The Strand-on-the-Green Strongwoman Chapter One (standard:action, 1672 words)
Author: Brian Cross	Added: Jun 19 2019	Views/Reads: 1434/1000	Story vote: 0.00 (0 votes)
Maggie Wells witnesses an incident at a London tube station which propels her on a course across country, altering both her life and character for good.

The Strand-on-the-Green Strongwoman 

Chapter One 

Maggie Wells stepped through the main doors of Sunnyhirst Nursing Home,
took a breath of the fresh outside air. Well, as fresh as it could be 
amidst the incinerator that was West London on a hot August afternoon. 

Her shift as a care worker completed, ahead lay a forty-five-minute tube
journey from Notting Hill Gate to Hounslow West. The wind rising but 
only managing to stir the humid air into a carbon-dioxide infected 
cocktail, Maggie brushed her striking ginger shoulder-length hair away 
from her face and crossing the busy Bayswater Road descended the 
escalator to the platforms. 

Late afternoon and the district line platform was crowded, no great
surprise there, and Maggie's keen blue eyes fell on a gaunt, elderly 
gentleman supported by a gnarled walking cane that had evidently seen 
better days. What concerned her more, however, was that the man stood 
closer to the platform than was good for him, and with a fresh influx 
of passengers flooding through to the platform, it would only take the 
slightest knock for him to finish up on the track. A disaster waiting 
to happen, but not if Maggie Wells had her way. But before she could 
muscle her way through the gathering crowd to guide the old man to a 
safer position, an increasingly thunderous roar signified an 
approaching train. 

Thwarted – 

But at least the old fella had escaped the brunt of the wave of
passengers that swept forward in anticipation of forcing its way into 
the probably crowded carriages. Maggie sighed. Surely the man should 
have more sense than to travel at what was approaching rush-hour. There 
was no luggage, so it seemed that his time was his own, but then what 
did she know of his circumstances? 

A few people exited the train, but with the fresh insurgence, it
remained standing room only. Maggie stood back to allow the elderly man 
to board first but also partly to ensure that he didn't stumble. But 
stumble he did in boarding, and most alarmingly as one of a group of 
lads saw fit to shove the old fella back onto the platform. Maggie 
caught the smirk on the yob's face as he turned to his three mates, and 
she fumed as she effortlessly held the man upright, steadying him in 
the process. 

The doors began to close, but Maggie was having none of it. Although
only five-three in height, she prided herself on her exceptional 
strength. Surging forward, she forced her forearms between the doors 
and gritting her teeth, exerted her power. 

She was boarding the train, and so was the old man; moreover, in the
battle between Maggie and the mechanism, there was only going to be one 
winner, and the mechanism submitted abruptly to her muscles as she 
ushered the pensioner through. 

Thankfully, somebody gave up their seat for him, but Maggie wasn't
finished. 

From across the aisle, her eyes focused on the youth, still pratting
about and joking with his mates. She was going to be late home today, 
and Bill would understand when she told him about the need to work late 
because of insufficient cover. Okay, it wasn't strictly true, but it 
was work in her eyes. 

The youths continued on the district line to Earl's Court and changed
onto the Richmond bound district line train. Maggie followed at a 
distance, selecting a seat from where she could monitor them. They 
disembarked at Kew, and Maggie followed some way behind as they crossed 
Kew Green and spent a while in a gastropub on its northern side. 

Maggie sat in an alcove, discreetly observing them until they left. The
little party broke up, and her target crossed Kew Bridge and turned 
onto the Thames towpath. Approximately five-ten she reckoned, maybe 
twelve stone, that characteristic stroppy walk that a lot of modern 
youths seemed to adopt. 


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