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posted by Unknown at 10:29 PM
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Monday, December 12, 2011
Friday, January 21, 2005
The Zephyr . 21.
He kept her in front of him the whole way back to their seats. If he was going to see her back, he wanted it to be as she was walking to be where he was going to be too. He had an irrational desire to tell her he would even wait for her outside the Ladies' Room if need be.
Their seats looked like home now. Sliding in and getting comfortable again was comforting in itself. It was if all the tears and sadness could be left back at that other spot, three cars away, and not brought out again.
One of the neighbors was playing music on a headset loud enough for them to hear. People were coming and going. The announcements for dinner reservations started. Ben pulled out the menu from the seat back and they made their choices. Ben ordered them when the Dining Car Attendant walked through. Six p.m. dinner, first 'setting', and then they would have all night. Ben considered, all night sounded pretty good to him right now.
~~
Dinner was excellent. The table was at one end of the Dining Car, and the service was wonderful. If Ben had set out to plan a perfect meal to impress, he couldn't have done better. This was actually better than that even for they were both relaxed now. "Or tired." Caramel laughed when they both made the same comment at the same time.
The free and easy talk they had the night before played through dinner as well. He joked and she joked. She told him silly stories and he told her his. They toasted each other over a wine they both liked, and shared tastes of different foods they had ordered. Dessert was delicious, and melted in the mouth.
They walked back to the far car where their seats were in a companionable silence of sorts. They did laugh at the sailor's walk it took to navigate through the swaying cars.
Ben saw them both back to their seats, and then excused himself for a moment. As he headed down to the restroom, he noticed the old smoker's lounge on the lower level had the door open. The sign on the door said it was out of service. This lounge was apparently also previously used for private parties, as a bar was at the back of it, or a counter of some sort.
After using the tiny restroom at the other end of the lower level, he came out to see the same Attendant that ran the Snack area standing in the door to the lounge. He smiled and nodded to the man, and started to go by.
The attendant stopped Ben. "Excuse me, sir, may I ask you a question? Are you the gentleman I saw in the Snack area this afternoon with the lady in the red and black?"
Ben's smile faded as he thought of it. "Yes, that was us."
"Well, if you'll pardon me saying so, the Snack area is small enough that I couldn't help but overhear a fair bit of what was said. Whether I wanted to or not."
Ben waited. There was no reply to that really. "Yes, it is," he finally said.
"Now that being said, I got to thinking about it, you see, while I was on my dinner break. About what I would do if I were in a place like a plane or a train, and the lady said there is no tomorrow, only today." He paused.
Ben waited once more.
"And on my dinner break, I happened to see you both in the Dinner Car. The way you looked at her, the way she looked at you. Now, if today is all there is, or at most 'til the train reaches your destination, it occurred to me that you need a place to be alone. The private compartments won't work, they are all filled. The Observation deck is generally empty after 11:00 p.m. when the Snack area closes, but people do walk through. Mostly staff, but they do."
Ben waited. There had to be a point to this surely.
"So, I got to thinking that it was time I checked on the stock in the old Private Lounge. And that once I was done with that, it would be good to draw the curtains and lock the door again." The man winked at Ben. "The door locks from the inside, you know, and darn if I haven't forgotten the key back at the front of the train. Now I won't have another reason to come back this way 'til we get to Reno just after daybreak, say, oh, 7:30 a.m. tomorrow morning. And you know, it was bothering me, because the door switch that triggers a light in my snack area galley when it's open or shut, it won't go off if I haven't locked it with my master key."
"Oh, really?" Ben said with growing appreciation.
"Yeah, we used to have to check on it in case someone got in, or fell asleep on the lounge seating. Now I told the Car Attendant that I will take care of it, and I really don't want to have to walk the whole train twice when I'm just ready for bed."
"I can understand that," Ben replied.
"Good! Well seeing as it's going to be locked tonight, I put some wine and snacks in there. Do you suppose you could keep an eye on it, and make sure the door stays locked all night?" The man winked again.
Ben's face lit up. "I will be most happy to!" He shook the man's hand. "And thank you! 'Til 7:30 a.m., you say?"
"Yep, 'til 7:30 a.m." He put his hand in his pocket. Ben would swear he heard keys jingling. "And you have a right fine night too, for thats all thats left of today." He slid the door open and shut once or twice, and walked up the stairs muttering "Silly keys."
~
Ben stood there, debating what and how to go about this. The door to the Private lounge was closed and curtains already drawn. He reached out like it would bite him, and slid it open. It was silent moving. He stepped in and shut the door. He could see the lock easily. A small light was on in the lounge at the far end. It was bright enough to see a tray on the counter with a bottle of wine and some sort of food on it. There were long lounge seats on both sides of the area, and the right side had a couple of mini pillows as well as a folded sheet or two stacked neatly at one end. He opened the door and stepped out again, sliding it silently shut. Five minutes and the goodwill of a stranger had totally changed the possibilities of the night. He walked up the stairs and smiled when he slid into his seat.
"Everything O.K.?" Caramel asked.
He smiled once more. "Everything is beautiful, 'Beautiful'." He kissed the tip of her nose. "Now what's the schedule tonight? Do you want to go watch the movie in the Observation lounge, or just lounge around, us two?"
"Just us is perfect." Caramel smiled at him.
"I think so, too." he replied.
~
Their seats looked like home now. Sliding in and getting comfortable again was comforting in itself. It was if all the tears and sadness could be left back at that other spot, three cars away, and not brought out again.
One of the neighbors was playing music on a headset loud enough for them to hear. People were coming and going. The announcements for dinner reservations started. Ben pulled out the menu from the seat back and they made their choices. Ben ordered them when the Dining Car Attendant walked through. Six p.m. dinner, first 'setting', and then they would have all night. Ben considered, all night sounded pretty good to him right now.
~~
Dinner was excellent. The table was at one end of the Dining Car, and the service was wonderful. If Ben had set out to plan a perfect meal to impress, he couldn't have done better. This was actually better than that even for they were both relaxed now. "Or tired." Caramel laughed when they both made the same comment at the same time.
The free and easy talk they had the night before played through dinner as well. He joked and she joked. She told him silly stories and he told her his. They toasted each other over a wine they both liked, and shared tastes of different foods they had ordered. Dessert was delicious, and melted in the mouth.
They walked back to the far car where their seats were in a companionable silence of sorts. They did laugh at the sailor's walk it took to navigate through the swaying cars.
Ben saw them both back to their seats, and then excused himself for a moment. As he headed down to the restroom, he noticed the old smoker's lounge on the lower level had the door open. The sign on the door said it was out of service. This lounge was apparently also previously used for private parties, as a bar was at the back of it, or a counter of some sort.
After using the tiny restroom at the other end of the lower level, he came out to see the same Attendant that ran the Snack area standing in the door to the lounge. He smiled and nodded to the man, and started to go by.
The attendant stopped Ben. "Excuse me, sir, may I ask you a question? Are you the gentleman I saw in the Snack area this afternoon with the lady in the red and black?"
Ben's smile faded as he thought of it. "Yes, that was us."
"Well, if you'll pardon me saying so, the Snack area is small enough that I couldn't help but overhear a fair bit of what was said. Whether I wanted to or not."
Ben waited. There was no reply to that really. "Yes, it is," he finally said.
"Now that being said, I got to thinking about it, you see, while I was on my dinner break. About what I would do if I were in a place like a plane or a train, and the lady said there is no tomorrow, only today." He paused.
Ben waited once more.
"And on my dinner break, I happened to see you both in the Dinner Car. The way you looked at her, the way she looked at you. Now, if today is all there is, or at most 'til the train reaches your destination, it occurred to me that you need a place to be alone. The private compartments won't work, they are all filled. The Observation deck is generally empty after 11:00 p.m. when the Snack area closes, but people do walk through. Mostly staff, but they do."
Ben waited. There had to be a point to this surely.
"So, I got to thinking that it was time I checked on the stock in the old Private Lounge. And that once I was done with that, it would be good to draw the curtains and lock the door again." The man winked at Ben. "The door locks from the inside, you know, and darn if I haven't forgotten the key back at the front of the train. Now I won't have another reason to come back this way 'til we get to Reno just after daybreak, say, oh, 7:30 a.m. tomorrow morning. And you know, it was bothering me, because the door switch that triggers a light in my snack area galley when it's open or shut, it won't go off if I haven't locked it with my master key."
"Oh, really?" Ben said with growing appreciation.
"Yeah, we used to have to check on it in case someone got in, or fell asleep on the lounge seating. Now I told the Car Attendant that I will take care of it, and I really don't want to have to walk the whole train twice when I'm just ready for bed."
"I can understand that," Ben replied.
"Good! Well seeing as it's going to be locked tonight, I put some wine and snacks in there. Do you suppose you could keep an eye on it, and make sure the door stays locked all night?" The man winked again.
Ben's face lit up. "I will be most happy to!" He shook the man's hand. "And thank you! 'Til 7:30 a.m., you say?"
"Yep, 'til 7:30 a.m." He put his hand in his pocket. Ben would swear he heard keys jingling. "And you have a right fine night too, for thats all thats left of today." He slid the door open and shut once or twice, and walked up the stairs muttering "Silly keys."
~
Ben stood there, debating what and how to go about this. The door to the Private lounge was closed and curtains already drawn. He reached out like it would bite him, and slid it open. It was silent moving. He stepped in and shut the door. He could see the lock easily. A small light was on in the lounge at the far end. It was bright enough to see a tray on the counter with a bottle of wine and some sort of food on it. There were long lounge seats on both sides of the area, and the right side had a couple of mini pillows as well as a folded sheet or two stacked neatly at one end. He opened the door and stepped out again, sliding it silently shut. Five minutes and the goodwill of a stranger had totally changed the possibilities of the night. He walked up the stairs and smiled when he slid into his seat.
"Everything O.K.?" Caramel asked.
He smiled once more. "Everything is beautiful, 'Beautiful'." He kissed the tip of her nose. "Now what's the schedule tonight? Do you want to go watch the movie in the Observation lounge, or just lounge around, us two?"
"Just us is perfect." Caramel smiled at him.
"I think so, too." he replied.
~
posted by Unknown at 8:24 AM
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The Zephyr . 20.
A sad kiss, with tears freshly shed, but a real kiss. And he was hungry for it. Like a thirsty man, a starving man. He was thirsty, he was hungry, and she was in his grasp then, but could be gone in a flash. That mad the kiss even more hungry, and his hands gripped her tightly by the shoulders. And when the kiss ended, he moved his arms around her tightly. Looking over her shoulders, he saw darkness had fallen. He thought, "Today's going to end, it's tonight already. What if there is no 'tomorrow'?"
When they moved, it was her that moved. "Ben, let's enjoy today, whats left of it. What do you want to do?"
Ben's first thought was "Plan tomorrow", but he knew better than to say that now. "Well," he stalled, trying to think, "a good dinner and then we will see?" He winked at her to make her laugh, and was rewarded with a twinkle in her eyes and a laugh that sounded real.
He stood, held out his hand to her, "And no more coffee tonight!"
She laughed, took his hand, grabbed her purse without turning away, slid off the bench and stood directly in front of him. "No more coffee tonight" she agreed.
"Night, folks." said the Snack area attendant, but they didn't hear him as they climbed the stairs.
When they moved, it was her that moved. "Ben, let's enjoy today, whats left of it. What do you want to do?"
