One of the clever things about being a buggy and not a car, is that the key I needed was a large plug thing that humans use for their music. So we rang the person who we were going to stay with and found out that he had one, that he would meet us at the station, and I would be free again.

 In the meantime, I had to be pushed. I was totally immobilised. How humiliating. Lucky I am strong and I could carry some of the luggage and Susan while Madeleine and the security guards pushed me to the platform.

 We got to the train on time, and the next bit is another story about how public transport is not meant for buggies, just for humans, and the ignorance of people who don’t know how important buggies are in the world.

 Buggies of the world unite against human discrimination.

 We are finally able to get on the train. However, we have a problem. Sydney trains are not meant for buggies. They are only meant for humans. What humans do to prevent buggies from having freedom, is to make gaps between the platform and the train too big for us buggies to get across. Buggies can’t step over things like humans can, one of the few disadvantages, I must admit.

 Madeleine and Susan stood there and looked at the train, and the gap between the train and the platform in dismay. Madeleine was not strong enough to life me over the gap on her own. I am a very strong, solid and heavy buggy, I must admit.

 One of the train humans came along and offered to help. Madeleine, by this time, was very tired and really getting quite cross. It was about 10 o’clock human time, and we had been travelling since 3 o’clock in the afternoon. Sydney was 3 hours ahead, so in Sydney time it was about 1 a.m. Travelling on trains at that time of night, even with me to run over people’s toes, can be quite dangerous.

 Madeleine had a grump at the train man about making trains and platforms more accessible for buggies and their humans. The train man was not impressed. He grumped back at Madeleine. Finally, we were on the train. Madeleine was still grumping and she grumped to a man on the train as well.

 This man was even grumpier than Madeleine was. He told her that she shouldn’t be having her child out at this time of night. Now, I was just sooo angry with this man. Who did he think he was to tell my humans things like that. Now, this is  another little problem with being a buggy. We don’t have voices to tell people when they are being stupid. And we don’t have hands to punch people in the noses.

 Anyway, the man finally went away, and the three of us settled down to the train trip. It was only about an hour but Susan fell asleep. I guess I dozed in my little corner. And our friend did have a new key for me and suddenly I was no longer helpless. I was free, free again. Never again did I let Susan go out without her spare key. I even told her teachers to keep spares at school, just in case. I could never live through another experience like that again.

 I have a couple more stories about that trip, but will save them for another day, another chapter.

 Melissa (typed by Madeleine)

Saturday, 28 January 2006