Short Stories of The Road: The Kobo

I was confused as to why she left me here. Stood up in a hurry, everyone else had gone. She takes me everywhere, tucked into that little brown bag of hers. I’m tall so most of the time so I get to peek out the top at where we’re going. We’ve been to a lot of places together, I’ve seen lots of mountains, some rivers, a few lakes and lots and lots of cities. 

I’m home to her favorite books, you see? I’m the compromise between travelling and a good bookshelf, all skinny enough to fit in her bag. She’s only a third into the prequel of the hunger games, trying to reignite some love for the teenage dystopia genre.

She’s even writing her own story did you know? I’m helping her edit it. I give her a place to focus and she can even write notes! I guess they’re all gone now. I didn’t even get to tell her my opinion.

The train is quiet without her. No one walks past, the beep of the doors closing that I once found exciting, now sound ominous. 

I’m alone now. I’m scared. What’s going to happen? Where will I go? Will I be thrown out? Melted down and turned into a crunchy old waterbottle? Please don’t turn me into a waterbottle. I’ll share my stories with you?

Fresh off the press ladies and gentlemen! We have Cormac McCarthys ‘All The Pretty Horses’! How about a good read of ‘Daisy Jones & The Six?’ 

Feel like a cry? I have ‘Me Before You’ too. 

Please, just don’t leave me alone. 

The train starts again. My battery is running low, I don’t know how long I have. At least I can see out the window. She left me in Switzerland. Me and the train are surrounded by snowy mountains and green fields. I’m happy even to see a few cows about. The joy doesn’t last long. 

The next rush of people filter through the car as we pull to a stop, and I can’t help but search for her in the crowd. Did she come back for me? She didn’t leave me here on purpose did she? 

I close my sensor. I don’t want to know. I don’t want anyone. 

There’s a shuffling next to me as someone sits down. There’s a soft gasp. 

“Mummy look. Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes. Maybe you don’t have to buy it for my birthday anymore. Can I keep it? Can I? Pleaseeeee.”

I open half of my sensor. There’s a young girl in the seat in front of me, glasses too big for her face and hair pulled tightly back into a ponytail. 

I’m lifted out of the seat pocket and brought close to her mother’s face. She looks tired. There are dark circles below her eyes and the wrinkles seem more creased around her forehead for a woman of her age. I hold my breath. 

Indeed, on my screen, lit up is the front cover of Suzanne Collin’s book. 

“Have you been doing your English homework?” 

“Yes yes yes!” The little girl jumps up and down in her seat. 

Her Mum’s eyes sparkle cheekily for a second, and the tiredness seems to depart her for a moment. She leans over to her daughter. 

“Me and you, we strike a deal. You can have this special electronic book. But! You have to keep it in English. No German.” 

“Okay! Okay I promise!!” 

The little girl takes me into her soft hands and I’m powered to life. Her Mum passes her a cord and I feel my energy returning. 

“You’re the best, Mum. I love you!”

There’s so much love and attention in her eyes that I can’t help but smile. I’d lost one girl, and gained another. Everything would be okay.