Volya
02-06-2012, 06:17 PM
Sweat dripped down my arched back as I struggled to push the heavy cart forwards through the tunnel. It was my first day in the mines and already I was feeling the intense pains and discomforts that are associated with it. What made it worse was that I knew that tomorrow I would have to get up at six o’clock in the morning again, and come back down this dark pit to keep digging.
I looked forward ahead of me and could see the end of the tunnel in the distance, and I renewed my efforts, desperately hoping I could finish my job and get home quick. After another hour of stumbling over the tracks, scraping my spine against the roof and whacking my head on the supports; I eventually reached the end of the tunnel. Wiping the sticky mixture of coal-dust and sweat from my forehead, I deposited my load of coal onto the big rolling conveyor belt which would take it to trucks, to be distributed around the country.
Walking into the cramped lift, already packed with other miners, I was reminded of the stench of sweat, blood and dirt that lingered on all the workers clothes, including mine. The iron mesh slid shut behind me as the lift began the shaky journey back up to the surface far above us. The clattering, scraping noise of the lift being winched up made me fear that the mechanisms would break, and send us all plummeting to our death. I had heard too many tales about rusty chains breaking, and the poor miners not even realizing that their lift was falling until they reached the bottom and died almost instantly.
But for today, we had avoided death for a little longer. We soon reached surface-level and as soon as the doors slid up I quickly got out, not wanting to spend any more time in that place than I had too.
I wearily walked over to the water troughs nearby, and splashed some water onto my face to wash off the worst of the coal. There was no hot water or soap, so I’d have to wait ‘til I got home before I washed my clothes.
I joined the long line of miners heading towards the exit, all slowly making their way down to the train station, where the coal we had only just dug up would be used to power our way home. As we neared the platform, I heard the shrill whistle of the train pierce the air, signaling that the train was about to leave.
I didn’t bother walking any faster, I knew they would wait for everyone to get on board, making two trips there and back would use too much coal. I walked in the doors just as the last few workers boarded it, and it started moving almost the instant I got in. As we pulled away from the platform I looked out as the dark grey landscape rolled by.
Yesterday, today, tomorrow.
It's always the same.
===============
My first short story. Please keep in mind I'm only 14 so I'm sorry if it's not very good.
I looked forward ahead of me and could see the end of the tunnel in the distance, and I renewed my efforts, desperately hoping I could finish my job and get home quick. After another hour of stumbling over the tracks, scraping my spine against the roof and whacking my head on the supports; I eventually reached the end of the tunnel. Wiping the sticky mixture of coal-dust and sweat from my forehead, I deposited my load of coal onto the big rolling conveyor belt which would take it to trucks, to be distributed around the country.
Walking into the cramped lift, already packed with other miners, I was reminded of the stench of sweat, blood and dirt that lingered on all the workers clothes, including mine. The iron mesh slid shut behind me as the lift began the shaky journey back up to the surface far above us. The clattering, scraping noise of the lift being winched up made me fear that the mechanisms would break, and send us all plummeting to our death. I had heard too many tales about rusty chains breaking, and the poor miners not even realizing that their lift was falling until they reached the bottom and died almost instantly.
But for today, we had avoided death for a little longer. We soon reached surface-level and as soon as the doors slid up I quickly got out, not wanting to spend any more time in that place than I had too.
I wearily walked over to the water troughs nearby, and splashed some water onto my face to wash off the worst of the coal. There was no hot water or soap, so I’d have to wait ‘til I got home before I washed my clothes.
I joined the long line of miners heading towards the exit, all slowly making their way down to the train station, where the coal we had only just dug up would be used to power our way home. As we neared the platform, I heard the shrill whistle of the train pierce the air, signaling that the train was about to leave.
I didn’t bother walking any faster, I knew they would wait for everyone to get on board, making two trips there and back would use too much coal. I walked in the doors just as the last few workers boarded it, and it started moving almost the instant I got in. As we pulled away from the platform I looked out as the dark grey landscape rolled by.
Yesterday, today, tomorrow.
It's always the same.
===============
My first short story. Please keep in mind I'm only 14 so I'm sorry if it's not very good.