routine
The train just left.
He looked at me and said, “That train has been pretty much on time for the last 10 years.
I asked, “Have you been going to that church for that long”.
He turned and looked to where I had pointed.
When he glanced back at me, I could see that the look on his face had changed, “I was married there and no the train schedule changed”.
“My wife used to joke that we should sneak out of church, jump the train and go forever, but our best friends that meet us here for breakfast would be upset.”
There was a pause, a moment when I wasn’t sure what to say; a time for him to go back to places in his mind, I guess.
“So we never did jump that train.”
“We kind of got in the routine, anyway…”
I was about ready to say something when a couple approached.
The woman started fussing that she could smell smoke in the air and looked at him. “Roger, are still sneaking around smoking those terrible things”.
He looked back at me and shook his head and said, “No I am not sure who was smoking…you have a good day young man”.
He turned and opened the door to the restaurant and the three of them walked in.
Sunday morning, Manassas Junction, Manassas, Virginia 8:36am
routine
The train just left.
He looked at me and said, “That train has been pretty much on time for the last 10 years.
I asked, “Have you been going to that church for that long”.
He turned and looked to where I had pointed.
When he glanced back at me, I could see that the look on his face had changed, “I was married there and no the train schedule changed”.
“My wife used to joke that we should sneak out of church, jump the train and go forever, but our best friends that meet us here for breakfast would be upset.”
There was a pause, a moment when I wasn’t sure what to say; a time for him to go back to places in his mind, I guess.
“So we never did jump that train.”
“We kind of got in the routine, anyway…”
I was about ready to say something when a couple approached.
The woman started fussing that she could smell smoke in the air and looked at him. “Roger, are still sneaking around smoking those terrible things”.
He looked back at me and shook his head and said, “No I am not sure who was smoking…you have a good day young man”.
He turned and opened the door to the restaurant and the three of them walked in.
Sunday morning, Manassas Junction, Manassas, Virginia 8:36am