in grave danger. She told herself not to be silly. The premonition grew stronger. If she told Ted he might assume she was trying to escape the stress she got being with her complaining mother-in-law. She did tell Ted, and he told her not to be anxious. Claire was starting to become a pile of conflicting emotions. Ted made a suggestion. Why don’t we have a change and not drive there but go by train? It was an excellent idea. It somehow felt safer. Claire’s premonition seemed to involve them driving there. As the mayor of Claire and Ted Jones’ town said later, “The fatal train derailment, with so many deaths, was the saddest day in the history of the town.” Contact Author Back to Index Next Story Previous Story