General Prologue

I’m touring the English countryside

Seeing the sights on a lengthy train ride!

It will be peaceful and fun all week-long

For here on the train what can go wrong?

“We have stopped for maintenance, stand by.”

This sort of thing always happens, but why?

There was nothing else to do except wait.

I worried we would reach the next stop late.

I entered the halls determined to roam.

It was better than sitting there alone.

Yet I hadn’t wandered all that far

When I chose to stay in the dining car.

Even though it was not yet time for a meal,

Everyone had gathered with some zeal.

It was noisy at my destination.

“Why didn’t they fix it at the station?”

I saw three people at a table.

The speaker was perhaps unstable

Or at least concerned by the way of things.

She was an elderly lady with a few rings

Which she twisted fretfully as she spoke.

There were cat hairs on her blue faded coat,

Her nerves were fragile from what I could see

But when we met eyes she smiled at me.

Because of her friendly disposition,

Toward her I went; I’d made my decision.

At her table, I took the free seat

And the other two there I did meet.

There was a woman wearing a trench coat,

A scarf expertly tied up to her throat,

a large sun hat, and oversized sunglasses.

Perhaps she was hiding from the masses?

She appeared poised and elegant

As if for the public eye she was meant.

She looked familiar but I wasn’t sure

Whether or not I had seen her before.

Seated beside her was a young man,

The kind of person without any plan.

A guy you might see at a skateboard park

Who did nothing useful from dawn to dark.

“Oh, but do you think the problem is bad?

If this is the trip's end, I'll be sad!”

The nervous woman cried, wringing her hands.

“Shall we ever reach the foreign lands?”

The teen just laughed. “We will start again,”

And of course, the train began right then.

“See?” He asked like he was responsible,

“It is just like I said, isn’t that cool?”

The delay over, the train, off like a dart.

But having just met we were loath to part.

“Why not stay together in this dwelling

And pass the time with some storytelling?”

They each agreed. "Before we commence,

"I don't mingle with strangers, no offense;

how about we properly meet? I’ll begin,

My name is Elizabeth Ann Warren,"

Announced the woman, mysterious no more.

“You recognized me from TV, I’m sure.

I have been the lead on ‘Secrets and Lies’

That deceitful show where everyone dies.

I play a girl who kills every season,

Who does what is wrong without a reason.

My character is pure evil I know,

I promise you I am not like that though.

Having such a role has been pretty hard;

My image is irreversibly marred.

Everyone is so quick to judgment.

Taking this role, I almost lament.

I even must dress so you can’t tell it's me

Whenever I go out. For you see,

The public cannot seem to distinguish

Between me and her. Though I wish

That it will not be like that with you all.”

Unable to speak, the teen watched her in awe.

“Of course we won’t judge you for that, deary.

“I am a small business secretary,”

The elderly woman replied, smiling.

“I myself do a lot of filing.

I’m Sue, and this is my first excursion.

Storytelling will be a fun diversion

From my fears which begin to worsen,

For I’m a naturally nervous person.”

The first of the introductions were done.

“Why don’t you tell us about you, hon?”

Sue suggested while looking at the boy.

“I guess I’ll tell you, I’m from Illinois.”

With all our attention, the teen began,

“First off, Elizabeth, I am a fan

“Of your TV show. Howie is my name.

You should know how I came to a place so lame.

I’m out of high school and taking a break

Traveling the world for enjoyment’s sake.

My friends and I planned a long vacation.

We’re celebrating our graduation.

At first, the place we wanted to go

Was somewhere to have fun, perhaps Cobo?

My friends are there now. I’m part of that squad

But my parents want me to learn abroad.

They are the ones paying and they said nope,

So here I am, in a place less dope.

Pretending to study, I took this tour

Though I find it to be such a bore.

Perhaps storytelling will help to amuse me

Until it is over and I am free

To do what I want and go where I please.

Traveling at my own leisure and ease,

I will see most of Europe after this

And meet many girls who I might kiss,

In the guise of learning in this place.

All of the while, my real dreams I chase.

The drinking age here is lower than home

So I’m able to party while I roam.”

At this point, to me, an idea came.

“What about this? I’ve thought of a game;

Let’s have a competition. Here’s the deal;

The one with the best story will win a free meal.

We’re passing Canterbury after all;

This was the plot of Chaucer I recall.”

Everyone was down, one thing left to do

“How ‘bout oldest first, we will start with Sue.”

The teen suggested, wanting to go last.

“Me, are you sure?” the old woman asked.

But she agreed and it was decided

And so for the first story, she presided.