Bring Me Along

Chapter 2: Boarded

 After waiting on a thirty minute delay, fighting a short, thin, but surprisingly strong, man for the window seat all the while getting soda spilled on me by a little boy as he passed by; I can say the start to my adventure has been quite stressful. Oh, and my backpack decided to open and show off a very skimpy pair of undies to a very elderly lady; who in turn, looked at me like I was the dirtiest being alive. Lovely. Thankfully though, this isn't the train I'll be riding on my whole trip. Actually in fact, I think it should be stopping soon so I can catch my connecting train that I hope is as delayed as this train was so I don't miss it..

I also hope the next train I board is less crowded. I'll be spending a few days on that one. As the train begins to stop, I stand quickly, not timing it right at all, and topple over slamming my arm into the short thin man who won the window seat I was rudely denied . Serves him right for being a jerk.

"Sorry." I mumble facing a disgruntled man. I'm greeted with a look that says he wouldn't lose sleep if he were to murder me right here. I just shrug and squeeze my way past person after person until finally I reach the glass sliding door presenting me with a picture of my freedom. The doors slide open and brings with it, fresh air; oh how I welcome the breeze. It's a very warm breeze, the air being thick with humidity, but anything is better than the stifling musk of sardine packed humans. I bolt off the train, not waiting nor caring, about the people in front of me.

Once my feet hit solid ground I restrain the urge to rest my knees and palms upon the cement and proceed to kiss it, but the idea is entertaining. I'm sure everyone at the terminal would love the show, maybe it would even brighten a couple sour faces; but I value my good health and would like to keep it.

I check my ticket to see when my connecting train will be here and blow out a breath of exhaustion, it won't be here until one fifteen in the afternoon and it's only eleven in the morning. I slump down on a nearby bench and tilt my head back. Glad that I'm here for my connecting train. Who knew waiting could be so tiring?

I guess I'll take this time to explore the terminal. My stomach growls. Hmm and maybe search for food while I'm at it. Not much too the train station, no beautiful curved archways or fantastic sculptured ledges to make it seem like you were being transported into another age. Nope, just a dull gray cement walkway up to an equally gray cement building with barred windows. Looks more like a prison than a train station. I go inside reluctantly, to see if they have a little cafe, or sandwich shop, or even a vending machine and am not surprised when I come up empty handed. Not even a vending machine. At least the floors in here are covered in some sort of fancy linoleum, wouldn't want the inside to be as depressing as the outside.

Trying to stay optimistic, I step back into the humid sunshine and walk around the building to see if I can spot some form of food. Halfway around I see this tiny bistro, crammed full of people probably from the train station, across the street and I sigh. At least I can eat something. I cross the busy intersection, paying little attention to oncoming cars seeing as I'm being led by my gut and not my brain. Dodging a small VW Beetle and making it across without a scratch, surprisingly, I walk a little ways into the small shopping center where the bistro seems to have most of the business.

The establishment is connected to the rest of the small shops but placed in the center. It's a very small establishment nothing like my cozy diner that I already miss, I only saw it because of the line of people waiting outside the door caught my attention. Sighing past my irritation I gather my bearings and make my way into the longest line I've been in since getting my driver's license at the DMV.

I end up behind a couple of blonde girls, matching in vibrant pink and attitude, gushing about some guy. "He's just so dreamy!" exclaimed the left Barbie and the other followed suit with an "Oh my Gosh! I can't wait to see him!"