The People on Platform 5

by Clare Pooley

Every day at 8-05, Iona Iverson boards the train to go to work. As a seasoned commuter, she knows there are rules that everyone should follow- You must have a job to go to Don't consume hot food Always pack for any eventuality You must never speak to strangers on the train Iona sees the same group of people each day - ones she makes assumptions about, gives nicknames to, but never ever talks to. But then, one morning, Smart-but-Sexist-Surbiton chokes on a grape right in front of Iona. Suspiciously-Nice-New Malden steps up to help and saves his life, and this one event sparks a chain reaction. With nothing in common but their commute, an eclectic group of people learn that their assumptions about each other don't match reality. But when Iona's life begins to fall apart, will her new friends be there when she needs them most?