The Tram

“The next stop will be Market Street for Piccadilly Gardens,” came over the speaker.

The chap sat next to me put his hand on the rail, just before the tram stopped, he nudged forward in his seat. The doors opened, he stood quickly, spun around and was off.

“Wow, he was in a hurry,” someone said as he pushed past them.

I looked down, and saw a rucksack on the floor under the seat in front, “Oh, Ech,” I said to myself, “Excuse me,” I said out loud, “The guy who just got off has left a bag under the seat in front”

Nearby, people observed me as some stood up and headed to the back of the tram. A young boy, sitting with his headphones blasting music, seemed oblivious until someone tapped his shoulder to get his attention. I glanced at the bag; my first thought was that it was a bomb. I struggled to recall his appearance. Did he seem like a terrorist? I honestly wasn’t paying attention. Oh no, what should I do? Several passengers were calling the police, while two others recorded the scene. I attempted to move my leg over the bag, but it was impossible. Then, an announcement echoed through the speakers: “This tram is now stopping. Will all passengers please exit the tram quickly and calmly?” 

The tram stopped outside Primark, everyone got off, leaving me sitting with the rucksack between my legs. Then I heard the sirens, three different sounds: Police, Ambulance and Fire. I could see shoppers, workers, and commuters standing, looking at me sitting on the Tram. God, I hope they don’t think it’s mine.

A voice from behind me said, “Hi, I'm David. Are you OK?”

“Well, I’ve been better, Thanks.” Then I heard a noise as a motorised box with a camera on top came down the tram.

“Don’t worry, we just want a look,” said the voice.

“Oh, I am worrying alright, it’s not every day this happens.” Ste was sitting with his palms pressed down on his knees, looking forward.

“So, Ste, you're ok with me calling you Ste”?

“Erm, yes, I guess so. Hey, how do you know my name”?

“Facial recognition, mate, it's all over Manchester now.”

“Could you describe the person who left the bag?” Dave asked.

“No, it happened so fast, the tram was arriving at the stop, and he was off in a flash. Can anyone else describe him?”

“We have Officers talking to them as we speak”  

“This thing is getting nearer,” Ste could feel the floor vibrating as the mobile camera came closer.

“It’s OK, it's just going to take some X-rays of the bag, you know, just like at the hospital if you had a broken leg.”

“I've never had a broken leg,” Ste squeezed both his legs.

“Ok,” Dave thought of another way of describing it, “It's going to take some pictures of the bag, but the images will be inside the bag, so we can see what we are dealing with.

Just sit there still, and it will all be over in a few minutes”

“OK, I’ll sit here and do nothing”

“So, Ste, are you United or City?”

“Neither…, Shit, it’s here” Ste looked down to see the mobile camera unit, it stopped at the seat in front. The camera on top of the box started to turn ninety degrees towards him,

“It's moving,” Ste shouted.

“That’s OK, that’s the camera,” Dave thought for a few seconds, “Look to your left, look out of the window,”

“What?” Ste quizzed.

“Look left, look, tell me what you can see”

“Don’t try your psychology shit with me,” Ste shouted. Anyway, I’ve seen the films and the news. Ain’t you supposed to have someone in a bomb suit in here?”

“Ok Ste, you're right, but we don’t need to send someone in until we know what we're dealing with, and with the latest tech this box of tricks at your side can X-ray the bag and we can see it in real time… So, how are you feeling?”

“Like I should have stayed in bed”

Dave gave out a snigger, “Know what you mean.” The mobile camera unit started to shunt forward, then sideways. “Don’t worry, we're moving it to get a better view”

The caterpillar wheels underneath the unit moved left and right, making a crunching sound on the tram's non-slip flooring. Then the camera moved upwards and forward. It had an extended arm that could move three feet in any direction. As the camera moved past Ste’s Leg, he shouted out, “Hey, hey, what’s happening?” 

“It’s OK, Ste, that’s the camera moving closer, I have it on my monitor, I can see it just passed your right leg, is that right”?

“Yeah, my right leg, can’t you go any faster”?

“We're going as fast as we can, mate, another few inches, then you’re here, the camera taking pictures, not long now.”

Ste’s hands rested flat on his legs, his eyes closed as he thought about his mum and what they would say to her. 'Hi Mrs Smith, sorry to tell you your son, who went to Manchester today to buy you your birthday present, won’t be coming home. He was blown up on the tram.'  This thought made him want to cry. “Dave,” he shouted.

“Yes, Ste, you OK?”

“No, I want out… Now," Ste stood up, lifting his right leg onto the seat, bracing himself, he pulled his left leg up as well, and the rucksack slid sideways onto the floor. He turned right, jumped off the seat and ran to the tram doors that had been wedged open by one of the emergency workers..

A man in his thirties in an army uniform was standing with a laptop in his hands, letting go with his right hand, he put it towards Ste, “Hi, I’m Dave”

Ste took it and they shook it, “So, what’s in the bag”?

“Well, while you were doing your heroics, we could see the contents of the bag. He turned the laptop towards Ste, and he could see a pair of trainers and some sandwiches. “The Police caught up with the lad outside Primark. He had a message from a friend telling him that ticket inspectors were getting on at the next stop, so he did a runner at the stop before.