Ben's first thought was "Plan tomorrow", but he knew better than to say that now. "Well," he stalled, trying to think, "a good dinner and then we will see?" He winked at her to make her laugh, and was rewarded with a twinkle in her eyes and a laugh that sounded real.
He stood, held out his hand to her, "And no more coffee tonight!"
She laughed, took his hand, grabbed her purse without turning away, slid off the bench and stood directly in front of him. "No more coffee tonight" she agreed.
"Night, folks." said the Snack area attendant, but they didn't hear him as they climbed the stairs.
posted by Unknown at 8:22 AM
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Thursday, January 20, 2005
The Zephyr . 19.
"You know most of it already. "she started, between sips. "I, well, it Has been a long time. A long time sinse I , well, er, you know I am a widow. And that I did love my husband. That he was sick for a long time before he died." She stopped. Ben found himself nodding to her. He waited, but watched her eyes. If she was going back into that other place again, he was going to pull her back.
Finally, he said, "I know, I remember." He nodded again.
"I was alone. I planned everything, and I did it. All. One day though, I stopped planning things. There was no point." She paused. He kissed her forehead. "For a very long time, there was no point." She sipped the coffee.
"He died in an October. I kept things going for my children. Now they are grown up and out living their own lives. So I stopped again. I mean, I got up, I breathed, I worked, I paid the bills. I went through each day. But no planning." She sipped.
"One day I woke up and realized I had been in mourning a very long time. Mourning a lot of things, the death of my husband, the death of my best friend, the death of my dreams." She sipped and a tear fell.
Ben took the coffee cup from her hands, cold, cold hands, and put it on the table. He circled her with his arms and held her close. He waited. He swore he could hear the clock on the wall ticking as he waited. Loudly.
She sat up slowly. No tears were falling, but she was still very pale. "I thought to follow a dream, to remember how to dream, I came on the train." She paused.
"And you love it." he inserted.
"Yes," and a tiny smile appeared. "Yes it has far surpassed what I expected." She tapped the end of his nose with her fingertip. "You surprised me. I wasn't expecting you, and you surprised me."
Ben dusted a kiss on her fingertip, and then on her lips. A tiny one. She was fragile, and liable to break. Like a real china tea cup, or a butterfly that could be crushed so easy.
"And the tears?" He had to ask. "Mourning still?" And then he held his breath. He wasn't sure he wanted to know, but he had to know, had to ask.
Slowly the words came. "Mourning, yes." She glanced at his eyes as he winced. Quickly then, "No, not what you think." She kissed his lips quickly , barely. "No, not as noble as that. I am not mourning the death of the good man that I loved. I did that already. He will always be there in a part of my heart. But I can go on. No, " He could have sworn she blushed as she looked down at her hands in his lap. "No, I am in mourning I suppose for something much more selfish. The death of my dreams. The death of plans. The death of tomorrow. The death of 'someday', of "sometime". "
"So today?" he asked , thinking back to the station.
She drew a deep breath and wiped her fingertips over her face to clear any tears. A smile of sorts came on her face. And in an overly bright toned voice, which still sounded to Ben like it could break at anytime, she said, " So today is all there is. Just 'today'. And if I hadn't gone loopy on you, a day to enjoy." A kiss, but not a real one, fell on his lips. He missed the other ones from before, the kiss with the twinkle, the kiss when she had just woken. All of them. He felt he had just lost something, something he had barely know he had in his hands. Maybe he hadn't really had it? But she was still waiting, still looking at him with that lop-sided smile.
"Then just today is enough." He answered her, a serious look on his face. "And tomorrow will take care of itself," he added, although he didn't know why.
"My purse, where did I put it?" She turned away then, wobbly voice and all.
He found he couldn't stand it."What can't I stand?" he thought. And words from who knows where popped out, " Just don't turn away, don't disappear again."
She pivoted in her seat and gave him a sad smile. "No, darlin', I won't, not without telling you. I promise." And this time she kissed him, a real kiss again.
Finally, he said, "I know, I remember." He nodded again.
"I was alone. I planned everything, and I did it. All. One day though, I stopped planning things. There was no point." She paused. He kissed her forehead. "For a very long time, there was no point." She sipped the coffee.
"He died in an October. I kept things going for my children. Now they are grown up and out living their own lives. So I stopped again. I mean, I got up, I breathed, I worked, I paid the bills. I went through each day. But no planning." She sipped.
"One day I woke up and realized I had been in mourning a very long time. Mourning a lot of things, the death of my husband, the death of my best friend, the death of my dreams." She sipped and a tear fell.
Ben took the coffee cup from her hands, cold, cold hands, and put it on the table. He circled her with his arms and held her close. He waited. He swore he could hear the clock on the wall ticking as he waited. Loudly.
She sat up slowly. No tears were falling, but she was still very pale. "I thought to follow a dream, to remember how to dream, I came on the train." She paused.
"And you love it." he inserted.
"Yes," and a tiny smile appeared. "Yes it has far surpassed what I expected." She tapped the end of his nose with her fingertip. "You surprised me. I wasn't expecting you, and you surprised me."
Ben dusted a kiss on her fingertip, and then on her lips. A tiny one. She was fragile, and liable to break. Like a real china tea cup, or a butterfly that could be crushed so easy.
"And the tears?" He had to ask. "Mourning still?" And then he held his breath. He wasn't sure he wanted to know, but he had to know, had to ask.
Slowly the words came. "Mourning, yes." She glanced at his eyes as he winced. Quickly then, "No, not what you think." She kissed his lips quickly , barely. "No, not as noble as that. I am not mourning the death of the good man that I loved. I did that already. He will always be there in a part of my heart. But I can go on. No, " He could have sworn she blushed as she looked down at her hands in his lap. "No, I am in mourning I suppose for something much more selfish. The death of my dreams. The death of plans. The death of tomorrow. The death of 'someday', of "sometime". "
"So today?" he asked , thinking back to the station.
She drew a deep breath and wiped her fingertips over her face to clear any tears. A smile of sorts came on her face. And in an overly bright toned voice, which still sounded to Ben like it could break at anytime, she said, " So today is all there is. Just 'today'. And if I hadn't gone loopy on you, a day to enjoy." A kiss, but not a real one, fell on his lips. He missed the other ones from before, the kiss with the twinkle, the kiss when she had just woken. All of them. He felt he had just lost something, something he had barely know he had in his hands. Maybe he hadn't really had it? But she was still waiting, still looking at him with that lop-sided smile.
"Then just today is enough." He answered her, a serious look on his face. "And tomorrow will take care of itself," he added, although he didn't know why.
"My purse, where did I put it?" She turned away then, wobbly voice and all.
He found he couldn't stand it."What can't I stand?" he thought. And words from who knows where popped out, " Just don't turn away, don't disappear again."
She pivoted in her seat and gave him a sad smile. "No, darlin', I won't, not without telling you. I promise." And this time she kissed him, a real kiss again.
posted by Unknown at 5:28 PM
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The Zephyr . 18.
Caramel wasn't in her seat. He knew she was on the train, so he sat down to wait. Perhaps she was in the restroom.
Except, time went by. Her purse wan't here. Neither was her raincoat. She wouldn't have gotten off the train, so where was she? He decided to check the restroom. Reaching the bottom level, he saw right away that the door to the women's lavatory was swinging open and shut with the movement of the train. So she wasn't there.
He climbed the stairs and glanced at the passengers. No, she hadn't changed seats for some reason. He started the walk forward. The Car Attendant entered the car from the front.
"Did you happen to see the lady I am with?" he asked the attendant.
"I believe I saw her on the Observation Car, sir, as I was checking for new passengers."
He thanked the attendant, and continued forward. "What was she doing up there, and well, what? or maybe why?" he thought to himself. The question rolled around in his mind as he concentrated on walking the cars. It was like walking on a ship, a rolling, rocking ship.
The Observation Car was fairly full, most seats taken and he didn't see her. Maybe in the Snack area below? At the bottom of the stairs, he looked around.
There she was, still in her coat, back to him. She was at the same spot where they had been seated earlier. Two cups of coffee sat in front of her in a cardboard tray. One was closed still; one was being stirred in a way he remembered. She was staring out the window, almost unmoving except for the motion of her had stirring.
He stepped over to the booth. "Caramel, what are you doing?"
She looked up and it was as if she didn't see him, lost in her own thoughts. Her eyes weren't twinkling, they weren't steely, they were in another place. The stirring didn't stop. And as if she didn't see him, or know him, she slowly turned to stare at the scenery again.
Ben sat down. He waited a moment, confused, then he reached his right hand up and put it over her left hand that rested on the table. "Caramel, baby, talk to me." He squeezed the hand that rested quietly in his. "Caramel?" Her head didn't turn from the scenery. Her face was pale, or maybe just tired?
A voice he hardly knew came to his ears, quiet yes, but not the Caramel he knew. There was no smile in it. "It has been a long time. I thought I was ready." Then silence.
He waited. She was lost in thoughts again. When she started stirring the damned coffee again, he almost lost it. He took her face between his hands and gently turned her to look at him. "Caramel, Caramel, Look at me. Here." He pointed to the spot between his eyes, and her eyes followed his hand up. The glazed look was still in her eyes though.
"Caramel, what has been a long time?" His voice was still quiet. He knew he sounded like he was talking to a child, but the other thing he felt was anger; worrying did that to him. He didn't know what was going on, and she was still silent! Frustration colored his voice now, and he put both hands on her shoulders. He wanted to shake her, but didn't.
"Caramel, First you disappeared. When I find you, you are cryptic. Talk to me. What has been a long time and what aren't you ready for? Tell me. It's me, Adam, remember? Your Adam, your Ben." He eyes looked at him now, losing some of that dazed look. "Baby, talk to me!"
Adam, Ben, I , uh, ummn," Tears began to flow from her eyes. Her head went on his shoulder and he groaned. He circled her with his arms.
"Baby, just tell me. Don't cry, please, just tell me." He paused, but she didn't answer. She moved against his arms, as if to back away, but he didn't let her go. Nor did she look up again.
He reached for the napkin on the table, keeping one arm around her. He let go, and lifted her face up. He wiped the tears off her cheeks gently, and smiled down at her teary eyes. "I'll even drink the damned coffee, I promise. Just tell me."
She gave a little laugh at that. "I did buy you one too. It might be hot. It was when I bought it," she started to trail off again.
He grabbed her coffee, stirring stick still in it, and handed it to her. His other arm was around her again. "Drink this." He picked up the other coffee, popped the lid off with one hand and sipped. "See, I'm drinking." She chuckled. He took a sip again. "Now talk to me."
Except, time went by. Her purse wan't here. Neither was her raincoat. She wouldn't have gotten off the train, so where was she? He decided to check the restroom. Reaching the bottom level, he saw right away that the door to the women's lavatory was swinging open and shut with the movement of the train. So she wasn't there.
He climbed the stairs and glanced at the passengers. No, she hadn't changed seats for some reason. He started the walk forward. The Car Attendant entered the car from the front.
"Did you happen to see the lady I am with?" he asked the attendant.
"I believe I saw her on the Observation Car, sir, as I was checking for new passengers."
He thanked the attendant, and continued forward. "What was she doing up there, and well, what? or maybe why?" he thought to himself. The question rolled around in his mind as he concentrated on walking the cars. It was like walking on a ship, a rolling, rocking ship.
The Observation Car was fairly full, most seats taken and he didn't see her. Maybe in the Snack area below? At the bottom of the stairs, he looked around.
