The brief for this was quite simple; write the opening to two stories, based on the same premise, but creating different emotions and situations in the readers mind.
To this end I took a specific location, Paddington Station, and wrote two views of the same place.
Beginnings
1:
A new Start
The noise and bustle of the railway station wafted around him as he sat, drinking his cappuccino. Before him, lying on the table was a large manila envelope that contained details of his future.
He had already looked at the contents, which was one reason why he was sitting here, at Paddington Station, drinking coffee and waiting for the next train to Plymouth.
The P.A. system burst into life. However, the voice was not calling the next train departure. “Will passenger Charles Villiers, en-route to Plymouth, please come to the Travel Centre! Mr Charles Villiers, please come to the Travel Centre.”
Surprised, Charles almost spilt his coffee. He finished his drink, picked up his envelope, suitcase and carrysack and made his way down the stairs from the lofty café to the main concourse.
2:The
Mess
Litter! It surrounded him.
Cigarette ends, some still burning, casting their odour and smoke into the air. Fragments of newspaper, several discarded free-zines, an empty drinks can and several plastic bottles.
The chill of the northerly wind cut into him even as it redistributed the paper and the bottles, blowing smoke into his face from a nearby cigarette. The smoker blithely ignoring or, perhaps, unaware of the distress he was causing.
The bitter smoke was pungent with memory. He could easily hazard a guess as to the brand. He coughed, the deep cough of want, need and pain. He should move, but he couldn’t summon the energy. It wasn’t worth moving for, was it?
Another flurry of wind, this time from inside the building, as their heaters tried to battle the cold from the door, wafting the smell of grinding coffee, and a small trace of cinnamon. It drew his mind, and his hand, back to the half empty cup on the table before him. The smoke from the cigarette distorted the flavour a little, and the liquid was two-thirds cold, but he felt the better for drinking it.
Around him, in amongst the debris of modern society, were his worldly goods, such as he could carry. Included in this collection were a couple of well-worn pictures of his family, now beyond his reach.
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