Coreopsis 10 – b

   Sarah had only eaten half of her bagel. Orion just stared at it. “That looks so good. But I know what is going to happen if I try it.” He closed his eyes. She didn’t say a word. “If I hang around you, I am going to be around food?”

   “What was your first clue?” She snapped. 

   He stared at her in amazement, studying her face. She didn’t at all look happy about his comment. Angry in fact. It was a different anger than what he saw before. Okay, he thought, where do I go from here? 

   She left. 

   God what did I do? He watched her walk away. She had the roundest butt he had ever watched. 

   There was nowhere on this stupid train to hide. She just wanted to run away. Instead she found comfort sitting on the stairs watching the gravels blur past. 

   He turned back around stretching his long jean clad legs out into her chair. The bagel was still lying on the table. Before long, it had transformed into her butt. There it was, her perfectly round butt was staring back at him. The light brown bagel with dots of blueberries scattered throughout; smother with cream cheese transformed itself into a flowing light brown skirt adorned with large white flowers. The flowers had delicate blue centers. All he wanted to do was set there and stare at her. 

   How did he know this was going to happen? This couldn’t happen. In the middle of his vision, he heard Floria’s voice. “I loath you?” She hissed. Her face then appeared. “You are not the man of my dreams.” The image of her face became distorted. “I will make sure this marriage doesn’t work.” Her voice became indistinct, almost robotic laughing at him. “Eat this.” Her laughing became hysterical. 

   “Oh dear God.” He moaned, sinking down in the chair. Finally, he got up. He didn’t know what he did but he had to make it right. 

   The car door behind Sarah slid open. “Child, what are you doing out here?” an older female voice call to her. 

   “Just watching.” She pointed out the door. 

   The lady sat down beside of her. She was someone’s grandmother. Sarah longed for a grandmother. “What did he do?”

   Sarah stared at her for a moment. This lady had kind green eyes. “Excuse me?”

   “Honey,” she flopped her hand back and forth. “He always does something. They say the wrong thing. They make funny noises. They wear weird clothing. They try to order for us. They never, never, never, get it right. You will be lucky if once in your life he gets it right.”

   “What makes you think a man is at the root of my problem?”

   “Aren’t they always child?”

   “80% of the time.”

   “No, 99% of the time.” She corrected Sarah.

   The door slid open again. “Norma! Norma! Where are you woman?”

   “I am sitting down here Edgar.” She hissed, “What do you want?”

   A stately gentleman leaned out the door. “Who is she?”

   “What business is it of yours Edgar, go eat your soup.”

   “Woman, stop telling me what to do.” He stepped out into the corridor. “Honey, don’t listen to a thing this bat tells you. It’s a bunch of hooey.” He snorted. 

   Sarah couldn’t help but smile.

   “What are you doing sitting out here?” Norma asked.

   “A product of my own design.”

   “Nonsense.” Edgar rattled. “Nonsense.” He banged on the door to the car Sarah and Orion were sharing.

   The train whistle blew bringing Orion out of his stupor. He might have fallen asleep but he wasn’t sure. When he looked around him, he was very much aware that Sarah wasn’t there. A trimmer of panic rumbled through his head. He heard a knock from the corridor. When he opened the door, he found an elderly gentleman standing there with his back to Orion. “May I help you?”

    “Young man.” He turned to face Orion. “Norma!” He directed his attention toward his wife but his eyes were transfixed on Orion.

   “What Edgar?” She looked up. Neither of them knew what to say.

   “Count, Countess,” Orion greeted them.

   That figures, Sarah thought. Everyone is someone. 

   “We are sorry, sir.”

   The train was slowing down. 

   “This is awkward,” Norma blushed. She stood up, glancing at Edgar.

   The train gave a jerk as it continued to slow down. “I guess we should go.” Edgar cleared his throat.

   The train jerked again as it came to a complete stop. The retractable doors slid open. Everyone heard the conductor say, “Saltora!”

   Sarah litterly jumped to the platform. 

   Orion took a deep breath. “Not only is she a doctor, she’s a woman.” He went back into their car to put on a pair of shoes.

   Norma and Edgar where still standing in the corridor in shock. Orion walked past them off the train.