There she was, still in her coat, back to him. She was at the same spot where they had been seated earlier. Two cups of coffee sat in front of her in a cardboard tray. One was closed still; one was being stirred in a way he remembered. She was staring out the window, almost unmoving except for the motion of her had stirring.
He stepped over to the booth. "Caramel, what are you doing?"
She looked up and it was as if she didn't see him, lost in her own thoughts. Her eyes weren't twinkling, they weren't steely, they were in another place. The stirring didn't stop. And as if she didn't see him, or know him, she slowly turned to stare at the scenery again.
Ben sat down. He waited a moment, confused, then he reached his right hand up and put it over her left hand that rested on the table. "Caramel, baby, talk to me." He squeezed the hand that rested quietly in his. "Caramel?" Her head didn't turn from the scenery. Her face was pale, or maybe just tired?
A voice he hardly knew came to his ears, quiet yes, but not the Caramel he knew. There was no smile in it. "It has been a long time. I thought I was ready." Then silence.
He waited. She was lost in thoughts again. When she started stirring the damned coffee again, he almost lost it. He took her face between his hands and gently turned her to look at him. "Caramel, Caramel, Look at me. Here." He pointed to the spot between his eyes, and her eyes followed his hand up. The glazed look was still in her eyes though.
"Caramel, what has been a long time?" His voice was still quiet. He knew he sounded like he was talking to a child, but the other thing he felt was anger; worrying did that to him. He didn't know what was going on, and she was still silent! Frustration colored his voice now, and he put both hands on her shoulders. He wanted to shake her, but didn't.
"Caramel, First you disappeared. When I find you, you are cryptic. Talk to me. What has been a long time and what aren't you ready for? Tell me. It's me, Adam, remember? Your Adam, your Ben." He eyes looked at him now, losing some of that dazed look. "Baby, talk to me!"
Adam, Ben, I , uh, ummn," Tears began to flow from her eyes. Her head went on his shoulder and he groaned. He circled her with his arms.
"Baby, just tell me. Don't cry, please, just tell me." He paused, but she didn't answer. She moved against his arms, as if to back away, but he didn't let her go. Nor did she look up again.
He reached for the napkin on the table, keeping one arm around her. He let go, and lifted her face up. He wiped the tears off her cheeks gently, and smiled down at her teary eyes. "I'll even drink the damned coffee, I promise. Just tell me."
She gave a little laugh at that. "I did buy you one too. It might be hot. It was when I bought it," she started to trail off again.
He grabbed her coffee, stirring stick still in it, and handed it to her. His other arm was around her again. "Drink this." He picked up the other coffee, popped the lid off with one hand and sipped. "See, I'm drinking." She chuckled. He took a sip again. "Now talk to me."
posted by Unknown at 5:26 PM
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The Zephyr . 17.
Glenwood Springs!" The Car attendant warned, "Five minutes only here, five minutes! Do not leave the train platform."
The chill of the mountain town was brisk on skin not in coats. Sunshine reflected off snow high on the ridges above the town, and from small patches on the rocky ground next to the train platform. The Colorado River was a dull roar next to the train station, and from the platform the famous Glenwood Springs Hotel was easily visible with its outdoor hot spring fed pool. People milled about on the platform and cameras clicked away.
"It is beautiful, " Caramel said as she slowly turned a full circle before stopping to look out over the river toward the Hotel on the far side. As she stood there looking, he came and stood behind her, and placed his hands on her shoulders. She leaned back into him.
"Someday..." he told her as he looked across the river at the pool, "Sometime we will go there."
She turned and looked him straight in the eyes. The twinkle wasn't there, but a smile was. "It would be nice." There was nothing but the words and the smile. A damned kind smile. Like you give an acquaintance or a distant relative. A polite smile. She turned back and leaned softly against him again. This time he put his arms clear around her, just below her chin, and they just stood.
"You don't believe me?" he asked in her ear.
"It would be nice." She reached up and rested the palms of her hands on his arms beneath her chin, and then rested her chin between them, on his arm. Her head turned and he felt her cheek on the bare skin. "It would be nice," came her voice again. He squeezed her tighter to him.
"Caramel..." he started.
"All Aboard!" The Car attendant must practice that call, Ben thought in a tangent.
Caramel..." he started again, as she turned in his arms and faced him, hands on his chest now.
She reached up and put four fingers over his lips, but didn't look him in the eyes now. "Hush, darling, All Aboard, remember?" She moved away, still not looking at his eyes, and boarded the train.
For a moment he stood there, in his shirt sleeves, staring at the open door of the train. The Car Attendant turned once more around and spoke when he saw Ben, "Sir, Coming aboard?" Ben nodded and climbed aboard.
The chill of the mountain town was brisk on skin not in coats. Sunshine reflected off snow high on the ridges above the town, and from small patches on the rocky ground next to the train platform. The Colorado River was a dull roar next to the train station, and from the platform the famous Glenwood Springs Hotel was easily visible with its outdoor hot spring fed pool. People milled about on the platform and cameras clicked away.
"It is beautiful, " Caramel said as she slowly turned a full circle before stopping to look out over the river toward the Hotel on the far side. As she stood there looking, he came and stood behind her, and placed his hands on her shoulders. She leaned back into him.
"Someday..." he told her as he looked across the river at the pool, "Sometime we will go there."
She turned and looked him straight in the eyes. The twinkle wasn't there, but a smile was. "It would be nice." There was nothing but the words and the smile. A damned kind smile. Like you give an acquaintance or a distant relative. A polite smile. She turned back and leaned softly against him again. This time he put his arms clear around her, just below her chin, and they just stood.
"You don't believe me?" he asked in her ear.
"It would be nice." She reached up and rested the palms of her hands on his arms beneath her chin, and then rested her chin between them, on his arm. Her head turned and he felt her cheek on the bare skin. "It would be nice," came her voice again. He squeezed her tighter to him.
"Caramel..." he started.
"All Aboard!" The Car attendant must practice that call, Ben thought in a tangent.
Caramel..." he started again, as she turned in his arms and faced him, hands on his chest now.
She reached up and put four fingers over his lips, but didn't look him in the eyes now. "Hush, darling, All Aboard, remember?" She moved away, still not looking at his eyes, and boarded the train.
For a moment he stood there, in his shirt sleeves, staring at the open door of the train. The Car Attendant turned once more around and spoke when he saw Ben, "Sir, Coming aboard?" Ben nodded and climbed aboard.
posted by Unknown at 1:15 PM
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The Zephyr . 16.
~~
"Five minutes to Glenwood Springs" The P.A. announcement and the chattering woke him. He started to stretch and realized an arm was flung across him. Sometime in his sleep he had moved his arm around her, and now she was snuggled into his side, still sleeping. Something warm flooded him, and he clutched her just that much closer to him.
She stirred now, moving her head to the left and right, moving her shoulders as if to wake the arms and back muscles. And then her head lifted, and she opened her eyes, looking straight into his eyes as he looked down at her.
"Oh!" Her lips formed a perfect tiny circle, and her eyes widened. Her arm that was over him started to move, and he caught it instantly with his free hand.
"Lips like those should be kissed." was all he said before he followed through on his statement. He was gentle, he remembered she woke slowly. The small moan she made could have been another 'oh!', could have been many things, and he was caught up in the taste of that 'oh!'.
What moment it was that it went from him kissing her to it being mutual he didn't know. It was suddenly very warm in the train. He stopped, closed his eyes again, took a deep breath, and moved her head to rest against his shoulder with his left hand. "Caramel??" he whispered her name into her hair, and didn't even know at that moment what he was questioning. He heard people in the train, and knew he had to breathe normally again.
"Ben, oh my," her voice came out from where her head lay against his shoulder, a tiny voice now, just loud enough for him to hear. "Ben..." The last was a whisper, a tiny moan, a breath. Now it was her arm that clutched at him tightly.
"Breathe, baby, breathe." He tried to calm his breathing still, but his heart was pounding. The P.A. was helpfully spouting information, the first bits of a town could be seen, and here he wasn't even able to stand up yet. "We are coming into a town where we stop." He paused. He breathed. "Oh Lord, remind me to wake you up like that again when we are alone."
She chuckled and looked up at him. A twinkle came in her eye. "Ben?" came the query.
"Yes?" He closed his eyes, put his head back and just breathed.
"Wake me up like that again!" The chuckle was back in her voice.
"Be good!" he growled quietly.
"I will," came the laughing reply, "For now!"
"You said that before." He smiled at her now as he rose for the station break. He dropped his jacket on the seat, picked up her raincoat from where it lay, and held it out for her to put her arms in.
Caramel stood and slipped her arms into the sleeves. She stood, back to him still and her voice came over her shoulder. "Ben?" she said, voice for him only to hear.
"Yes?" he answered.
"I have been, I was, I am. Good, that is. And Ben?" she turned to look him in the eyes. "Ben, I am verrrry good." The tiny smile turned to a laugh, the twinkle was in her eye. She grabbed her purse and started down the aisle.
"Scamp!" he muttered. He heard her laugh as she took the steps, and he chuckled as he followed.
"Five minutes to Glenwood Springs" The P.A. announcement and the chattering woke him. He started to stretch and realized an arm was flung across him. Sometime in his sleep he had moved his arm around her, and now she was snuggled into his side, still sleeping. Something warm flooded him, and he clutched her just that much closer to him.
She stirred now, moving her head to the left and right, moving her shoulders as if to wake the arms and back muscles. And then her head lifted, and she opened her eyes, looking straight into his eyes as he looked down at her.
"Oh!" Her lips formed a perfect tiny circle, and her eyes widened. Her arm that was over him started to move, and he caught it instantly with his free hand.
"Lips like those should be kissed." was all he said before he followed through on his statement. He was gentle, he remembered she woke slowly. The small moan she made could have been another 'oh!', could have been many things, and he was caught up in the taste of that 'oh!'.
What moment it was that it went from him kissing her to it being mutual he didn't know. It was suddenly very warm in the train. He stopped, closed his eyes again, took a deep breath, and moved her head to rest against his shoulder with his left hand. "Caramel??" he whispered her name into her hair, and didn't even know at that moment what he was questioning. He heard people in the train, and knew he had to breathe normally again.
"Ben, oh my," her voice came out from where her head lay against his shoulder, a tiny voice now, just loud enough for him to hear. "Ben..." The last was a whisper, a tiny moan, a breath. Now it was her arm that clutched at him tightly.
"Breathe, baby, breathe." He tried to calm his breathing still, but his heart was pounding. The P.A. was helpfully spouting information, the first bits of a town could be seen, and here he wasn't even able to stand up yet. "We are coming into a town where we stop." He paused. He breathed. "Oh Lord, remind me to wake you up like that again when we are alone."
She chuckled and looked up at him. A twinkle came in her eye. "Ben?" came the query.
"Yes?" He closed his eyes, put his head back and just breathed.
"Wake me up like that again!" The chuckle was back in her voice.
"Be good!" he growled quietly.
"I will," came the laughing reply, "For now!"
"You said that before." He smiled at her now as he rose for the station break. He dropped his jacket on the seat, picked up her raincoat from where it lay, and held it out for her to put her arms in.
Caramel stood and slipped her arms into the sleeves. She stood, back to him still and her voice came over her shoulder. "Ben?" she said, voice for him only to hear.
"Yes?" he answered.
"I have been, I was, I am. Good, that is. And Ben?" she turned to look him in the eyes. "Ben, I am verrrry good." The tiny smile turned to a laugh, the twinkle was in her eye. She grabbed her purse and started down the aisle.
