Temporary Travel

The things we carry remind our fellow travelers that our rides on the train are only temporary. We will not ride forever.

He carries a backpack because he will be getting off at the community
college campus. On crowded days the bag sits like armor on his back;
on slower days it sits next to him on the seat. She brings her bicycle
on board and rolls it to that designated area where bikers place the
front wheel for temporary travel.

They carry suitcases, making the long trek to Lambert Airport no
doubt. He carries a basketball and decides not to sit. Just holds the
ball in his arm, stands near the doors, and waits to get off and head
to the game.

She carries an infant and leads a group of small children on board.
She counts them and recounts to make sure everyone's accounted for.
One, two, three, four, and the little one she's holding makes five.
Yep, they're all here. And that older couple over there, they carry
looks of concentration and pockets of cash; they have the hope of
winning big at the Casino Queen tonight.