The day started like any other. I boarded the train five minutes from my house, at Pelbarra Station, the end of the line; or beginning of the line, depending on which way you were going.
I was going to visit my mate, Alex, known in school as ‘Mad Alex the inventor,’ In fact, he was the top grade twelve science student for the whole state. We’d been friends since kindergarten. He was one of those guys who would give you his last morsel if he thought you needed it. I loved old Alex; he was the brother you have when you don’t have a brother.
The train passed three stations and Alex lived within walking distance of the next one we were approaching, Willeston Pound. I thought the place sounded like a home for wayward dogs! No, It was quite a classy suburb.
As the electric train pulled to a halt, I leapt out onto the platform and headed for the exit. It was not unusual that no one collected my ticket. The platform looked the same as usual, but someone had made some changes for pedestrians leaving the station. 'That's funny... I was only here a week ago, and I didn’t see anything new then.’
The old path, made by walking feet taking a shortcut, was now two paved pathways. They both lead to the gap in the railway fence. But one had a red wooden gate just inside the fence with a stylish sign, 'Welcome.'
My interest was sparked, and like a cat not even near death from curiosity, I headed for it. I was the only one who got off at W.P. Most stations are quiet at 11 AM.
As soon as I opened that gate and went through, a cold wind blew in my face. I turned quickly back, and was confronted by two massive padlocked wooden doors! 'Where the hell did they come from?' With sweaty palms, I turned back again; I was in a large, enclosed room and men were sitting at small tables, like in a bar-room or coffee shop.
The weirdest thing was these guys were all strangely bald, almost skeletal, and their eyes were bright, staring, green eyes. I wanted out, and out fast. But...I was locked in.
I swallowed. There was nothing for it but to approach one of those men, so I went over to a table and said, "Hi."
"Sit down young man. I see you made it here en route to there.”
‘There?’
There were two of them at the table and the other guy said nothing, but just smiled.
"How do I get out of here?" I burst out.
They both looked at me with such intent, deep into my eyes, but still smiling, and then the speaker said, "It doesn't pay to be in a hurry to leave this room. I'm sure you're here for a very good reason. Won't you have a cup of coffee with us?"
This really threw me. I didn't know what to do. I hesitated, but thought it might give me some time to think, so I said, "Sure. thanks."
I don't remember a waiter or anybody like that but the coffee just seemed to appear. I only drink coffee once in a while. In fact, I don't even like it that much; but the coffee that day was delicious, maybe chocolaty...but not something I could describe again, just a really wonderful taste.
I was enjoying the coffee, but something spooky was happening. No matter how much I drank, the level in the cup didn't go down. This was turning out to be the longest cup of anything I’d ever had! After a while I took bigger mouthfuls just to check. Sure enough it wasn't going down. ‘What the heck is going on here!?'
"What is this place?" I questioned my newfound friends.
They smiled at me again with that benign smile, and the talker said, "You’re not really there yet, but we like to see people in here. They usually only stay a short while. I'm sure you won't be here long."
Well, that was a relief, but was I ‘here’ or ‘there?’ I looked around at the doors again; no hope there. I made another attempt to empty the coffee cup; I had a feeling that coffee was some sort of measuring stick and I wouldn't get out of here until the cup was empty.
This time I decided on a more direct approach, "You think I'd be able to leave soon?" I tried to sound polite as I spoke.
"You young people are always in such a hurry," the main one remarked. "Don't you know your journey of discovery is only just beginning?"
"I'm a bit confused at the moment. Anyway, my name is Cal, well Callum really,” I said, trying to reassure him that I was willing to listen, but most of all wanted to be friends. I was willing to do anything at the moment if it meant I could get out in one piece.
"Do you think I've been here long enough?"
"Oh, the next stage of your journey won't be far away," I was told. “You have got a very sharp brain my young friend, but always remember to feel your heart.”
“I understand,” I answered, not really understanding.
I sipped at the coffee again for something to do and discovered that the level in the cup was slowly dropping at last. I was ecstatic. I made another attempt to get information from my companion “Aah,” I started, but they didn’t seem to hear.
“The world is a strange place,” the boss went on, “And you won’t always be sure of yourself. If you endeavour to find that balance between your head and your heart, and understand there are elements much stronger than you can ever figure out, just be content, son.”
At that, he covered my hand with both of his.