"Scamp!" he muttered. He heard her laugh as she took the steps, and he chuckled as he followed.
posted by Unknown at 11:35 AM
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The Zephyr . 15.
Finally, after perhaps hours, she turned and stretched, and looked at her watch. "Wow! It's almost time for lunch, but I'm so relaxed I could take a nap." She looked at him.
"Shall we grab some food here and take it back? Or from the Dining Car?" he asked her, hating to share her with even a waiter, but waiting for her answer.
"Oh, here! Then we can take it back and I can snuggle in to sleep a bit before we get to Glenwood Springs. Someone kept me awake last night." The twinkle was back in her eye.
"I have no idea who that could be." he answered with the most innocent voice he could conjure up. Then he laughed as she stuck out her tongue at his reply. "Be careful, or I will have tongue for lunch." and he moved in quickly toward her, opening his mouth and clicking his teeth together.
She pulled her tongue out of danger in a flash, and closed her lips tightly.
He laughed and then kissed her lips lightly, lingering over them to breathe in her smell. Coffee and just a hint of vanilla. He licked her lips lightly with his tongue. She gave a little moan and licked his lips back, then straightened, and looked him in the eyes.
"Food," she said, and pushed at his chest with a gentle shove, "Food!"
He sat back and grinned. "I see I will have to keep you well fed. I wouldn't want you to be, um, hungry!" He got up, and laughed as she playfully batted at him with her coffee stirrer.
"Food , sir, Food!" she pointed at the Snack area behind their booth. "Any sandwich is fine with me."
"O.K., O.K., a sandwich it is. We will take care of that hunger first." He winked at her and walked to the Snack area.
Back at their seats in the Coach car, and with sandwiches eaten, she did snuggle under the light raincoat she used for a blanket. She put her head on a tiny pillow and dozed off, pillow against the window. He didn't know how she could sleep in so much light, with the Engineer talking on the P.A. now and again, with passengers walking the aisles, and with the movement of the train. She slept, oblivious to all of it, a faint smile on her lips.
After one particular bump as they sped through a long tunnel, in almost complete darkness, he reached over and leaned her against his shoulder instead of the window. He leaned his head down sideways to touch the top of hers, and he too was out, asleep with a faint grin on his face.
"Shall we grab some food here and take it back? Or from the Dining Car?" he asked her, hating to share her with even a waiter, but waiting for her answer.
"Oh, here! Then we can take it back and I can snuggle in to sleep a bit before we get to Glenwood Springs. Someone kept me awake last night." The twinkle was back in her eye.
"I have no idea who that could be." he answered with the most innocent voice he could conjure up. Then he laughed as she stuck out her tongue at his reply. "Be careful, or I will have tongue for lunch." and he moved in quickly toward her, opening his mouth and clicking his teeth together.
She pulled her tongue out of danger in a flash, and closed her lips tightly.
He laughed and then kissed her lips lightly, lingering over them to breathe in her smell. Coffee and just a hint of vanilla. He licked her lips lightly with his tongue. She gave a little moan and licked his lips back, then straightened, and looked him in the eyes.
"Food," she said, and pushed at his chest with a gentle shove, "Food!"
He sat back and grinned. "I see I will have to keep you well fed. I wouldn't want you to be, um, hungry!" He got up, and laughed as she playfully batted at him with her coffee stirrer.
"Food , sir, Food!" she pointed at the Snack area behind their booth. "Any sandwich is fine with me."
"O.K., O.K., a sandwich it is. We will take care of that hunger first." He winked at her and walked to the Snack area.
Back at their seats in the Coach car, and with sandwiches eaten, she did snuggle under the light raincoat she used for a blanket. She put her head on a tiny pillow and dozed off, pillow against the window. He didn't know how she could sleep in so much light, with the Engineer talking on the P.A. now and again, with passengers walking the aisles, and with the movement of the train. She slept, oblivious to all of it, a faint smile on her lips.
After one particular bump as they sped through a long tunnel, in almost complete darkness, he reached over and leaned her against his shoulder instead of the window. He leaned his head down sideways to touch the top of hers, and he too was out, asleep with a faint grin on his face.
posted by Unknown at 11:34 AM
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The Zephyr . 14.
She turned to him, and in that moment, he had hope. Her smile was genuine, it sparkled in her eyes, and her face was beautiful to him. Some visions last in your mind forever, and that look was one he felt imprinted already.
"Hello Beautiful, yourself," she chuckled as she answered him. "Too bad it's so early, downtown Denver looks fun to explore. Did you get your tickets O.K.?" She laughed now, he looked stunned or distracted. She reached out a gloved hand and touched his cheek with her fingertips. "Ben?"
Ben blinked, "Yes?"
"Did you get your tickets O.K.?" She smiled again.
"Yes, they were ready for me." He paused as he looked at her in the early morning light. "Must be the air making me dopey. Are you ready to go in, or do I have time for a cigarette?" He looked around for the Car Attendant.
"You have time." she answered with a smile.
"Smiles," he thought, "she sure smiled a lot; did she always smile? No, he knew she didn't, but hmmn, will think of that later."
People milled about and they saw new passengers board. Just as he finished his cigarette, the Attendant came by and told their group it was time to board. They were the last two from their group. Ben took her elbow with his hand, and they stepped into the car entrance. The Attendant, still outside, placed the step stool on the car floor at the door, and slid the door shut.
Caramel stopped for an instant and looked out the door's window. "I used to live close to here. Wonder how much it has changed? I will have to check to see if I have time to explore it on my way back through Denver." She turned back to walk to the tiny stairs.
Ben felt a tiny pang in his stomach. "With who?" he thought. Then he said out loud, "I must still be hungry, my stomach is telling me so." He stepped up the stairs behind her.
He heard her laugh even if he couldn't see her face. "You are always hungry?"
"No, just today," he muttered to himself. Then louder, No must be the thinner air up here."
They walked the few steps to their seats and slid into the spots they had just left a half hour before. "It was a blur," Ben thought. He looked at her as she took off her raincoat and settled into her seat more comfortably, and wondered where his sanity was, perhaps lost in the thin air? And then she did it again. She smiled at him with a twinkle in her eye. "Who needs sanity?" he thought, " I'll take this."
The conductor came on the PA and began announcing all the points of interest they were about to see over the next five and a half hours til they reached Glenwood Springs. It was a lengthy list. Ben grabbed an itinerary from the mesh seat back, glanced at it, and passed it to Caramel. He was content to listen for the moment. "Content, yeah, that fits, " he thought, "Happy too." The Conductor mentioned that most sights on this first stretch would be on the right for the next hour or so, and then went silent.
Ben asked, "Do you want to change seats, or go up to the Observation Car?"
Caramel smiled, "No, I'm fine here unless you want to go up for more food in the Snack Car. You said you were hungry."
"I did, didn't I? Do you want to come with me or do you want to wait here?"
"I'll come; it may be the last time to stretch my legs for a while." She grabbed her purse as he stood and made room for her to go ahead of him.
Walking in the train as it slowly gathered speed was easy. At each juncture between cars, there were two doors to open, one in the car they were in and one of the car they were entering. The gap between the cars was a rubber sided tunnel with a steel floor that came together from both cars and almost touched, and another steel something below the two lips of steel. With the train moving slowly still, it was an easy step from one car to the next.
Walking through the Coach Cars took a little more maneuvering to step around people in the aisles. The Observation Car was almost fully windowed on the upper half and the seats were spread out to face the windows, rather than all facing forward. It was more of a zig-zag step there to avoid the seats and people standing. Downstairs, below the Observation floor was the Snack area. It had tables and booths.
Caramel stepped over and ordered a coffee and paid before Ben even made it all the way to the Snack area. "You're up," she smiled at him.
"I would have gotten that, " he almost growled.
"I now, but you got the last things, " she laughed, not at all put off by the growl. "Order your, darling, I'll be right over here."
He felt better, and turned to place his order.
Caramel slid into one of the right-hand booths. She sat facing forward, absentmindedly stirring her coffee as she looked out. When he slid in next to her, she grinned at him like a little child would do, and said "We have some of the best seats in the car to see this!" It was hard not to giggle when she sounded like they were conspirators.
Three teenagers set farther up the snack area aisle, playing cards, but otherwise, it seemed they had the snack area to themselves. The snack attendant was busy at the far end behind the counter. He appeared to intend to stay there.
Ben relaxed for perhaps the first time of the morning. Caramel seemed content to look out at the brilliantly sunlit Colorado Rockies they were climbing, and was still absentmindedly stirring her coffee.
"I think it's stirred." He laughed.
"What?" She looked at him and then at the coffee, "Oh, yes, I guess it is." She put down the stirring stick, picked up the coffee and sipped it.
He leaned forward, took the lid off his coffee, and then reached over to grasp her left hand in his right. She glanced at him, smiled, and went back to sipping her coffee as she looked out the window.
"I always wanted to travel by train, maybe I told you last night, but it was one of my dreams from childhood." Caramel spoke softly as she looked out the window. "I love to travel, I just haven't for many years."
He released her hands and put an arm around he shoulders, pulling her gently into leaning back against him so she was facing the vast window. "I know, and now we get to do it together."
She relaxed into him at that, and he heard the smile this time, "Yes, now we get to do it together."
The coffee seemed particularly rich as they sat there and made small comments on the view, or chuckled when the PA came on frequently to describe sights. "It is like seeing the world through a child's eyes," Ben thought as Caramel would exclaim at the sight of the ravines, the mountains, the winding tracks, the tunnel after tunnel stretches, and at the first sight of snow. And he did see it. Something of her excitement over the new views was catching, and even as people came and went, Caramel and Ben sat, pointing out new things to see to each other, and telling jokes and anecdotes.
"Hello Beautiful, yourself," she chuckled as she answered him. "Too bad it's so early, downtown Denver looks fun to explore. Did you get your tickets O.K.?" She laughed now, he looked stunned or distracted. She reached out a gloved hand and touched his cheek with her fingertips. "Ben?"
Ben blinked, "Yes?"
"Did you get your tickets O.K.?" She smiled again.
"Yes, they were ready for me." He paused as he looked at her in the early morning light. "Must be the air making me dopey. Are you ready to go in, or do I have time for a cigarette?" He looked around for the Car Attendant.
"You have time." she answered with a smile.
"Smiles," he thought, "she sure smiled a lot; did she always smile? No, he knew she didn't, but hmmn, will think of that later."
People milled about and they saw new passengers board. Just as he finished his cigarette, the Attendant came by and told their group it was time to board. They were the last two from their group. Ben took her elbow with his hand, and they stepped into the car entrance. The Attendant, still outside, placed the step stool on the car floor at the door, and slid the door shut.
Caramel stopped for an instant and looked out the door's window. "I used to live close to here. Wonder how much it has changed? I will have to check to see if I have time to explore it on my way back through Denver." She turned back to walk to the tiny stairs.
Ben felt a tiny pang in his stomach. "With who?" he thought. Then he said out loud, "I must still be hungry, my stomach is telling me so." He stepped up the stairs behind her.
He heard her laugh even if he couldn't see her face. "You are always hungry?"
"No, just today," he muttered to himself. Then louder, No must be the thinner air up here."
They walked the few steps to their seats and slid into the spots they had just left a half hour before. "It was a blur," Ben thought. He looked at her as she took off her raincoat and settled into her seat more comfortably, and wondered where his sanity was, perhaps lost in the thin air? And then she did it again. She smiled at him with a twinkle in her eye. "Who needs sanity?" he thought, " I'll take this."
