Train Ride.

I sat there in a daze that was broken the second I thought heard your voice among the click click clatter of Chicago.

It hit me like a splash of water to the face. Was it warm water? Cold water? The suddenness of it didn't matter, it still hit me when I least expected it. That's the wonderful thing about water, it can run calm and serene like a tiny stream. It can crash and splash and swallow ships whole.

It hit me. I was drifting asleep then you woke me. My senses sharp and my heart thumping against my ribs. There I sat by alone on a crowded train car. The view of the streetlights below looked as if the stars got sick of the sky and decided to join us down here.

Right away I looked around and none of the faces matched the voice. People where there but none of those people were you. It was a funny sort of feeling, hearing you and more importantly feeling you there with me, but alas you weren't there and neither was your ghost.

Sweet

You could be somewhere at sometime and see someone and something happens between two strangers. A connection, eye contact, body language, funny looks, awkward approaches. Tension follows smiles and smiles lead to laughter. Chatter is mixed with wobbly knees and comfortable pauses in conversation.

Then you get a cup of coffee or see a movie. Then maybe you have a nice meal. You order the cheese-burger,no onion, she gets the house salad, french dressing, croutons.

The waitress asks, “Would you like dessert?” She seems reluctant, and you act the same, even though it's your favorite part of the meal. Even though you know your just stalling so this night lasts longer.

“Cheesecake, New York Style.”

You nod your heads in agreements.

You split it, she picks up the silverware and slides a piece of it onto the fork, rests her index and middle on your chin lightly, and smiles. She bats her eyelashes and with each bite you come to the conclusion that nothing could be as sweet, as the girl sitting across from you.

The cheesecake lay there on it's plate, defeated.

Drag.

“A girl like that has her feet always on the ground and her heart on the road.” said a deep, low sounding voice. He stood there with an unlit cigarette hanging from the corner of his mouth. Dressed in a thick black cotton coat, lint hugging his sleeves and collar. He wore black slacks that have probably never been ironed before. His hair,long and barely brushed peeked out of the side of his hat like a houseplant flipped upside down. “I wouldn't leave the light on for her..I mean. Maybe you should count your blessings and move on?.”

“You wanna know how long I'm gonna wait? I'm gonna hold my breath until my fuckin' cheeks turn blue.” a voice responded, slightly higher pitched, calming but upset. His shoulders broad but always slouched. The man in the black took his hands out of his pants pocket and gave himself a pat down. Checking each pocket until he pulled out a box of Marlboro's Reds and a tarnished, gold plated Zippo. Hit the back of the pack and out slides a single square. He grabbed it with his thumb and index finger and handed it to his friend.

He flicked the top of the lighter with his thumb and out danced a tiny flame. Swaying back and fourth were hues of tangerine orange, ocean blue and lemon yellow. He lit his partners square then pulled his head toward the lighter and lit his cigarette. The smoke filled their lungs and danced out of their lips and nostrils, filling the sky.

“Jesus, man. Third time's a charm, you'll be lucky to make it through the second.” the man in the black coat was worried and seemed tired of having this conversation again. His voice was stern but still caring. “What do you mean by that?” asked the man, inhaling from his cigarette. “These girls. This is the 2nd one, right?, this is your 2nd, “One...” he cleared his throat. “The One..”

“I was never able to tell her..Maybe that's why I'm looking out at a city full of strangers and she's seeing nothing but the highway in front of her.”

He took another drag of his cigarette and a bit of ash danced off the burning, cherry tip and into the air grabbed by a gust of the cold city air.

Wind.

We waded through the flock of bodies, packed wall to wall. It was crowded but it was just you and me, me and you. You peered at me with those big emerald eyes of yours,batted both eye lashes causing a gust of gorgeous wind that would have knocked me back a few feet. Good thing you were holding my hand as tight as you were, otherwise I'd have been blown away, swallowed by the Chicago sky.

BACStreet Journal Fall Issue Available Now!

Hey there, just giving everyone a heads up that I have a story published in the Fall issue of the BACStreet Journal, published by the good people at the Beverly Arts Center. it's an anthology book of all types of writing and such, featuring a story, (conveniently located directly below this post!) and many others

Copies are $5 I believe and you can go to the Beverly Arts Center and score yourself a copy or you can get some from me.

Follow them on facebook or check em out here!
http://www.beverlyartcenter.org/

The Getaway Plan.

I remember those nights we'd talk about getting out of this place. We'd lay on the front lawn, our bodies poked by the sharp, damp grass. The cars trotted by obnoxious and exhaling breaths of smelly fumes into the summer air. We'd pretend they weren't there.

I'd close my eyes and wish that for just once when I opened them, you'd be looking at me and not the stars.

I guess I was always more hopeful of things back then when I should have been more realistic. You'd tell me about faraway lands, beaches and lighthouses, deserts and jungles.

“Exotic lands? As far as I'm concerned, anywhere past city limits would be an exotic land to us...” the way you smiled at me after you said it made me realize you really meant it. that was our getaway plan.

“What about our families, our friends?” I remember asking you. You had a very calm look on your face and just shrugged your shoulders. That didn't seem like too big of an issue for you.

“I..wish I could go..but I...I have a life here..I love you...I can't...just”

I tried to finish my sentence but we locked glances and I couldn't get the words out once I seen the expression on your face.

Without saying a word, our bodies collided, you grabbed my hips,held me and kissed my forehead, slow and very punctual. You held me for a moment I wish lasted longer and let go.

You turned around and walked to your car without saying a word.

I went home and laid in my bed listening to our favorite records over and over as
I fell asleep staring at the stars, the night you left town without me.

5 Seconds.

I'd walk you home most nights. We'd walk underneath the train platform as it would zoom by. For about 5 seconds of noisy silence our voices would be muted by clanking rails and locked glances.