The Real LJ Idol Week 8 - Oblivious (The Trolley Problem)

[garnigal]

It was all over the newspapers, you probably read the stories. You probably know all the names, or think you do. Dates, times, sequence of events, it’s all there in your memory, taking up space that could be used for more important information, like your anniversary or who to vote for in the next election.

But no, you’ve devoted that space in your mind to the Trolley Problem. You’ve probably argued about it with your fellow workers, men on the street and in your local bar, maybe even with your own wife. You probably have an opinion, and you probably want to share that opinion with everyone you meet.

Hero or Villain?

Quick Thinker or Executioner?

But what do you really know? Do you really have enough facts to make that determination?

I know you don’t, but you’ll never listen to me. Who am I after all? You don’t know my name.

You might not know my name, but I’m the key to this whole story.

I was there you see. Front row seat.

Well, back row seat.

That’s right. I was man number 5.

Man number 5 wasn’t of much interest to the newspaper reporters, so you won’t know my name. I wasn’t the man in front, Dan Simmons, staring death in the face. I wasn’t the young lad in the middle, first day on the job, Vic Miller. I certainly wasn’t the signalman, George O’Leary, who leapt into action to save the day.

And I wasn’t the lost little lad, young Timmy Burls, in the wrong place at the wrong time, sacrificed to save the many.

No, I’m just man number 5. Nameless (Bob Smith), pointless. Just another man working at the yard, oblivious to the danger bearing down on me.

There’s some who’d say I spent my whole life oblivious. I grew up in the workhouse, you see. My mother died, my father couldn’t keep me. I had a name, Robert Smith, and that was about it. And even that was taken from me, shortened to Bob by the time I could speak. I didn’t know much about my family, knew nothing about the world outside the walls of the workhouse beyond what I could see and hear through the high narrow windows.

But I survived, despite it all, or perhaps because. I saw other boys and girls suffering, longing for something more, something they vaguely remembered. I just kept my head down and did what was demanded of me. Aged out and took my packet (two changes of clothes, a pair of boots and three sandwiches) down to the trolley yard and waited around until they had work for me. But I’d heard there was always work at the trolley yard, from one of the older boys visiting his younger brother (one of those fools yearning for more), and I was oblivious to any other options. I didn’t even get through the second sandwich before they hired me on as a strong and likely looking lad. I was 18 after all, and poor. An easy mark, willing to do most everything.

And so I did, working among the trolleys that were constantly moving around you, heavier than a cart and faster than a carriage. I learned to keep one ear and one eye open at all times, never relaxing my guard, even in the break room. Most men thought they’d be safe, as long as they weren’t on a track. Fools, I thought them, and soon many of them were fools missing body parts. Trolleys are wider than the tracks, you see. You back away far enough for the trolley to pass, and you find yourself squeezed by the trolley on the next track, the one you weren’t watching for. Or you find your knees taken out by signal flags sticking out beyond the sides of the trolleys, and woe betide you if you fall. Lucky to keep your head, once you’re on your knees in the trolley yard.

But as I say, I was young, I was obedient, and I was oblivious… or faked it well enough for the muckity mucks in their big offices to trust me. Stay uninjured, and eventually you get enough seniority to start telling the new young fools what to do. Stay quiet, and eventually you get to see and hear how those self-same rich boys in their fancy offices cut corners in the yard to save a penny, even if it costs a man his life. Stay oblivious, and eventually you get enough evidence to blow the whistle on the whole house of cards.

But how do you get the city to care about a bunch of hard-working, rough talking men and boys? So long as the trolley runs on time, who cares if Ned loses his hand, or Mike loses his leg, or Jim loses his head?

I might be oblivious, but I cared.

And I knew the trolleys, knew the yard.

And I had a plan.

Everyone in the yard knows that track has a slight uphill on it. It’s a right pisser when you’ve got to move a trolley on it. I’d been on the yard a long damn time, and I knew just how long it’d take to stop that trolley. I built in a few extra yards for safety, then sent the lads out to ‘repair’ that section. Went myself, too, just to keep an eye out.