The conductor came on the PA and began announcing all the points of interest they were about to see over the next five and a half hours til they reached Glenwood Springs. It was a lengthy list. Ben grabbed an itinerary from the mesh seat back, glanced at it, and passed it to Caramel. He was content to listen for the moment. "Content, yeah, that fits, " he thought, "Happy too." The Conductor mentioned that most sights on this first stretch would be on the right for the next hour or so, and then went silent.
Ben asked, "Do you want to change seats, or go up to the Observation Car?"
Caramel smiled, "No, I'm fine here unless you want to go up for more food in the Snack Car. You said you were hungry."
"I did, didn't I? Do you want to come with me or do you want to wait here?"
"I'll come; it may be the last time to stretch my legs for a while." She grabbed her purse as he stood and made room for her to go ahead of him.
Walking in the train as it slowly gathered speed was easy. At each juncture between cars, there were two doors to open, one in the car they were in and one of the car they were entering. The gap between the cars was a rubber sided tunnel with a steel floor that came together from both cars and almost touched, and another steel something below the two lips of steel. With the train moving slowly still, it was an easy step from one car to the next.
Walking through the Coach Cars took a little more maneuvering to step around people in the aisles. The Observation Car was almost fully windowed on the upper half and the seats were spread out to face the windows, rather than all facing forward. It was more of a zig-zag step there to avoid the seats and people standing. Downstairs, below the Observation floor was the Snack area. It had tables and booths.
Caramel stepped over and ordered a coffee and paid before Ben even made it all the way to the Snack area. "You're up," she smiled at him.
"I would have gotten that, " he almost growled.
"I now, but you got the last things, " she laughed, not at all put off by the growl. "Order your, darling, I'll be right over here."
He felt better, and turned to place his order.
Caramel slid into one of the right-hand booths. She sat facing forward, absentmindedly stirring her coffee as she looked out. When he slid in next to her, she grinned at him like a little child would do, and said "We have some of the best seats in the car to see this!" It was hard not to giggle when she sounded like they were conspirators.
Three teenagers set farther up the snack area aisle, playing cards, but otherwise, it seemed they had the snack area to themselves. The snack attendant was busy at the far end behind the counter. He appeared to intend to stay there.
Ben relaxed for perhaps the first time of the morning. Caramel seemed content to look out at the brilliantly sunlit Colorado Rockies they were climbing, and was still absentmindedly stirring her coffee.
"I think it's stirred." He laughed.
"What?" She looked at him and then at the coffee, "Oh, yes, I guess it is." She put down the stirring stick, picked up the coffee and sipped it.
He leaned forward, took the lid off his coffee, and then reached over to grasp her left hand in his right. She glanced at him, smiled, and went back to sipping her coffee as she looked out the window.
"I always wanted to travel by train, maybe I told you last night, but it was one of my dreams from childhood." Caramel spoke softly as she looked out the window. "I love to travel, I just haven't for many years."
He released her hands and put an arm around he shoulders, pulling her gently into leaning back against him so she was facing the vast window. "I know, and now we get to do it together."
She relaxed into him at that, and he heard the smile this time, "Yes, now we get to do it together."
The coffee seemed particularly rich as they sat there and made small comments on the view, or chuckled when the PA came on frequently to describe sights. "It is like seeing the world through a child's eyes," Ben thought as Caramel would exclaim at the sight of the ravines, the mountains, the winding tracks, the tunnel after tunnel stretches, and at the first sight of snow. And he did see it. Something of her excitement over the new views was catching, and even as people came and went, Caramel and Ben sat, pointing out new things to see to each other, and telling jokes and anecdotes.
posted by Unknown at 11:32 AM
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Tuesday, December 21, 2004
The Zephyr. 13.
HIM
Ben slid into the seat juggling the cardboard tray of coffee and muffins. It had seemed a long way back.
"Twenty minutes to the Denver stop" came the announcement on the P.A.
"Hi Sunshine", he smiled at Caramel as he said it. "Coffee's hot, and I brought sugar and cream in case you want them. And a giant muffin, I hope you like Apple Cinnamon." He pulled down the seatback tray and set the cardboard one on it. She hadnt really moved and he sat back further in the seat, turned and lightly kissed her forehead. "Eat, you will feel better."
Caramel pulled the seatback tray down on her side as well, and then reached for the coffee and sugar. He waited for her to pick up what she wanted before he took any. After the first sip of coffee, and a small satisfied sigh, she smiled back at him and said, "Thank you. I'm sorry I'm slow waking, but thank you."
Ben opened up both packages of muffins and passe her one. "Eat, baby, it will give you energy." He saw the smile, and something else in her eyes. Time, he thought, give her time.
Denver was rolling in, or so it seemed. The early daylight seemed to highlight the city as the train approached the rolling small hills that slowly revealed Denver. The mountains behind the city were obvious now, the peaks tipped with daylight.
~~
Caramel stepped off the train for a cigarette. The Denver stop was cold. It was the first taste of a real chill in the air. The Downtown city was visible beyond the station. It was quiet, the quiet of a city on an early Saturday morning. Ben stopped long enough to touch her arm there where she stood, and then sprinted into the station.
He found the ticket desk and only two people in line. He was pleasantly surprised that his tickets were already waiting for him. He sprinted back down the hall, through the doors and out into the cold. The train seemed longer. Halfway down the platform he spotted Caramel. The red and black she wore made it easy amidst all the duller colors of the rest of the people, or maybe he was just focused. He slowed to a walk, tickets in hand as he got closer.
She was facing the other way, staring perhaps at the city. He walked up right beside her. "Hello Beautiful."
Ben slid into the seat juggling the cardboard tray of coffee and muffins. It had seemed a long way back.
"Twenty minutes to the Denver stop" came the announcement on the P.A.
"Hi Sunshine", he smiled at Caramel as he said it. "Coffee's hot, and I brought sugar and cream in case you want them. And a giant muffin, I hope you like Apple Cinnamon." He pulled down the seatback tray and set the cardboard one on it. She hadnt really moved and he sat back further in the seat, turned and lightly kissed her forehead. "Eat, you will feel better."
Caramel pulled the seatback tray down on her side as well, and then reached for the coffee and sugar. He waited for her to pick up what she wanted before he took any. After the first sip of coffee, and a small satisfied sigh, she smiled back at him and said, "Thank you. I'm sorry I'm slow waking, but thank you."
Ben opened up both packages of muffins and passe her one. "Eat, baby, it will give you energy." He saw the smile, and something else in her eyes. Time, he thought, give her time.
Denver was rolling in, or so it seemed. The early daylight seemed to highlight the city as the train approached the rolling small hills that slowly revealed Denver. The mountains behind the city were obvious now, the peaks tipped with daylight.
~~
Caramel stepped off the train for a cigarette. The Denver stop was cold. It was the first taste of a real chill in the air. The Downtown city was visible beyond the station. It was quiet, the quiet of a city on an early Saturday morning. Ben stopped long enough to touch her arm there where she stood, and then sprinted into the station.
He found the ticket desk and only two people in line. He was pleasantly surprised that his tickets were already waiting for him. He sprinted back down the hall, through the doors and out into the cold. The train seemed longer. Halfway down the platform he spotted Caramel. The red and black she wore made it easy amidst all the duller colors of the rest of the people, or maybe he was just focused. He slowed to a walk, tickets in hand as he got closer.
She was facing the other way, staring perhaps at the city. He walked up right beside her. "Hello Beautiful."
posted by Unknown at 4:56 AM
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The Zephyr. 12.
All the doubts came back in the tiny Ladies' washroom. She looked at her face in the mirror as she brushed her teeth. Morning in the mirror always showed the small wrinkles starting in her face, the smile lines her children called them. Looking at herself, she wondered why in the world Ben would have even come up to tell her who he was.
And why?! That was the question she had been searching for. Why had he come? Once the thought had popped into her brain, it wouldn't leave. Why would a thirty-something man come hundreds of miles to catch a train on the chance of meeting? Especially meeting a forty-something lady?
The face in the mirror was frowning now. Caramel absently stowed the toothbrush and paste back in the tiny travel bag. She combed her hair and then turned from the mirror. The "Why?" was running in circles through her thoughts. She wasn't rich. She wasn't beautiful like those Hollywood actresses her age. She was a widow, with concerns and children spread out over two states. Why would he have come?
Worrying happens fast, and so did the moments it took to climb back up to the seating area. She was back in her window seat stowing her bag away in her backpack long before he returned with the coffee. The smile on his face caught her by surprise once more.
And why?! That was the question she had been searching for. Why had he come? Once the thought had popped into her brain, it wouldn't leave. Why would a thirty-something man come hundreds of miles to catch a train on the chance of meeting? Especially meeting a forty-something lady?
The face in the mirror was frowning now. Caramel absently stowed the toothbrush and paste back in the tiny travel bag. She combed her hair and then turned from the mirror. The "Why?" was running in circles through her thoughts. She wasn't rich. She wasn't beautiful like those Hollywood actresses her age. She was a widow, with concerns and children spread out over two states. Why would he have come?
Worrying happens fast, and so did the moments it took to climb back up to the seating area. She was back in her window seat stowing her bag away in her backpack long before he returned with the coffee. The smile on his face caught her by surprise once more.
posted by Unknown at 4:30 AM
0 comments
Monday, November 22, 2004
The Zephyr. 11.
HER
She did doze off. So did he. When they woke in the dimness of the darkened car, they talked. They talked for hours, shared secrets, told silly stories to laugh over, and dreamed out loud to each other. And teased each other that there was no place to go. And dozed again.
She woke, sunlight coming onto her eyes. No, not the sun, but light. She closed her eyes tighter. Coffee??! Where was it?? Waking should be done slowly and with hot sweet coffee waiting to sip before the eyes really open. Slowly the movement of the train filtered into Caramel's mind and fought with the coffee need. The train! She was on the train!
Memory flooded her mind. A dream or? She wanted to dream on, and not open her eyes. A hand touched her face. "Morning" came a voice with a smile in it. She smiled back, and opened one eye to peek out.
"Caramel, how are you this morning?" Again with the smile on his face and in his voice, didn't this man know she woke slow and grumpy?
She opened both eyes now, and smiled back. "How are you?" he was asking again.
"I wake grumpy without my coffee," Caramel stuck her tongue out a tiny bit, and then laughed out loud. "I am surprisingly not stiff, and very happy. I am still surprised though." She chuckled then.
"Good! If I can surprise you and make you laugh, I've done my good turn for the day. Now I just get to be evil the rest of the day." Ben stuck his tongue out at her, and then he chuckled. "No distractions though, just time enough to arrange things. How far are you going on your ticket? Sacramento?" He reached in his pocket and pulled out a cell phone. "I need to arrange things before we get to Denver, and we will be there soon." He dialed a number, and smiled at her at the same time. "It is o.k., isn't it? A companion through Sacramento, hmmn, and where North? Eureka, Arcata, Trinidad? "
She nodded. "Arcata."
He paused a moment to push another button. "Do you have your tickets handy? Then I can match yours."
She pulled up her purse from the floor, unzipped it and got out her ticket envelope. She handed them to him to look at.
Ben spoke to a ticket agent and matched up the arrangements. He gave a credit card number to the agent and wrote a confirmation number on the back of her ticket envelope. He thanked the agent and flipped the phone shut. Caramel was still looking at him and was quiet. He laughed at her expression, handed the tickets back, and said "All arranged, I just need to pick the tickets up at Denver when we get there."
