Wonderful Future. . . In the Past
By Linda Pirtle

Vera Woodard, a freelance writer, paused and glanced around her apartment before locking the door.

Everything was in its place, and reaching for the handle of her suitcase, she walked to the elevator and pushed the down button. She loved where she lived, across the street from Central Park. She was excited about her new assignment: Write a feature story about the Annual Balloon Festival in San Antonio, Texas.

Her flight was scheduled to depart from LaGuardia at 6:45 P.M. She had checked the subway schedule and the quickest way to arrive on time at the airport was to catch Car No. 4488, leaving Grand Central Station.

As she hurried by the agent, wearing a cap with 777 on its crown, he handed her a token to board. He also gave her an envelope. “Be sure to keep up with this. It has your token home.”

“Thank you, Arman,” she said glancing at his name penned on the front of his uniform. Paying little attention to his words, she crammed the note inside her jacket pocket.

Vera had no idea of the exciting and frightening adventures she would face because she chose to step onto Subway Car No. 4488.