PROCOSH

1

The five chime train whistle sounded several minutes before the old battered train itself ever appeared. It's melancholy shrill propagated for miles as the high powered diesel engines forced it along the tracks. Thump thump, thump thump, it screeched along the tracks kicking up the dust and wind as it neared the remodeled farmhouse. Several of the thirty foot cedar trees that lined the tracks bent and swayed in the sixty mile per hour gust. The old freight train groaned as some of the tree limbs slapped against the many cars that passed by. The conductor paid little attention as he lite a cigarette and watched with his tired eyes for any children or animals on his beaten path. He glanced up at the bright green leaves of the trees that surrounded the tracks and watched as the many birds took flight as the trained neared their nests. Some picked with little mind at the berrylike fruits that grew on the old oaks. He smiled absentmindedly and thought of summer.

*********************

Lake and Garrett Larsen sat within their cluttered living room watching the new episodes of COPS. The train whistle sounded once more as it passed by their new home. Lake glanced away from the television to the large bay window that faced out towards the tracks. The trees made it impossible to see the train completely but she could still catch a glimpse now and then of the black and brown boxcars. The noise comforted her to some degree, slipping her mind back to the nostalgic era that her grandmother and grandfather had talked about so often. Her husband on the other had was not so happy with the idea. Lake turned to look at her husband but before she could utter a word he was up and pacing to the window. She watched as he pushed back the many baskets of plants that she had hung and glanced out the sheer white curtains.

"God dammit, if I'd had known that this happened every fuckin day I would have declined on this whole thing.", he turned to her with his hands on his hips. " Do you think he really has to blow that whistle every fuckin time he goes by our house?"

Lake smiled and crossed her arms over her breasts. " Honey, he may know by now that we have children and that he's doing us a favor by making us aware of the fact that he's coming. Take it as his warning that we should be asking where our kids are before he's right on top of us."

"It's eight o' clock at night, Baby. They're asleep. He doesn't have to do it that late." Garrett sneered and looked again out the window as the train whistled by and finally out of sight. "It's fucking spite is what it is. I have half a mind to call the realtor and tell her she was full of shit. The train hasn't run by here in years, Mr Larsen. It's just an old track." He mimicked the realtor's voice and turned as Lake giggled. He stared into his twenty-six year old wife's face and found that he was smiling back. " Don't make fun."

"I'm not," Lake said innocently and laughed again even harder. "Come sit down. He won't be back until tomorrow."

"Uh huh, exactly. Every damn night." Garrett walked back to the green overstuffed couch and wrapped his large arms around his wife. He tilted her head up and kissed her lips lightly. " I am happy we moved here, Baby. I just hate the damn train." he thought a moment and frowned, " always have disliked them."

"Do they scare you. The whistle? Is it too loud?"

Garrett started to answer in all seriousness until he realized that Lake was smiling again and making fun. He pushed her back onto the couch with a growl and started to tickle her. " Say Uncle. Say Uncle." Her laughter rang out among the house and he covered her mouth with his. He didn't want to wake the kids. Soon his tickles became caresses and before long she was moaning into his mouth as he squeezed and gently pulled at her breasts.

"Is it to early for bed?" He questioned hugging her up against him possessively and nipping at her earlobe. She shook her head and started to climb from the couch.