So my dad was walking home at night. He could stick to the road and be safe, or he could cut across the lake on the railroad trestle.
Well, it was getting late and all. And on a dark night like this, you would be able to see any trains for miles. Surely you would hear it. The lake isn't all that wide right there.
So he went for it. Crossing the lake by walking on the trestle, being careful not to fall between the ties. Man it was dark!
Of course there had to be a train. I mean, what's the point of the story if there is no train? So here it came. He's way too far across to turn back. He can't see ahead far enough to tell how far it is to finish crossing. If he runs for it and trips in the dark, he's a goner for sure.
He did the only sensible thing. He got down on his knees, and then slipped down between the ties. He figured he would just hang on, dangling by his arms, until the train passed. He just barely got down in time.
It was a big train. Noisy as all get out. Shook the whole trestle. Smelled of deisel fuel and train grease and brake pad. It was a long one too. It went on and on. Then it went on and on some more. How long can this f'ing train be? And it went on and on. His hands were cramping now. His arms were burning. His grip was getting very shakey.
So now what? The blasted train is still going strong. How far down was the lake? It's hard to remember for sure. A good ways, I'll tell you that much. How deep is the water? Is he still over a deep part or shallow part? Is he over one of the big concrete support blocks that lie just beneath the surface? It doesn't matter any more. He can't hold on.
The train is still going on above him. Finally, that's it. His arms are nothing but pain. He couln't pull himself back up on the trestle anymore even if the train ended right now.
He let go. He dropped.....about a foot. He was hanging over the bank and couldn't tell. He'd hung there for like 15 minutes or more and was a foot off the ground the whole time.
I'm sorry, what was this thread about again? I forgot the question.
LOL!!
A foot off the ground..