Everyone with any experience in the yard knows that track. But George was new. And all he say was 5 guys with their heads down and a trolley headed for us. No way he could warn us; nothing you can hear over the sounds of rattling trolleys. And so he switched it.

Everyone in the yard knows the side track has a wee downhill on it. Why I didn’t choose that track to start with, it’s just a bit unpredictable.

Unpredictable like Timmy Burls. It wasn’t the first time I’d found him in the yard. The cutting corners extended to keeping our fences maintained. Not just our safety they didn’t care for, but the safety of the kiddos that can’t resist a break in the fence and the rattle of trolleys.

I don’t know if George saw Timmy or not, before he switched the tracks. He says he didn’t. Sometimes you can look out over the yard and miss the obvious because it’s not supposed to be there. Oblivious, like. But I know Timmy was wearing a bright red shirt, and I know George could see that track easy from the switch.

And I know George O’Leary and Big Tim Burls had been fighting down at the bar the night before.

So I got what I wanted, big investigation at the yard, lots of safety improvements, lots of stories in the newspaper.

But no one was supposed to get hurt.

So, hero or villain? I don’t know.

And I’ll just keep staying oblivious.

Comments

[rayaso.livejournal.com]

This was wonderful! I loved the way you made an abstract ethics problem personal, as well as providing a great story to go with it. It added a new twist to the problem, since the 5 men weren't in any danger. No one was supposed to die, but the death sparked a much-needed investigation and reforms. Was the accidental sacrifice of life worth it?

[garnigal.livejournal.com]

So glad it worked for you. I had to take a break halfway through writing to parent, and I was afraid it ended up as two totally different stories mushed together.

[jerusha]

I really liked this. The narrator has a very distinctive voice.

[garnigal.livejournal.com]

Thanks! I was totally channeling my many many watchings of Christian Bale in Newsies...

[slaymesoftly.livejournal.com]

Wow. Well done! No idea what the Real LJ Idol week is, but if this is the kind of work it's bringing out, I'm all for it. Wonderful little short story.

[garnigal.livejournal.com]

There are some phenomenal writers in the LJ Idol competition, it's quite intimidating. But so long as I actually produce something, I'm pretty happy.

But if you want more info on LJ Idol, here's the FAQs - http://therealljidol.livejournal.com/945497.html

[slaymesoftly.livejournal.com]

Ah thanks. Seems like a great idea (sorta like taming_the_muse but with consequences. lol), but more pressure than I want to deal with right now.

[snogged.livejournal.com]

This was very well written.

[garnigal.livejournal.com]

Thank you! I woke up in the middle of the night with the idea, and actually remembered it the next morning.

[eternal-ot.livejournal.com]

Whoa! This was amazing! The little trails you left and eventually tying up all the threads. Superb take! Kudos!

[garnigal.livejournal.com]

I'm so glad it worked for you!

[my-name-is-jenn.livejournal.com]

I love how you've written it from the point of view of man number five. Great take on the prompt!

[bleodswean.livejournal.com]

Whoa, you totally surprised me with this ending and that's a treat! I love that you took this prompt and went behind the scenes with it, created a more clear cut hero/villain scenario!

[baxaphobia.livejournal.com]

This was great. Unfortunately it takes something like this to make things better. Sigh. Great job!

[dee-aar2.livejournal.com]

This was such a deep read ... First the narrative from Man No 5's perspective ... Interesting. Secondly giving us the background of the characters ... Insightful. The Narrator's voice ... Impressive.

Well Done

[halfshellvenus.livejournal.com]

I really like the narrative voice and period detail in this, and the idea of making this a real setup rather than an abstraction... all toward forcing improved safety for the workers as a whole. Despite the unfortunate results for Timmy Burls.

[dmousey.livejournal.com]

This was very well written! The internalizations were spot on. I loved how this resolved. Leaving the moral question still up to the reader! Nice work. Hugs and peace~~~

[murielle.livejournal.com]

Oh wow! Was it murder, or mishap? Absolutely chilling. Your voice is strong and consistent.

I love the way you used the literal prompt but took it so much further.

Standing O!!!!!