The Morning Train

The door slammed and shook the earth and sense of well being with it. “That was the absolute worst date of my life” Gigi roared.

Georgia, Gigi’s grandmother and namesake was sitting at the kitchen bar with a book and glass of wine and had been basking in her solitude while her great grand baby slept.

“It’s a good thing that kid can sleep through a train wreck, with that grand entrance of yours my dear” Georgia said with a hint of annoyance in her voice.

“I’m sorry, it was just a bad night. What are you drinking Mawmaw?”

“My usual end of the night glass of Merlot. What happened tonight darling?” Georgia asked.

“I don’t want to waste another thought on it Mawmaw, but what I will say, is that I am done, done, with internet dating.”

Georgia looked down and chose her words carefully. “Darling, I don’t envy your generation. There has been a loss of intimacy and magic with all this computer hogwash. It's so impersonal and disconnected now.”

Gigi reached above her grandmother and grabbed one of the wine glasses that hung above her like a connoisseur’s chandelier. She poured herself a generous glass and asked, “Would you tell me what it was like dating when you were young?”

Georgia laughed her hefty laugh that always felt too big for her small frame. “Well, I can say that it really depended on the boy.” Georgia patted the stool next to her, “Come my dear, sit next to me.”

Georgia stared pensively at the ground for some time. “Okay, I’ll tell you about a very special first date, first and last date really. The most wonderful date.”

“You've got my attention,” Gigi proclaimed.

“It was 1956 and I was on the cusp of my seventeenth year. Born, raised and never stepped more than a stone's throw out of Little Rock. The day was warm and humid. Grey clouds covered the city creating the feeling of being trapped in a snow globe but without the snow. As I walked along the train tracks, my attention was drawn away from the highly entertaining activity of kicking rocks and onto a young man jumping out of a boxcar. It was not the first time I had seen a freight train rider, but this man was handsome and clean unlike the usual grease stained men who leak from the train’s crevices. When he turned around our eyes caught each other’s. My heart froze and my stomach felt like it was battling for room in my chest. When time started again, we both shyly looked away. Him, with a devilish smile, and me, back to my rocks. I floated home.

The following morning I saw the young man digging holes for Reverend Turnbuckle. Again, our eyes locked and I nearly tripped. My face reddened and I quickened my pace to school. All day my mind wandered to him. That afternoon I saw him waiting with a daisy in hand. He looked directly at me and my heart melted.”

“Mawmaw, I love this story already. A single daisy, how sweet.” Gigi gushed as she emptied the bottle into their glasses.

“He walked right up to me and rambled with the most beautiful voice, ‘Good afternoon Miss, I hope you will accept this humble gift that I know is not worthy of you but is just a fraction of your grace and beauty.’

‘Pleased to meet you,’ I said and gave him a questioning look.

‘Oh yes, where is my head?’ He reached his hand out. ‘I’m James, Jumpin’ James. Jumpin’ because, well.’ His voice trailed off in embarrassment. ‘I guess that's pretty obvious.’ His pink cheeks gave away his nervousness which calmed my own.

‘Pleased to meet you James. My name is Georgia.’ I said with more confidence than I thought I could muster.

‘The pleasure is all mine.’ James replied. We parted just a little shinier and lighter.

It went on like this for a week and through these daily interactions that grew longer with each passing day, our nerves settled and we felt at ease with each other.

It was a Friday and my birthday was the next day. I was feeling restless and I told him so. James asked me if I trusted him which I thought was a strange question. But I did trust him, more than I probably ought. He then asked me if I would sneak out and meet him at 4am the next morning. I told him there was no need to sneak out as my Paw was away for work and I didn’t have a Ma. He offered his condolences and then said ‘Splendid, and bring a warm sweater with you.’

My curiosity and imagination ran wild. I made two bologna sandwiches and stuffed them, a bottle of water, and a sweater into my bag. James was sitting on the edge of a high wall dangling his feet in a daydream. As he saw me, he jumped down hiding something behind his back. He stood in front of me, and like a magician, materialized a beautiful wild flower bouquet. He took me by the hand, kissed the back of it which shot red through my cheeks and placed the flowers in my grasp, then whisked me away.

