Train Ride

Two men and a woman were sitting near each other on a train. They got on at the same time, at a provincial stop near the headwaters of the great river, and were going to the same place. Nothing exciting; another provincial stop, little more than a paved-over junction by a town with a paper mill. But the trip would take about two hours.

One man was younger, though he appeared much more so than he was. He had light stubble and a high forehead. The bit of chest that showed above his collar still looked strong. The other man had real whiskers and a few wrinkles around his eyes He kept his shirt buttoned close. Really they were only a few years apart.

The young man chatted up the woman, who had short blonde hair and a curious, frowning smile whenever anything amused her. She wore a wide-collared blouse and a coarse-knit sweater with a plain skirt. Her breasts were small but it did not deter the young man, who liked them in all ways.

After a few minutes they got friendly. The young man loved puns and wordplay and tried his best to impress the lady, who he found out was a biller and a little prudish. This is when he found out about the frowning smile, which can best be approximated by the shape of a recurved bow. He didn’t know at first how to take it. Which segment could be trusted? Was the giggles gave her away. Also how her legs moved slightly apart as she relaxed, causing the dense fabric of her skirt to dimple in her lap.

He went on as such for a few more minutes. The older man, who had been sitting very quietly, hardly looking out the window even, scowled at them. “Why don’t you two settle down,” he demanded.

Although we have already said the woman was a bit shy and not very sophisticated, it was she who spoke up. “Oh let us be. We are only trying to pass the time.”

“Look, it’s only a two-hour ride. Why can’t you just sit quietly.”