Caramel knew she was a slow waker, but this was fast. "I had something I wanted to ask you, but I haven't a clue what it is, and my mind is refusing to help."
Ben chuckled, and said " Well, I'll go get that hot coffee for you while you think on it." He stood and waited next to their seats.
She smiled. "I'll go get washed up by then." She grabbed her purse again, and a travel zip-lock out of her backpack. She ducked her head so as not to hit it on the overhead compartment, and stepped out to the aisle. Raising her head brought her almost to his chin, and she looked up to smile. He looked down and dropped a quick kiss on her lips.
"Go, and I will bring the coffee." His hand was on her back as they headed forward.
She did doze off. So did he. When they woke in the dimness of the darkened car, they talked. They talked for hours, shared secrets, told silly stories to laugh over, and dreamed out loud to each other. And teased each other that there was no place to go. And dozed again.
She woke, sunlight coming onto her eyes. No, not the sun, but light. She closed her eyes tighter. Coffee??! Where was it?? Waking should be done slowly and with hot sweet coffee waiting to sip before the eyes really open. Slowly the movement of the train filtered into Caramel's mind and fought with the coffee need. The train! She was on the train!
Memory flooded her mind. A dream or? She wanted to dream on, and not open her eyes. A hand touched her face. "Morning" came a voice with a smile in it. She smiled back, and opened one eye to peek out.
"Caramel, how are you this morning?" Again with the smile on his face and in his voice, didn't this man know she woke slow and grumpy?
She opened both eyes now, and smiled back. "How are you?" he was asking again.
"I wake grumpy without my coffee," Caramel stuck her tongue out a tiny bit, and then laughed out loud. "I am surprisingly not stiff, and very happy. I am still surprised though." She chuckled then.
"Good! If I can surprise you and make you laugh, I've done my good turn for the day. Now I just get to be evil the rest of the day." Ben stuck his tongue out at her, and then he chuckled. "No distractions though, just time enough to arrange things. How far are you going on your ticket? Sacramento?" He reached in his pocket and pulled out a cell phone. "I need to arrange things before we get to Denver, and we will be there soon." He dialed a number, and smiled at her at the same time. "It is o.k., isn't it? A companion through Sacramento, hmmn, and where North? Eureka, Arcata, Trinidad? "
She nodded. "Arcata."
He paused a moment to push another button. "Do you have your tickets handy? Then I can match yours."
She pulled up her purse from the floor, unzipped it and got out her ticket envelope. She handed them to him to look at.
Ben spoke to a ticket agent and matched up the arrangements. He gave a credit card number to the agent and wrote a confirmation number on the back of her ticket envelope. He thanked the agent and flipped the phone shut. Caramel was still looking at him and was quiet. He laughed at her expression, handed the tickets back, and said "All arranged, I just need to pick the tickets up at Denver when we get there."
Caramel knew she was a slow waker, but this was fast. "I had something I wanted to ask you, but I haven't a clue what it is, and my mind is refusing to help."
Ben chuckled, and said " Well, I'll go get that hot coffee for you while you think on it." He stood and waited next to their seats.
She smiled. "I'll go get washed up by then." She grabbed her purse again, and a travel zip-lock out of her backpack. She ducked her head so as not to hit it on the overhead compartment, and stepped out to the aisle. Raising her head brought her almost to his chin, and she looked up to smile. He looked down and dropped a quick kiss on her lips.
"Go, and I will bring the coffee." His hand was on her back as they headed forward.
posted by Unknown at 5:23 PM
1 comments
Saturday, November 20, 2004
The Zephyr. 10.
Ben smiled at her. "You were going to say how happy you are?" He smiled at her again. She smiled back and he felt like he could breathe again. He didn't think he had been holding his breath, but it felt like it.
"Yes", she smiled, "I am." and her voice held surprise.
He laid her hand between his two hands and gently rubbed it. "I just need to touch you, to make myself believe you are real; that I really have you here, that it is not another dream." He looked down at her hand in his, small in his, and suddenly tightened his hand around hers. "Tell me."
"I am real, Ben. I am very real." She said it quietly, softly, for his ears only. She slipped her hand out of his and he let it go reluctantly. She reached up and touched his cheek with her fingertips. "I am very real." He closed his eyes at the touch on his cheek and stayed silent. She reached now with both hands and framed his face between her palms. "Ben, I am really here. You are really here. Open your eyes for me." He opened his eyes to see her staring intently in his eyes. He leaned forward a hair, not wanting to move from her touch.
"Ben, oh my, just... Ben." The last, his name, came out like a sigh, a whisper, a breath. And the dream was real; she leaned forward and kissed him lightly on the lips. She moved back a fraction, and whispered "I am here. You are here."
Then he kissed her. A kiss with hunger, a kiss with the despair and fear he had felt when she said goodbye, a kiss with the anticipation and with the excitement he had felt as he caught the train. A kiss with all the nervousness and all the questioning, a kiss with the longing he felt now. And a kiss with the heady feeling he had conquered whatever it was that was hurting her, and that he had won that battle.
The kiss stopped as they both stopped to breathe. He put his arms around her and she laid her head against his chest. The feel of her leaning against him, her hair on his cheek, was momentarily overwhelming. "Oh, this is a dream, and if it is, I don't want to wake up." he whispered against her head. "Caramel, I have dreamed of holding you like this."
"I know." she whispered back. And she looked up in his eyes. "I know, because I have dreamed it too." He clutched her closer again at that.
How long can a person stay motionless? In a dim row of seats? Arms around her, he sat without moving. Feelings he didn't want to analyze ran through him. It crossed his mind that he felt like a nineteen year old ~ all heat and excitement, while at the same time he felt his age, and didn't want to move, didn't want to lose this closeness he had waited for so long, and that he had thought was lost to him.
"Is everything all right?" The voice of the Car Attendant came impinging on Caramel's ears. She looked up at the attendant, well, at his form. Her eyes seemed to be full of tears. No wonder the attendant was asking. She was crying, even though she hadn't realized it until now.
"Yes, everything is beautiful, " she assured him, and she smiled. "The gentleman is sitting with me."
"Very good," the attendant said dryly, "have a good evening." And he left.
Caramel reached up to brush her face free of tears. Ben caught her hand. "Tears?" he asked, his eyes forming the question as well.
"Just surprised, happy ones," she answered, smiling at him with rather watery eyes. "I didn't even know I was crying."
She made as if to move her hand again, but he held it fast. "Then let me, happy tears must taste of good things." And he moved closer, and began to lick the tears off her face, one by one. She caught her breath each time he licked a tear off her face. And each time, a small sound like a sigh, a small "oh", escaped her. Each time she sighed, she felt his hands squeeze slightly, clasping her, like an involuntary flexing of his hands. When the tears were gone, he moved back a bit and whispered/said her name, "Caramel," just that and nothing more. He stared down at her, and she felt him drinking her in.
Ben moved back a bit more, straightened a tad, and put his shoulders against the seat. He looked forward in the car, and said quietly, "Caramel, if you keep looking at me like that, that way, we will have to find a room." She made that small noise again, and his head turned to look at her. "Caramel! Dear God, there is nothing I want more at this moment than to make love to you. But there is no where to go. So unless you want to shock these people, sit back, my love, and rest your head here on my arm, and sleep a while. At least until our next stop. You are tired, I am tired, and damn it, there is no where to go!" He closed his eyes to shut out the look on her face, the look in her eyes. It might well take more control than he had not to make love to her right here. He thought of doing just that under his blanket, and the vision flashed through his mind. He groaned and tried to find a comfortable position to sit.
"Yes, Ben." came the quiet reply. There was a chuckle in that voice, he would swear it. She laid her head on his shoulder as he moved his arm around her more comfortably. "But this is on hold, not done." and this time he heard the chuckle, and his hand tightened again briefly at those words.
"Be good," he growled quietly, "or..."
"I will. " came the low, laughing reply.
"Yes", she smiled, "I am." and her voice held surprise.
He laid her hand between his two hands and gently rubbed it. "I just need to touch you, to make myself believe you are real; that I really have you here, that it is not another dream." He looked down at her hand in his, small in his, and suddenly tightened his hand around hers. "Tell me."
"I am real, Ben. I am very real." She said it quietly, softly, for his ears only. She slipped her hand out of his and he let it go reluctantly. She reached up and touched his cheek with her fingertips. "I am very real." He closed his eyes at the touch on his cheek and stayed silent. She reached now with both hands and framed his face between her palms. "Ben, I am really here. You are really here. Open your eyes for me." He opened his eyes to see her staring intently in his eyes. He leaned forward a hair, not wanting to move from her touch.
"Ben, oh my, just... Ben." The last, his name, came out like a sigh, a whisper, a breath. And the dream was real; she leaned forward and kissed him lightly on the lips. She moved back a fraction, and whispered "I am here. You are here."
Then he kissed her. A kiss with hunger, a kiss with the despair and fear he had felt when she said goodbye, a kiss with the anticipation and with the excitement he had felt as he caught the train. A kiss with all the nervousness and all the questioning, a kiss with the longing he felt now. And a kiss with the heady feeling he had conquered whatever it was that was hurting her, and that he had won that battle.
The kiss stopped as they both stopped to breathe. He put his arms around her and she laid her head against his chest. The feel of her leaning against him, her hair on his cheek, was momentarily overwhelming. "Oh, this is a dream, and if it is, I don't want to wake up." he whispered against her head. "Caramel, I have dreamed of holding you like this."
"I know." she whispered back. And she looked up in his eyes. "I know, because I have dreamed it too." He clutched her closer again at that.
How long can a person stay motionless? In a dim row of seats? Arms around her, he sat without moving. Feelings he didn't want to analyze ran through him. It crossed his mind that he felt like a nineteen year old ~ all heat and excitement, while at the same time he felt his age, and didn't want to move, didn't want to lose this closeness he had waited for so long, and that he had thought was lost to him.
"Is everything all right?" The voice of the Car Attendant came impinging on Caramel's ears. She looked up at the attendant, well, at his form. Her eyes seemed to be full of tears. No wonder the attendant was asking. She was crying, even though she hadn't realized it until now.
"Yes, everything is beautiful, " she assured him, and she smiled. "The gentleman is sitting with me."
"Very good," the attendant said dryly, "have a good evening." And he left.
Caramel reached up to brush her face free of tears. Ben caught her hand. "Tears?" he asked, his eyes forming the question as well.
"Just surprised, happy ones," she answered, smiling at him with rather watery eyes. "I didn't even know I was crying."
She made as if to move her hand again, but he held it fast. "Then let me, happy tears must taste of good things." And he moved closer, and began to lick the tears off her face, one by one. She caught her breath each time he licked a tear off her face. And each time, a small sound like a sigh, a small "oh", escaped her. Each time she sighed, she felt his hands squeeze slightly, clasping her, like an involuntary flexing of his hands. When the tears were gone, he moved back a bit and whispered/said her name, "Caramel," just that and nothing more. He stared down at her, and she felt him drinking her in.
Ben moved back a bit more, straightened a tad, and put his shoulders against the seat. He looked forward in the car, and said quietly, "Caramel, if you keep looking at me like that, that way, we will have to find a room." She made that small noise again, and his head turned to look at her. "Caramel! Dear God, there is nothing I want more at this moment than to make love to you. But there is no where to go. So unless you want to shock these people, sit back, my love, and rest your head here on my arm, and sleep a while. At least until our next stop. You are tired, I am tired, and damn it, there is no where to go!" He closed his eyes to shut out the look on her face, the look in her eyes. It might well take more control than he had not to make love to her right here. He thought of doing just that under his blanket, and the vision flashed through his mind. He groaned and tried to find a comfortable position to sit.