We found ourselves in the train yard and I began to feel nervous but let go of the thoughts. I knew an adventure was to be had and I was in need of one. James picked up a long stick and thoughtlessly moved rocks around as we walked along the southbound train cars. They spoke their language of sighs and gushes and screams. The train moved forward, then back and as it settled back down, James directed me to the boxcar he had chosen. He bent down on the rocky ground and motioned me to climb onto his back. He lifted up and I nearly flew into the car. Then with ease, he hopped in himself. He lodged the long stick into a crevice and explained that it would keep the doors from locking shut. I had to admit, I was exhilarated. Just then, the train made a noisy jerk and we slowly started to move. We hid out of sight for ten minutes then he plopped down and let his feet dangle over the edge. I followed suit. The wind in my hair and not knowing where I was going felt amazing. With the wind freely taking its liberties with my dress, the chill got to me and I put my sweater on. We sat in silence as the sun rose through the mountains to the east. He picked up my hand and held it between his. He then placed something in it. It was a small crescent moon pendant. It was a little well loved but beautiful. I looked at him and as I was about to thank him, he kissed me on the cheek. ‘Happy birthday Georgia,’ he whispered. We held hands and watched the perfect landscape in silence. When the sun had fully risen, he told me stories about his travels and characters he had met. About his family and what led him to this life. I found myself with a gaping mouth of disbelief which made him laugh. To this day, still the best laugh I’ve ever heard.

The land was wild and we passed landscapes that only a few were blessed to witness. When the train slowed into a yard, James jumped from the train and ran along it with his hand reaching to me.

‘Are you crazy James? I can’t jump from a moving train’ I screeched with unbridled fear.

‘I’ve got you, I won’t let anything happen to you,’ he said with a voice that couldn’t help but calm me.

I sat down and as I scooted my bum off the cold floor, he caught me with only a small stumble. In one movement, he lowered me to the ground and took my hand. ‘We have a few hours to kill before our train arrives, follow me,’ he said excitedly.

He led me down a hill and through a hole in the fence. We walked down a narrow dirt road with lush foliage cradling it. As the road came to an end, James moved brush aside and urged me to enter. I ducked down and walked through for a few feet until it opened up. When I stood up, a large pond came into view. ‘It’s beautiful’ I said. I could see clear water rushing in from a fast moving stream. Just then, from behind, James shed his pack, shirt and trousers down to his boxers and ran towards the water. He jumped in with a ‘Yahoooooo’ and a great splash.

I stood in shock. It took me some seconds to contemplate what to do before I stripped my own clothes off. Of course I left my slip on as I was still a lady.”

A small cry came from the nursery and yanked both Georgia's back to the small Paris flat they sat in.

Gigi put her wine glass down and whispered “Merde” under her voice. “I’ll be right back Mawmaw, can you open another bottle?”

“No hurry darling,” Georgia assured. While she waited, a smile crept onto her face as she remembered all the fun she and James had in the pond that magical carefree day. The splashing war, a game of chase, rope swing competitions, handstands, and skipping rocks. The shy courtship water dance they stumbled through. And the kiss. Her first kiss. The sweetest kiss under the shade of a tree, bodies close and half submerged while the sun sparkled in the water around them like diamonds. Georgia was lost in thought when her granddaughter returned from the nursery.

“She’s asleep, all is well. You didn't open another bottle Mawmaw? This story calls for one.”

“Sorry darling, I was lost in thought,” Georgia said dreamily.

“Cleary'' Gigi joked.

The cork made an extra loud pop as Gigi opened the bottle bringing Georgia back to present day. She poured a conservative amount and rolled it around her glass a minute before sipping it.

“Okay, tell me more, I’m enthralled.” Gigi rushed. Simultaneously, they looked at each other and clinked wine glasses.

“Santé,” both ladies said with a nod.

“Back to the story.” But not really being able to go backwards, Georgia skipped some details.

“Well my dear, it was a magical day James and I shared. We played like children in the water and we shared a kiss. We had so much fun, we nearly forgot our hunger. After we had our fill of the water, he pulled out his blanket from his pack and laid it on the ground.

‘Please excuse the musty smell, I haven't aired it out in a while’ James said shyly.

I had to admit, it did have a smell but it wasn’t all that bad and I kind of liked it as it smelled like him. I sat down without hesitation and pulled out the two sandwiches and water bottle. As we ate, we stole knowing glances and could not wipe the smiles off our faces.

We packed up our belongings and headed back to the train yard. As the sun set on the train ride home in all its majestic hues, James had one more birthday surprise. He pulled out a small glass bottle and two paper cups he had brought for the occasion and filled them with wine.

Holding up his glass, he said, ‘Make a wish for the life you want to live in this world.’

As our cups touched, we looked at each other and with a nod released those wishes out of the train and into the world. That was the greatest gift. I always wondered what he wished for. I never saw him again after that day. I’d like to think he is out there living his wish just as I am living mine.”