If you spend any kind of time in Dallas/Ft. Worth, you would agree, it doesn’t seem like a public transportation kind of town. It’s to spread out and people seem to like their cars, but the city government and DART (Dallas Area Rapid Transit) had a different vision. In 1996, after much scandal and turmoil, the largest light rail track system in the United States (85 miles long) began carrying passengers around the Metroplex. I rode it for the first time last week, but this isn’t a story about me.
It’s the morning of my 15th birthday. My friends and I have the whole day plan. We finally talked our parents into letting us ride the train downtown and have a picnic in Klyde Warren Park. We are so excited. It must be how kids in New York feel being about to ride the subway where ever they want to go. I know my mom had to wait until she turned 16 for this type of freedom.
We are waiting on the platform. All six of us. My mother dropped us off and I had to beg her not to wait until the train left. We boarded the train and waited for it to leave. Before I sat down, I realized I left my bag on the platform. I jumped off the train to get it and the doors closed behind me. My friends were all screaming and laughing as they realized I standing on the platform, but there is nothing I we could do. The train pulled away without me.
I start to panic, but my best friend called and reminded me I could just catch the next train. Even though I didn’t get a chance to ride with my friend, I was excited to ride the train by myself. How grown up?
As the next train pulled up, I picked up my bag and boarded.
At the next stop, a cute boy boarded the train. This day is getting better. He sat in the seat in front of me. I could study him all the way downtown. I am so loving this train. His wet curly hair fell over his eyes. He kept pushing his hair out of his face. His fingers were long and strong and they weren’t dirty. All the boys my age had dirty finger nails.
He pushed his hair out of eyes and caught me looking. I smiled and put my earphones on and continued to look out the window.
He smiled back and spoke. I had to remove my earphones to hear him.
He asked me where I was going. I told him about my birthday picnic. I asked him where he was going.
He told me he was heading to downtown. Then, he joining a group of teenagers to go to West, TX to help with the clean up. He explained to me how his grandparents lived in West before they died a couple of years ago. He had to spend every summer there working in his dad’s farm and he hated it. Once he heard about the explosion, he felt guilty and wanted to help.
I told him his grandparents would be proud of him. He invited me to come with him and told me the bus would bring everyone back around 7:oo pm. Perfect, I just had to be on the train by 8:00 pm to get home in time.
When we got to the final platform, I told my friend, change of plans. We are going to West, Texas.
It was nice to do something good for someone else and I meet a cute boy, too. It was the best birthday ever.
West, TX is about 80 miles from my home. My thoughts and prays go out to the victims, the survivors, the police and fireman, volunteers and everyone else effected by the bombing in Boston and the explosion in West, TX, which is about everyone in the world.
Like this:
Like Loading...
Related
Sydney Aaliyah Michelle 
Prayers for everyone involved.
I don’t think parents would’ve protested that change of plans.
I am going to rewrite this as a an actually story. It’s a great idea and I ran out of time to really do it justice.
My only experience with this type of rail system was the Metro in DC. I can see the need and usefulness of such a thing and you are lucky to have it.
I echo your words for the residents of West, Texas.
I lived in Silver Spring MD, right on the red line and loved it. Always wanted to get back to a place that had a good combo of both. Dallas is still a driving kind of town. Bit it’s fun if you just want to go downtown.
I love riding the light rail here in Los Angeles. We’ve had our fair share of train controversy and it’s still going on.
Nicely told story.
Lee
An A to Z Co-Host
Tossing It Out
Lovely story. My thoughts and prayers also go out to the victims, their families and the Boston community.
Felicity from South Africa
Love and light to everyone in West.
Sounds like it would make a good fuller-length story!
Only one week of the Challenge left! We can do it 🙂
AJ Lauer
fellow #atozchallenge helper minion
Twitter: @ayjaylauer
Such a sweet story. I’m so glad that you’ve replaced all my memories of Texas with simple, sweet goodness. This story reminds me there is kindness in the world and I know a few kids like that who would change their plans to help out others. I hope you do turn it into a full story, I’d love to read it.
Moving post. Good luck with the last week.
I think the Dart Rail has done wonders for the Dallas metroplex. Praying for the people of West.
I’m a fellow Dallas blogger! Talya
http://www.gracegritsgarden.com
I think the Dart Rail has done wonders for the Dallas metroplex! I’m praying for the people of West also…I graduated from Baylor so West is near and dear to my heart.
Fellow Dallas Blogger, Talya
@ Grace Grits & Gardening
Hi Talya, it’s impressive and I had so much fun riding it the other day, but no cute boys I’m afraid. I have driven past West about a hundred times in my life. It’s very sad.
Sydney, you would be correct about the controversy surrounding DART in the early days. It started operations in 1983. For thirteen years it spawned a lot of discontent with residents as the board drug their feet with the rail system. I worked on many of the projects over the years. In the end, it was worth the wait. It is an excellent form of transportation for the Metroplex. The last line will connect DFW with Dallas and Fort Worth. I believe the best part of the story is the chance meeting with the cute boy. There was a reason for catching the next train. Sounds like you gave for than you received on your birthday. What a great way to spend a special day; helping people. Well done! The same goes for your friends.
Thanks Jeff.