"Yes, Ben." came the quiet reply. There was a chuckle in that voice, he would swear it. She laid her head on his shoulder as he moved his arm around her more comfortably. "But this is on hold, not done." and this time he heard the chuckle, and his hand tightened again briefly at those words.
"Be good," he growled quietly, "or..."
"I will. " came the low, laughing reply.
posted by Unknown at 1:52 AM
0 comments
The Zephyr . 9.
She moved so suddenly he was surprised. She hugged him and then sat back and said his name again. "Adam!" Then she hugged him again. She sat back and he grabbed her hand once more. This was not going to be easy still and he wanted to touch her to make sure it was real.
"Adam, I mean Ben, oh I will forever be calling you Adam, " she said randomly, " How did you? I mean where, how?"
He squeezed her hand gently. "I had to come. You sounded, well, so final. You said you had a vague desire to travel, to change. Then suddenly one day you were so quiet. The next, you logged on and said you would see me---when you got back and you didn't know when that would be, and then you said Goodbye, which you never do. I had to come."
"But how?" She motioned with her hand at the train car around them.
"You told me where you were going, to Sacramento. There is only one train leaving the Midwest to Sacramento each day. I had to take the chance. I booked to Denver in case I was wrong." He watched her face. He was waiting. There was bound to be more, and he hoped her expressions would give him enough warning.
"Oh my God, you followed me!" Her eyes opened wide. A flicker in them saved him.
"Followed, no! No! I came, that is, I came to meet you, to catch you. well, before..." He stopped again, not sure how to say it. Where was his glib tongue now?
"To catch me? Before?" Her eyebrows raised. "To catch me before what?" He didn't like that look. Something flashed in her eyes he didn't like.
"To catch you before you said Goodbye, for good. To tell you in person." He halted again, unsure. Her eyes were still flashing.
"And that would be?" This steely voiced woman, ack, he was losing her. Inspiration hit.
"To tell you in person," he raised her hand to his lips and kissed it. "This, and this." He turned her hand over and kissed the palm. He looked back in her eyes. The flashing was gone.
"Adam, er, Ben, I don't..." She stopped when he kissed her palm again as he stared in her eyes. "I don't," He caressed her hand and kept his eyes on hers. "I don't..."
"Yes, my Caramel?" He almost purred the words.
"I don't know what I was going to say," she got out as he kissed the inside of her wrist. "Oh my God, Adam, Ben." She fell silent, staring into his eyes.
"Adam, I mean Ben, oh I will forever be calling you Adam, " she said randomly, " How did you? I mean where, how?"
He squeezed her hand gently. "I had to come. You sounded, well, so final. You said you had a vague desire to travel, to change. Then suddenly one day you were so quiet. The next, you logged on and said you would see me---when you got back and you didn't know when that would be, and then you said Goodbye, which you never do. I had to come."
"But how?" She motioned with her hand at the train car around them.
"You told me where you were going, to Sacramento. There is only one train leaving the Midwest to Sacramento each day. I had to take the chance. I booked to Denver in case I was wrong." He watched her face. He was waiting. There was bound to be more, and he hoped her expressions would give him enough warning.
"Oh my God, you followed me!" Her eyes opened wide. A flicker in them saved him.
"Followed, no! No! I came, that is, I came to meet you, to catch you. well, before..." He stopped again, not sure how to say it. Where was his glib tongue now?
"To catch me? Before?" Her eyebrows raised. "To catch me before what?" He didn't like that look. Something flashed in her eyes he didn't like.
"To catch you before you said Goodbye, for good. To tell you in person." He halted again, unsure. Her eyes were still flashing.
"And that would be?" This steely voiced woman, ack, he was losing her. Inspiration hit.
"To tell you in person," he raised her hand to his lips and kissed it. "This, and this." He turned her hand over and kissed the palm. He looked back in her eyes. The flashing was gone.
"Adam, er, Ben, I don't..." She stopped when he kissed her palm again as he stared in her eyes. "I don't," He caressed her hand and kept his eyes on hers. "I don't..."
"Yes, my Caramel?" He almost purred the words.
"I don't know what I was going to say," she got out as he kissed the inside of her wrist. "Oh my God, Adam, Ben." She fell silent, staring into his eyes.
posted by Unknown at 1:50 AM
0 comments
Tuesday, November 09, 2004
The Zephyr . 8.
Caramel... If I am mistaken, I'll go, but..." he stopped. "I'm Ben, well, Benjamin. You know me as GrizzlyAdam. Adam..." He stopped again, waiting.
"Adam?? My Adam? " Surprise and shock showed on her face, while her words were quiet. She just kept staring at him. "My Adam?" she repeated with a new tone. He didn't know if it sounded happy, or shocked, or get the hell out of here. He didn't know what to think yet.
"May I sit down? he asked, and prayed silently.
"Sit!? Oh yes, sit here, " and she scrambled to toss the pillow, coat and purse to the floor at her feet. Her face was hidden while she did it and he was dying to know what her eyes would tell him.
He slid into the seat next to her, and nodded to the ladies in front. They turned back in their seats but he knew they were still listening. Then he steeled himself to turn and look at her.
"Adam?" she asked again, still in that quiet voice. The look didn't tell him anything yet.
He looked down a moment , and did what he had wanted to do for months. He took her hand. He looked up at her and smiled. "Your Adam."
"Oh my God! Oh my God! Oh my God!" This time her voice wasn't quiet. The ladies in front jumped. "Adam!!" She nearly yelled it, and smiles broke out on the ladies' faces because it was easy to tell this time she didn't need them to interfere.
"Adam?? My Adam? " Surprise and shock showed on her face, while her words were quiet. She just kept staring at him. "My Adam?" she repeated with a new tone. He didn't know if it sounded happy, or shocked, or get the hell out of here. He didn't know what to think yet.
"May I sit down? he asked, and prayed silently.
"Sit!? Oh yes, sit here, " and she scrambled to toss the pillow, coat and purse to the floor at her feet. Her face was hidden while she did it and he was dying to know what her eyes would tell him.
He slid into the seat next to her, and nodded to the ladies in front. They turned back in their seats but he knew they were still listening. Then he steeled himself to turn and look at her.
"Adam?" she asked again, still in that quiet voice. The look didn't tell him anything yet.
He looked down a moment , and did what he had wanted to do for months. He took her hand. He looked up at her and smiled. "Your Adam."
"Oh my God! Oh my God! Oh my God!" This time her voice wasn't quiet. The ladies in front jumped. "Adam!!" She nearly yelled it, and smiles broke out on the ladies' faces because it was easy to tell this time she didn't need them to interfere.
posted by Unknown at 5:41 PM
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The Zephyr . 7.
He stepped in the aisle to just in front of her row, and placed his hand on the edge of the seat there. This was it. He stood silent, gathering nerve. She was arranging things in her seat area. He waited. She looked up and smiled.
"Caramel?" He pronounced the name slowly, and as in the spanish, almost 'Car-a-mel'. He thought he was prepared for anything. The emotions he saw flit over her face were so many that he was suddenly afraid. Afraid it wasn't her, that he had missed her after all. Afraid it was her and she would turn away, or that she wouldn't turn away, but be disappointed in him.
The surprised look gave way to a questioning look. "Yes, thats my name." At his hesitation, she smiled slightly. "Can I help you with something?" The look on her face changed again. As he watched, a look he had seen a thousand times on people who deal with the public came on her face.Impersonal, but helpful. He felt a flicker of anger almost that she didn't recognize him. Then the momentary fear again that she would turn away.
He realized she had repeated it again. "May I help you with something?" The ladies in front were turning now, ready to somehow defend her if she needed it. He heard, but didn't focus on their murmurs of support for her.
"Caramel?" He pronounced the name slowly, and as in the spanish, almost 'Car-a-mel'. He thought he was prepared for anything. The emotions he saw flit over her face were so many that he was suddenly afraid. Afraid it wasn't her, that he had missed her after all. Afraid it was her and she would turn away, or that she wouldn't turn away, but be disappointed in him.
The surprised look gave way to a questioning look. "Yes, thats my name." At his hesitation, she smiled slightly. "Can I help you with something?" The look on her face changed again. As he watched, a look he had seen a thousand times on people who deal with the public came on her face.Impersonal, but helpful. He felt a flicker of anger almost that she didn't recognize him. Then the momentary fear again that she would turn away.
He realized she had repeated it again. "May I help you with something?" The ladies in front were turning now, ready to somehow defend her if she needed it. He heard, but didn't focus on their murmurs of support for her.
posted by Unknown at 5:04 PM
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The Zephyr . 6.
HIM
"Lincoln Nebraska!" The Attendant nodded to the smokers. "Six minutes here."
The smokers filed out onto the station platform. He went outside with them. Small comments were being tossed back and forth about the cold at this time past midnight. The was nothing he could pinpoint in the comments to help. More and more however he thought he could tell which she was. Only one wore red.
If it was her, then she was the passenger sitting 2 rows in front of him, also on the "left". He didn't want to lose any time with her, yet it was fascinating to watch and observe her without her knowing. No pretenses, no guards were up. She was just acting like herself. Small chatting with her neighbors, pleasant smiles, and when the Attendant gave her two pillows, she offered one to a neighbor. She watched out the window, at what he couldn't tell in the darkness. He had hoped that she would say something, maybe even her name outside with the smokers. She never spoke her name once.
He narrowed the distance between them and opened his mouth to say something, and the train whistle blew. Damn! She smiled at him and got on the train. Climbing up the small staircase to the upper level where the seats were, he was determined to wait no more.
People were filing into their seats slowly. The train door shut audibly below on the lower level. He hung back a moment to compose his thoughts. This was it, something would come to him.
"Lincoln Nebraska!" The Attendant nodded to the smokers. "Six minutes here."
The smokers filed out onto the station platform. He went outside with them. Small comments were being tossed back and forth about the cold at this time past midnight. The was nothing he could pinpoint in the comments to help. More and more however he thought he could tell which she was. Only one wore red.
If it was her, then she was the passenger sitting 2 rows in front of him, also on the "left". He didn't want to lose any time with her, yet it was fascinating to watch and observe her without her knowing. No pretenses, no guards were up. She was just acting like herself. Small chatting with her neighbors, pleasant smiles, and when the Attendant gave her two pillows, she offered one to a neighbor. She watched out the window, at what he couldn't tell in the darkness. He had hoped that she would say something, maybe even her name outside with the smokers. She never spoke her name once.
He narrowed the distance between them and opened his mouth to say something, and the train whistle blew. Damn! She smiled at him and got on the train. Climbing up the small staircase to the upper level where the seats were, he was determined to wait no more.
People were filing into their seats slowly. The train door shut audibly below on the lower level. He hung back a moment to compose his thoughts. This was it, something would come to him.
posted by Unknown at 5:02 PM
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The Zephyr .5.