Despite my fear it was somehow comforting. “Heartbreak will affect you,” he said, patting my hand , “But don’t let it turn you away from those who care about you.”
All the time I'd been here I'd been thinking, 'I wonder if I'm talking to dead people', but I wasn't sure if I really wanted to know the answer.
Mr Talker then assured me, "Your real journey of discovery has just begun."
I wondered what I was going to discover, but my coffee cup was all but drained, "Do you think you could open the doors now?" I asked pointedly.
"Aah, the impatience of the young...” Talker sighed. “Remember, we’ll be thinking of you.”
‘Wow, I think he told me to go,' I thought, and looked around quickly. Sure enough the red gate was back! I was almost too scared to stand up, "Should I go back through the gate?" I ventured.
He just smiled, and said "We've enjoyed your company."
I took that as a yes, and headed out, but then I got another shock; as I opened the gate I was confronted by a huge stairway. I looked up: it would be quite a climb. Halfway up I stopped and looked around. Everything seemed solid; as if it had been in place for a hundred years. I wondered what it was all about and why I had to climb out up such a hill of stairs.
‘Guess I’ll just have to deal with it.' I started to climb with determination, but, like magic, after three more stairs, I was at the top! I wasn’t even perspiring.
When I was standing on the platform again. I turned to look back down the stairs. There were NO stairs; there was no red gate. There was only one well-worn pathway leading out of the railway ground.
I set off along the footpath lost in thinking about what had just happened, until I was alarmed by a strong smell of smoke and a commotion up ahead.
Then I saw it! The house Alex lived in was reduced to ashes, and twisted, blackened remains were still smoking and shooting off steam as firemen trained huge hoses of water on utter ruin.
I screamed, “Alex!” He was nowhere to be seen. I expected he would come running out of the smoke, and had already decided he could sleep at our place. People were standing around, but the street was definitely empty of Alex; that's what worried me.
Police were there tying blue-check ribbon to spikes in the ground, and one put his arm out and held me back, "Hold on, Son," he said to me, "Nothing you can do in there."
"My mate!" I was shouting now, "Where's my mate?"
"What's your name son?" Constable Kelly, (as I found out later), asked,
ignoring my outburst.
Then I saw Alex’s parents pulling their car up to the kerb. They ran to me, and I knew for certain, Alex was gone.
Alex's parents had been out shopping when the fire broke out. He had been alone, working on his invention,
“Something to do with chemicals,” his mum said.
Of course it was with chemicals...I was supposed to be there helping him! There'd been an explosion; a big one, they said, and a raging fire that almost destroyed the place before the fireman arrived.
I should have been there. I should have been with him. But I'd gone through that red gate ......that red gate that didn't exist.
I sat on the train home like a robot with a flat battery, Until I started remembering the things we used to do. He’d call on the phone, “Yeah?” I’d say.
“Buddy!” he’d yell.
“Mate!” I’d yell back. It was a routine we’d stuck to for ever.
Through a blur of tears, I stared out the train window. That memory started a flood, and I could no longer control my emotions. I never carried a handkerchief… Well, as if! But my sleeve just wasn’t adequate.
In a dream, I became aware of a hand tapping me on the back. I started, and turned my head. An old lady put out her arms, drawing me in and patting my back. She said nothing… just rocked me back and forth. Of course, the dam really burst then. I was embarrassed and grateful all at the same time, but I couldn’t stop. I must have soaked the old lady’s shoulder, blubbing and sobbing my heart out, until I ran out of tears.
“He was my best mate,” I half whispered, half hiccoughed. “Why did he have to die?”
The old lady just put a big man’s handkerchief into my hand. “Indeed, Sweetheart,” she said softly. “Why indeed.”
Mum was home. "Oh Callum, thank God you’re all right!" she burst out, flinging herself on me before I’d even got past the door. "Someone's house burnt down in Alex’s street. I’ve been worried sick about you. I know how Alex likes to do those experiments and make things. I thought if it was their house… Oh, Callum, I’ve been so worried. I know it’s silly…”
She was jabbering on like a demented hen.
"Yeah," I answered, "I know. It WAS Alex. He blew himself up-- I should have been there helping him. I guess I must have run late getting there."
Then I thought, 'Alex must have been a lot smarter than me; he must have learnt all his lessons of life. I obviously have a lot of stuff to work on yet.'
I turned back, and hugged Mum close.
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