Trains & Tribulations Part 5

A week before the annoying cyclists im on my way to Edinburgh once again. Being one of the older trains with doors at the end of each carriage i decided instead of competing for a seat i'd stand, as usual, in the little area adjoining each carriageway. With the door window pulled down you get a great view and plenty fresh air running in at 100mph!

This train being the London train was busy, lots of luggage and the racks overflowing. The train pulls into Kirkcaldy and the only passengers to board my carriage was a young woman accompanied by baby, buggy and a suitcase. All aboard the woman realises its very busy, struggles to store her case and then begins to look around for her seat. Realising it must be further down the carriage she quickly debates in her head whether to de-buggy the baby or find her seat first.

Opting for the latter she turns to me as the train leaves the platform and asks if i could keep an eye on her while she finds her seat. No problem, i replied, then looked down at the baby as the woman made her way down the carriage checking seat numbers. I prayed the baby would continue to be amused by the toy strapped to her buggy. This she did and as the woman returned i breathed a sigh of relief.

It was to be short lived.

The baby is lifted out the buggy by said woman who then struggles to fold the buggy. She turns to me once again. She will ask me to fold the buggy i thought. If only. She looks me up and down, looks down at her pride and joy, looks back to me and says; "Any chance you could hold her for a minute?"

The debate could rage on for months as to who was more terrified, myself or the baby. I grasped the baby like i was playing full back for the Scottish rugby set up and looked down at the baby, horrified with the sudden responsibility. The baby looked up at me as if i was the Terminator and her mum, Sarah Connor, had just given up hope on humanity.

Realising i was now in danger of losing a `staring out` contest with a 1o month old i looked up only for my horror to be doubled. In the foreground was the mother, struggling with an overly complex buggy, and in the background a train carriage full of people staring up the carriage at me in my new found child caring role.

I could see them making mental sweepstakes with themselves as to how long i'd last before dropping the baby with expressions ranging from worried to amused!

Finally the buggy shifted into place, the woman turned, wholly unconcerned and proving to have faith beyond what the situation required and took control once again of her baby. It was a momentous moment, success and survival beyond all expectations!