"Omaha!" The lights were still dim, but the Attendant came through and announced it quietly. The two ladies from in front stood, gathered jackets and purses. "What?" thought Caramel to herself, "Ahh." The ladies both carried cigarettes. This must be a stop to pick up passengers where you could get off the train to smoke. Caramel laughed silently to herself. Her one remaining bad habit, and she apparently wasn't going to have to give it up after all. As always, she remembered the post card she had sent a friend in college as a joke, "I gave up smoking, drinking and sex" which, when you flipped it over then stated" The funeral is tomorrow." She grabbed her raincoat, purse and headed out after them. Down the mini-stairs and out to the exit.
The Attendant was not right there, but the smokers were. No new passengers were visible yet. She quietly lit her cigarette and started observing once more. She chuckled inwardly at that too ~ she did a lot of observing now rather than doing. The trip was her first "Doing" she had done in a very long time.
Way far down next to the middle of train, the new passengers began to filter onto the platform. A few were pointed down toward her car, the farthest, by the same Car Attendant who took care of her car, and perhaps more.
She calmly finished her cigarette and began to think about getting back on the train before the seats could fill. The she stopped and decided she still had time, and she would be on the train long enough. Observing was more fun.
Most of the new passengers did not actually look anyone in the eyes except when they spoke to the Attendant. A few looked at everyone. The smokers next to her talked among themselves and generally gave the new passengers room to board without having to walk through smoke.
One of the new passengers stopped outside with the smokers and stood a moment. He put his suitcase down, straightened his jacket, and reached in a pocket. A cigarette appeared from his pocket and he lit it, seemingly without looking, for he was looking at the other smokers. He looked at each in the eyes, one by one, and nodded casually as if saying hello. He didn't join the conversations, but remained , observing she thought, much as she did.
The Car Attendant broke Caramel's train of thought when he swung the metal step stool onto the car in front of hers, and then walked back to her car. He stated they had finished boarding and they were good to go in now.. The young man put his cigarette out , grabbed his case, and headed in as did the others. Caramel boarded the train and headed back up the tiny stairs to her seat. The clang of her car's step stool hitting the floor sounded, and then the great door closed at the same time the train started moving again. Once more they moved through the darkness.
The Attendant was not right there, but the smokers were. No new passengers were visible yet. She quietly lit her cigarette and started observing once more. She chuckled inwardly at that too ~ she did a lot of observing now rather than doing. The trip was her first "Doing" she had done in a very long time.
Way far down next to the middle of train, the new passengers began to filter onto the platform. A few were pointed down toward her car, the farthest, by the same Car Attendant who took care of her car, and perhaps more.
She calmly finished her cigarette and began to think about getting back on the train before the seats could fill. The she stopped and decided she still had time, and she would be on the train long enough. Observing was more fun.
Most of the new passengers did not actually look anyone in the eyes except when they spoke to the Attendant. A few looked at everyone. The smokers next to her talked among themselves and generally gave the new passengers room to board without having to walk through smoke.
One of the new passengers stopped outside with the smokers and stood a moment. He put his suitcase down, straightened his jacket, and reached in a pocket. A cigarette appeared from his pocket and he lit it, seemingly without looking, for he was looking at the other smokers. He looked at each in the eyes, one by one, and nodded casually as if saying hello. He didn't join the conversations, but remained , observing she thought, much as she did.
The Car Attendant broke Caramel's train of thought when he swung the metal step stool onto the car in front of hers, and then walked back to her car. He stated they had finished boarding and they were good to go in now.. The young man put his cigarette out , grabbed his case, and headed in as did the others. Caramel boarded the train and headed back up the tiny stairs to her seat. The clang of her car's step stool hitting the floor sounded, and then the great door closed at the same time the train started moving again. Once more they moved through the darkness.
posted by Unknown at 3:47 PM
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The Zephyr. 4.
The lights in the car dimmed and she reached for the tiny spotlight that was there for reading. Adjusting it and breathing a sigh of relief that it was adjustable, she continued jotting down odd thoughts and observations.
Suddenly her thoughts turned to why she was making the trip. She smiled at the thought of her family at the other end of the journey. It would be so good to hug them again. She closed the notebook and arranged her pillow. Out came her soft raincoat to use as a blanket, and she settled down. The ladies in the two seats in front of her continued talking. One directly in front of her, two rows up and also on the "left" of the aisle, was talking to another lady one row up from Caramel, but on the "right" of the aisle. They were comparing times on their watches, and the left lady stated "Two hours til the next stop." They then settled down as well, and all became quiet. Caramel dozed off in a contented drowse as the train settled into a rhythm that was vaguely comforting.
Suddenly her thoughts turned to why she was making the trip. She smiled at the thought of her family at the other end of the journey. It would be so good to hug them again. She closed the notebook and arranged her pillow. Out came her soft raincoat to use as a blanket, and she settled down. The ladies in the two seats in front of her continued talking. One directly in front of her, two rows up and also on the "left" of the aisle, was talking to another lady one row up from Caramel, but on the "right" of the aisle. They were comparing times on their watches, and the left lady stated "Two hours til the next stop." They then settled down as well, and all became quiet. Caramel dozed off in a contented drowse as the train settled into a rhythm that was vaguely comforting.
posted by Unknown at 3:46 PM
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The Zephyr . 3
HER
She sat there writing in her journal. She wasn't sure who would ever read it but her, but it was a fun thought to imagine reading it years from now and see the whole thing in her mind like a movie.
She could envision all over the race through the night. Construction and the clueless slowed down the pace. The minutes kept dropping off the clock. The train was in the station, there were people getting on the train. She ran from the car into the station. No one there but an old drunk in the corner. She paced a moment, thinking what to do, and peered out the glass of the door at the train. She stepped back to the counter.
The door from the train side of the station opened and in strode a laughing man. "I bet you are here for a ticket."
She passed him her ID card, "Caramel Dulce". He pulled out the prepared ticket from the counter desk and passed it through the window.
He then started laughing again. "Cutting it a bit close, no? It's out that door to the left."
She half dashed, half stumbled through the door, trying to run with her suitcase. A Conductor was waiting at the train, and waived her to the last car. Up the stairs with the bag was no easy task, for the stairs were narrow and made to fit in a small space while her bag was definitely not. She decided quickly at the top of the stairs and turned left toward the back of the car. Seats were available by the windows there and she definitely wanted to see everything she could.
Caramel thought, " I made it right on the dot when I handed him the ID, and a minute late onto the train itself, but I made it. The train was still there because I had prepaid my ticket. "
Ironically, just as they closed the doors behind her, the engineer came out on the P.A. to advise that bad weather ahead had generated a call from the main office and the train was to wait for the go-ahead.
A cross-country train ride was a treat she had given herself. It was a desire left over from being a child. She intended to absorb every part of it, to view everything, and sleep could come later.
The Conductor brought her a pillow and asked if she needed a blanket. She smiled at him and declined the blanket. He moved on down the aisle and she noticed he checked with each person. The excitement of finally getting to do the trip was amazing.
She began to jot down the notes that would bring it all back later. The bag someone had made of a zippered blanket bag. The Reclining seats that had mesh pockets on the backs. The funny smell - half pleasant and half , well, half something she couldn't place for the moment. It wasn't unpleasant, just... just a tiny bit odd.
The announcement came over the PA that they had the go-ahead now and would be leaving the station. The train began moving, and the rain meant she she could focus on the inside without missing anything outside. The PA was then taken over by a man who began listing the times the Dining Car would be open, and the times the Lounge/Snack Car would be open. Or she thought that was what he was saying, it was too low to be clear. She fleetingly wondered if food was available 24 hours a day, or just at meal times.
The ride itself was a bit like driving on rough country roads, without the need to slow for tractors. There was a far-away sound of the train whistle, frequent in the rural area they were in. The whistle blew each time they approached a road or town she supposed. She was suddenly glad her destination had placed her in the last car. The whistle would be amusing, but not irritating. Closer at hand, she could hear part of a conversation taking place at the far end of the car. The conductor was telling amusing stories to the children riding there. Their laughter, and that of the adults in that spot made her laugh all the way in the back half of the car where she sat.
The words came on the PA that the weather looked better ahead, and that the cars would now be dimmed for the benefit of those who wished to sleep. The Conductor, or Car Attendant as he called himself, had achieved his goal. The children settled down in giggling pairs, and even the adults looked much more comfortable. They didn't seem at all worried about the wind or weather now.
She had pulled out her journal notebook and started to record the trip. There, up to date, and not even painful.
She sat there writing in her journal. She wasn't sure who would ever read it but her, but it was a fun thought to imagine reading it years from now and see the whole thing in her mind like a movie.
She could envision all over the race through the night. Construction and the clueless slowed down the pace. The minutes kept dropping off the clock. The train was in the station, there were people getting on the train. She ran from the car into the station. No one there but an old drunk in the corner. She paced a moment, thinking what to do, and peered out the glass of the door at the train. She stepped back to the counter.
The door from the train side of the station opened and in strode a laughing man. "I bet you are here for a ticket."
She passed him her ID card, "Caramel Dulce". He pulled out the prepared ticket from the counter desk and passed it through the window.
He then started laughing again. "Cutting it a bit close, no? It's out that door to the left."
She half dashed, half stumbled through the door, trying to run with her suitcase. A Conductor was waiting at the train, and waived her to the last car. Up the stairs with the bag was no easy task, for the stairs were narrow and made to fit in a small space while her bag was definitely not. She decided quickly at the top of the stairs and turned left toward the back of the car. Seats were available by the windows there and she definitely wanted to see everything she could.
Caramel thought, " I made it right on the dot when I handed him the ID, and a minute late onto the train itself, but I made it. The train was still there because I had prepaid my ticket. "
Ironically, just as they closed the doors behind her, the engineer came out on the P.A. to advise that bad weather ahead had generated a call from the main office and the train was to wait for the go-ahead.
A cross-country train ride was a treat she had given herself. It was a desire left over from being a child. She intended to absorb every part of it, to view everything, and sleep could come later.
The Conductor brought her a pillow and asked if she needed a blanket. She smiled at him and declined the blanket. He moved on down the aisle and she noticed he checked with each person. The excitement of finally getting to do the trip was amazing.
She began to jot down the notes that would bring it all back later. The bag someone had made of a zippered blanket bag. The Reclining seats that had mesh pockets on the backs. The funny smell - half pleasant and half , well, half something she couldn't place for the moment. It wasn't unpleasant, just... just a tiny bit odd.
The announcement came over the PA that they had the go-ahead now and would be leaving the station. The train began moving, and the rain meant she she could focus on the inside without missing anything outside. The PA was then taken over by a man who began listing the times the Dining Car would be open, and the times the Lounge/Snack Car would be open. Or she thought that was what he was saying, it was too low to be clear. She fleetingly wondered if food was available 24 hours a day, or just at meal times.
The ride itself was a bit like driving on rough country roads, without the need to slow for tractors. There was a far-away sound of the train whistle, frequent in the rural area they were in. The whistle blew each time they approached a road or town she supposed. She was suddenly glad her destination had placed her in the last car. The whistle would be amusing, but not irritating. Closer at hand, she could hear part of a conversation taking place at the far end of the car. The conductor was telling amusing stories to the children riding there. Their laughter, and that of the adults in that spot made her laugh all the way in the back half of the car where she sat.
The words came on the PA that the weather looked better ahead, and that the cars would now be dimmed for the benefit of those who wished to sleep. The Conductor, or Car Attendant as he called himself, had achieved his goal. The children settled down in giggling pairs, and even the adults looked much more comfortable. They didn't seem at all worried about the wind or weather now.
She had pulled out her journal notebook and started to record the trip. There, up to date, and not even painful.
posted by Unknown at 3:41 PM
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