The Great Train Robbery is a best-selling 1975 historical novel written by Michael Crichton, his third novel under his own name and his thirteenth novel overall. Originally published in the US by Alfred A. Knopf (then a division of Random House), it was later published by Avon, an imprint of …
Ah, the thrill of a late-night bookstore run. There’s something about the smell of fresh paper and the thrill of a new read that makes you feel like a kid in a candy store—until, of course, you find yourself on a train home, sans your precious purchases. This is where our story begins, with a tale that could only happen in the bustling heart of Melbourne.
Picture this: it’s Friday night, September 4th, and you’ve just scored a couple of books from Kinokuniya, the beloved bookstore known for its vast selection and cozy vibes. You’re feeling pretty good about your haul, possibly envisioning cozy evenings spent curled up with your new reads. But alas, the universe had other plans.
Our protagonist, let’s call them Gozie (because that’s their Reddit username, but also because it sounds cool), hops on a train from Melbourne Central to Glen Waverley. They’re riding high on the post-bookstore euphoria when suddenly, the train comes to a screeching halt. A medical emergency? On a Friday night? Just when you thought things couldn’t get any worse!
In a moment of sheer desperation—or perhaps inspired by a dash of spontaneity—Gozie decides to switch trains. They hop onto a Metro train, thinking they can outsmart the universe. But as the doors close, reality hits: they’ve left their brown paper bag, the one that proudly displays the Kinokuniya logo, on the train! Cue the dramatic music.
Now, if you’re anything like me, you know that losing a book is akin to losing a part of your soul. Okay, maybe that’s a bit dramatic, but you get the point. So, Gozie quickly hops back on the opposing train to retrieve their beloved bag, only to find that the train has already left the station. Talk about bad luck! It’s like a scene from a movie where the hero just can’t catch a break.
So what does Gozie do next? They try calling Metro Lost and Found, because surely someone must have reported a lonely brown bag with books just sitting there, right? Wrong. No luck there either. It’s as if the books were destined to be lost in transit, perhaps to eventually live out their days as forgotten relics on the train.
But wait! There’s still hope! Gozie reaches out to the Reddit community, a place where strangers come together to help each other out. They post their plight on the Melbourne subreddit, detailing their unfortunate series of events. They even provide a detailed description of the bag and where it was last seen. You have to admire the tenacity!
Now, let’s take a moment to appreciate the irony here. Gozie was just trying to enjoy a simple night out, but instead, they’ve become a part of an epic saga of lost items. It’s almost Shakespearean in its tragedy. But here’s the kicker: they’re still holding out hope. They know it’s a long shot, but maybe, just maybe, someone out there has seen their bag.
So, if you’re reading this and you happen to be on that train, or you know someone who was, take a moment to check your surroundings. Did you see a brown paper bag? Did you perhaps snag it by accident, thinking it was your own? Help a fellow Melburnian out!
In conclusion, this little story reminds us all of the unpredictability of life. One minute you’re basking in the joy of new books, and the next you’re performing a late-night train chase worthy of a heist film. Let’s hope Gozie’s story has a happy ending, and their beloved Kinokuniya treasures find their way back home. Until then, keep your belongings close and your books closer!
Inspired by: “Lost purchases from Kinokuniya Bookstore on Friday night on Glen Waverley delayed train from MelbCe…” (r/melbourne)