# Elizabeth (3)

(continuation)

- My name is Philip Joyce, chairman of the jury of the Man Booker Literary Prize. He paused. Elizabeth said nothing. "She participated in the Prize, correct?"
- There is! If there was a phone call that Elizabeth would not expect was the call of the president of the Literary Prize of enormous prestige and where, annually, there are a high number of participants - Yes! Yes! Yes! Hmm ... huh! Yes, I sent my original! She took a deep breath and tried to control the cardiac arrhythmia that had seized her. He was silent.
- Elizabeth! Mrs. Elizabeth White, are you there?
- Yes ... yes! Sorry, I was trying to get back together.
- You know, certainly, because I'm calling you.

- I do not want to be presumptuous, but I think it will be to inform me of something about the original in the contest.
- Exactly!
- Do not tell me I'm a finalist! - She said excitedly in her tone.
- I mean ... yes, actually, he was a finalist.
- Went? I'm not? Why was I withdrawn? My text is original.

On the other side of the line there was a chuckle.

- I did not tell you I'd been excluded.
 -Yes, I did not.
- Mrs. Elizabeth White, I'm calling to let you know that you're the winner of the current year of the Man Booker Literary Award.
- Sorry, I do not think I understood correctly! She said, feeling her legs shaking and failing in her body-weight support function and ensuring balance of all body mass. - Please repeat!
- Of course I can! - he said - You're the winner of this year's Man Booker Literary Award. I would like to congratulate you on this and inform that the outcome of this prize, namely the author's name, the title of the work and a short synopsis, will be announced to the media.
- I do not believe! Whispered Elizabeth.
- Believe! It is true!
- Thank you! Thank you very much! It is the realization of a dream. I am so happy!
- I thank you on behalf of the entire Man Booker Literary Award team. I'll just ask you to come by tomorrow, at ten o'clock, if you can, by our office to talk in person and with the team, we can start the editorial process. At this time
- Yes of course! Her voice was now ecstatic.

When the call was over, Elizabeth made her way to the hair salon where she worked. She entered with such joy on her countenance that her mistress said to her, - Looks like the lottery came out of you, so happy you are.

Elizabeth explained to the woman what had happened, and she informed her that there would be no problem of leaving the next morning. The young woman, already in the street, telephoned her friend to inform her of the good news.

- Elizabeth, we have to go get a drink today. You're sleeping here tonight, too!

The night was spent with some close friends. They confraternized the achievement of such a great prize. It was after two in the morning when they got home.

******

The alarm clock was set at 7:30 am when it started ringing, informing the girls that it was time to wake up. Elizabeth went to the toilet and took a shower; Then she got dressed and left. Arrived at the pastry shop where it was customary to have breakfast at 8:30. Was absorbed in her conquest and had spent part of the night after returning home to think of a story about the train station she uses every day. Thought what the vision on the other side would look like, from those who see the 8:39 hour trains arrive. How will it be to look at all that bustle!

8:30 in the morning. Today would watch the whole movement, in which she was a daily character, from the point of view of the director. He was sure that some idea would come to him.

8:34 hours. She thought that from that angle where she was was not the best. She wanted to cover as much space as possible with her peripheral vision. Paid his expenses and went out into the street.

8:36 a.m. Elizabeth knew perfectly well the rigor of the time the trains arrived. She hoped that on that day, when she was an observer, none of the trains would be delayed. Only then would the impact be perfect.

It was placed next to the balcony that adorned the platform of the first floor of the area of ​​arrivals of the trains. She was in the ideal place. There, in that space where it was, it was aligned with the stop line of the three train compositions.

8:37 p.m. She looked at the horizon of the lines and saw the compositions approaching. She was watching every inch they walked. It was a perfect ballet, one that the tuning of the movement of the machines and the needles that aligned the rails, did. She closed her eyes and imagined an orchestra. He observed every sound he heard, as if they were musical instruments; The people talking, the noise of their feet walking, their brakes screeching, the murmur that hovered, the horns of cars on the street, the loudspeaker that announced the arrival of the trains, and when he opened his eyes, the more intense squeaks of the locks Of the compositions, contemplated the perfect alignment of the trains.

The doors opened, freeing the passengers' exit space to the platforms. Immediately a torrent of people began to abandon the interior of the carriages, as if a dam discharge were being dealt with, when the floodgates were opened, or the run to the Arrows shops on the Black Day.

Elizabeth's lips curved into a smile. She wanted to open her arms and absorb all that energy. This was, without doubt, a day of great happiness. And if she felt like doing it, she did; She opened her arms in a huge embrace of happiness, because she felt happy, alive, enchanted, fulfilled, hopeful, proud of herself, in love, because it was the happiest day of her life, when she would start a dream.

And as he opened his arms in that rejoicing interior, his gaze met the giant electronic panel that indicated the departures and arrivals of the trains. The clock ticked at 8:39.

(to be continued)