THE CROSSING

'I don't want to cross the line!'
'Oh come on Penny, it won't take a moment.'
'But Mum! The lights are flashing red'
Frances Bootle sighed and gave Penelope a little shove. The lights always flashed red for ages and, when the goods train eventually passed, it seemed to take for ever. They were already ten minutes late, he would be waiting.
'It's only just flashing Penny...Now get a move on!'
'You said...'
'Penelope, please! Just this once.'
Penny Bootle scowled at her mother before running as fast as she could across the wooden slats indicating the country crossing. She was surprisingly agile despite her slightly heavy frame. Safely across, she held open the exit gate for her mother and baby sister.
Frances Bootle sighed with relief. Penelope could be so stubborn at times. She hurried after her eldest daughter, dragging the pushchair full of sleeping baby and newly purchased packages behind her.
Bump bump bump went the pushchair as it was hauled across the footpath sleepers. It always amazed Penny how Katya could sleep, even when the paths were rough and she could barely breathe for piled up parcels.
'Hurry, please, Mummy.' Penelope called anxiously from her side of the line, but the sound of her voice was lost. All that could be heard was the bump bump bump of little push chair wheels as they bounced on and off the boarded tracks.
At first, Penelope didn't see the train coming. It rounded the bend filling her ears with the sound of screeching brakes, slammed on as soon as the little family came into the driver's view. Desperate horn warnings began vibrating in her head, turning her legs to water. She saw the horror on the approaching driver's face and, in that instant, her mother and sister were lost to view in its shuddering
path.