17th Annual Smithsonian Magazine Photo Contest Mobile
Transforming Perspective

It was 11:45 when I heard my name get called on the intercom. I hurriedly gathered my things to leave and went to the front office to get signed out. Once my parents saw me we rushed to the car and then headed for Union Station just down the road from school. "The post office closes for lunch in 15 minutes" my father said with an urgent tone in his voice. I didn't respond and instead my eyes followed the path of a trickling droplet of water run down the wind shield. I usually focus on little things to try and calm my nerves. Once we reached the parking lot we dashed to the grand entrance of Union Station. "Over here!" I said spotting the post office sign out of the corner of my eye. Luckily there was nobody in line so we strode right up to the elderly woman behind the desk. "Hi we're uh we're here to get my daughter's pass-passport renewed" my mother managed to get out with a gasp. "We don't do that here" the woman replied in a dry monotone. As my parents wandered away from the desk and found a corner to argue in I trudged away and found a lone bench in the middle of the imposing main hall. "Was this all for nothing? Was this a waste of time? Was all that worrying for nothing?" I thought as my mood darkened. Something made me look up and there above me was a mass of architectural ornate beauty built to lightly flow into the grandness of Union Station itself. I couldn't bear to leave this stunning piece of art rotting away in my memory therefore taking out my iPhone and posing with it I could save the memory forever.

Photo Detail
Date Taken: 10.2019
Date Uploaded: 10.2019
Photo Location: Kansas City, Missouri, United States of America
Copyright: © Emma Snyder