Before the Lights Fade old new original

Hans choice

Quite a ride ahead of us do you want a drink"? Han popped the cork off a bottle of champagne offering some from his suitcase. He poured a glass.

Nah I'm ok", so how's your life been"? Asked Tom. He thought of Hans daughter Paige and smiled as he sat down next to the window looking out. The train was picking up speed.  It would be a forty minute ride out to Wisconsin from here in Chicago. The skyscrapers shined against the background as they left away from them.

We're good, When I left, Leo had a job waiting for me. I got a apartment and things are going well. I really hope you like it out here in the country".

He looked at Tom for a reassurance but felt an air of cold. He sighed and took a sip of his glass.

The train car bounced as Tom sat up against the window. the train continued on, rain blew in tiny flecks across the trees and the wondrous fields they passed. he saw little houses, small villages fly by a matter of minutes. The train bounced them up and down returning a stead.

Finally Han spoke again trying to calculate his words. He was unsure of how to do this. His black hair and brow were sweat filled.

"I'd asked you to come with me". Said Han."Before all of this, Remember"?

Tom sighed turned and looked at Han who was reading a book opposite him and looked up.

"I really do understand why you left and I kind of. He took a breath, I'm glad you found your way, I am willing to give it a chance. "Drop it please", Tom pleaded. I just want to find some work",

Han looked up his bluish green eyes glimmered behind his glass. dark black hair shined under the cars lights , he nodded frowning turned back to his book. It was a Star Wars trilogy book.

Tom thought he looked good. Han was taller than Tom by a couple inches. eyes the color of  green water. Toms eyes were blue also but he had blond hair like his mother.

He had missed his brother and thought back to their childhood.

"you know it really doesn't matter that much it was a long time ago and now everything's going to be set straight". said Tom he brushed a piece of his blond hair out of his face and looked over at Han. his crystal blue eyes shined back at him.

Han sighed slowly smiling. "Yeah, That sounds good".

"Tom we gotta cut your hair though, It's long". He brushed a hand over Toms hair pushing it forward.

"Don't start", laughed Tom. Han smiled.

Later...

The trees whizzed by and the brakes were put on. Tom lurched forward.

The nice red bed sat behind them a twin poster bed with red curtains and the room was a nice dark wood color. the floor was smooth and nice the sides reminded them of a log cabin. what had they been thinking about this train when they added this line. but then Tom looked over at Han who interrupted his thoughts.

Finally we're here". He stood. the train pulled to a stop. Tom looked out the window at a bland sight. He saw a train station below the tracks and old buildings behind it two story buildings.
"This is as far as this train goes please all passengers leave the train. Caution must be taken when stepping off onto the platform.

Tom stood up and stretched. 'damn' he thought they had been sitting around for a long time he felt sore now. he followed Han out with his Luggage. Han had a blue backpack and his nice black leather jacket skinny but muscular and a bit taller than Tom. Tom was short and muscularly built from days as a football player. he came from Florida so his arms were tan still. his face tan he smiled as he looked out the window one last time. the rain was coming down harder now. he grabbed his brown long sleeve sweatshirt with a hood and inside grey thermal.

"here we are," said Han, "it's so nice to be home," he said, they exited onto the platform and he headed over to the edge of the rails below Tom saw a nice garden directly under them and one tree in the center. a nice set of park benches on either side of the Garden and on the left where the sidewalk reached to the little station. it literally was small. a older red brick building with a chimney. the front door was Wood and nicely polished as the rain came down on the one window it had on the right.

He looked at a sign in front of him.

April 3 2008: Rails built by Hodge Kingston: for the people and by the people of Spring Green.

The New WISMET 4 he saw now the train said on the side of the metal.

"Haha me and a few friends actually helped tear down the old run down shop that was here a few years ago. Hodgers an interesting dude" said Han he looked down at the sign then over at Tom.

"You know I feel a bit nervous now." said Tom he looked at Han who smiled bigger and said "don't be". his clean shaven face he could see each word as he spoke. he was a bit pale today though. He lit a menthol Cigarette and looked out for a moment strong with a feel of courage Tom straightened himself.

"you want a smoke." asked Han he looked at Tom, "its not a solution but eh f it right"? he asked, Tom nodded and smiled he grabbed one.

"So you know what used to be here"? Han asked, he was clicking his lighter repeatedly as rain tapped down. He lit a semi damp cigarette.

Tom shook his head and Han Pointed to the right side where behind the trees was a sidewalk and Main street. He still had the smoke in his mouth as he attempted to speak. if ya dink of fer cornas. He blew it out of his mouth and took the smoke in his hand. Sorry Nina's is there on the right ahead and right here directly on the left in front of us  is a medical center. the road in the middle of this is main street. a nice older street that has stood for probably a million years or so",

the nice red carpet that went up two steps into Nina's brown wood door with glass and a window on the right and left showing everything in the shop. the shop had 2 floors it looked like older brick modeling and white window frames. very picturesque of its time. Tom imagined it was probably built in the 60s or 70s.

Toms mouth opened. He was mesmerized.

"no way is this real'.Tom thought but it stood there. The buildings were older still new looking and as if it was just built even though they were old.

"So T that shop your eyeing. the older woman who runs Nina's shop moved here from somewhere else. just in the turn of the fifties." He made his arm stretch out toward the sky and grabbed Toms shoulders. he looked at Tom a total movie scene. "A woman with a vision, grabbed a ride out here  and came  some time in the past created this little shop that started small a craft store, it is a landmark of this area now.

Pretty cool place. Tom followed Han down the stairs and into the garden. It was green all the way to the street. Flowers and trees. They came to the side walk where Han directed him to where Ninas was. A black truck sat in front of it. They crossed the road and Tom got in.

"So hoping to have a bit of fun this summer Tom". Said Han.

Yeah maybe go fishing or something"?

Oh yeah. Said Han. He started the truck up throwing Toms bags in the back bed of the truck. He got In. The sun had made the truck warm and Han opened the windows. He could smell the fresh summer air.

"Look Tom when I left I need you to know that I really wanted you to come with me and it's been hard being away from you buddy".

You know, I honestly missed you too bro. Tom put his hand on hans shoulder and smiled. "Let's have a good summer",

Han smiled and nodded.