She remembered him

Nothing out of the ordinary had happened. Two ordinary strangers were going to meet by chance and nothing in the works had been planned. It was a normal day like any other. The wind was chiming along and the birds were chirping. Nothing out of the blue had been planned nor did they anticipate their meeting. Each with their life experiences and daily life responsibilities they didn’t expect to meet or know each other. The city had become so impersonal that strangers went to work or went shopping and returned intact. No one had expectations of having any sort of connection with anyone. Certainly not Shirley.

"I know I have seen you somewhere. Can you recognize me?" the woman asked a gentleman, a perfect stranger who had entered a train and was sitting beside her. A very bold move because the entire coach of the train was empty but for her and another lady who was sitting on the opposite end of the coach.

"Hi mam. I just sat next to you because someone is following me and I wanted to act as if we were together. I am sure that I have not met you before.” he said.

"No that perfume. I know I have smelt it before. You look like a guy that I once knew. Are you familiar with Old Oak road?" the woman asked, still curious with a frown on her face. She had been watching him outside waiting at the platform of the train station for a while trying to place his face in her data bank of her memory.

"I am certain that I have not met you." he said trying to slide away from her becoming self conscious of having invaded her relaxation mode. “In fact, just to be safe, I noticed you looking at me and when my guys entered the platform I felt safe running to you. I am serious. I don't know you and I don't know where Old Oak Road is. I am just in trouble, that's all." he said.

"Hi I am Shirlely. I live in Puma, the city beyond the hill. I took this train to visit my aunt. I am actually wondering if you know anyone who lives in Puma? I think I saw you there. I am sure it was you. I remember the scar on your forehead. You still have it." she said.

"Hi I am Joseph I am 100% sure I have never met you in my life before. I don't remember being in Puma or knowing someone like you or seeing someone like you. From your recollection did we speak to each other?" he asked

"In other words I think we had an encounter." the woman said.

"Me and you? I doubt it. I don't remember you. What's your name again? Sh-i-r-l-ey. I don't remember Shirl-ey. Were you with a singing group or a groupie? Are you with tailgaters? You know the girls that tag along with footballers and things." he asked.

"No, actually I do work at a hot dog stand next to the shopping center. I met you there. You were with a group of friends and you guys were rushing somewhere. You asked me for my number because I cracked a joke and you laughed. We met and hung out with your friends afterwards. I am sure it was easy like that. Everyone went home and we hung out. I have stayed with you." the woman said.

For a moment he had forgotten about his problems with the guys who were after him. He looked at every train station worried that they might be waiting for him or after riding the opposite train to catch up with the train he was in. Many scenarios crossed his mind or even worse they might just enter the very coach where he was sitting wasting time with a stranger who thinks that she hooked up with him. In all honesty her inquisition helped calm him down. He was distressed from running from the bad guys. He owed them interest on a loan he had already paid. He for some reason had a change of heart paying them back interest because he paid early. Thinking that they would be satisfied he walked away from them while they were counting the money realizing it was a couple of hundred dollars short one of them said. "...Wait,Wait, Wait,Wait, Wait..! I lent you that money which could have made me more had I not ..... It was then that he took off and rode away like the wind. They had parked their cars on the other side of the street and could not run fast enough to catch up with him. They were excited to be paid early and then he took off. No one anticipated that, nor did he. When he decided to pay them early he thought he was saving himself from the temptation of using the money for something else. He was going to explain to them that he would pay off in the interest with time still outstanding in the agreement.

Instead something in him told him to run. He did. And then they started showing up everywhere he went. He started getting worried that even if he paid the interest they still would want to kill him, perhaps that was their plan in the first place. Or maybe they wanted something else. He was late on his mortgage and needed quick cash. A friend of a friend referred him to them. He was grateful they didn't need much just proof of employment and evidence of deposits in his bank account. It did not matter what the deposits were for and from just systematic deposits to ensure that he generally had money as they put it. He was glad that the loan was in cash. Verifiable cash with a counterfeit detection pen and was accepted by the bank. No holds on his account, his mortgage was paid and the bank was off his back.

When he sold a painting to one of the chain motels which wanted to hang it on the wall of their lobby, it was manna for him. So rushing to the bank to withdraw money and pay them might have given him a high which also gave him wings because he flew out of there as if he was a robber. It also became clear that they were not of good character because all that they had to do was accept his payment and bill him for the outstanding payment. It did not matter what the payment was. He owed them money. The train had become his mode of transportation because he kept his car in his garage wanting to throw them off. They were as smart as he was. He had not seen them as closely as he did that day but he had at one point seen one or two of them following him in crowded places and in many other public places. Indeed there was a bill to be paid but the creepiness made it seem like it was a game which had become dicey and foreboding.

"You dropped something. Your ticket. Come on, pick it up. The only way that the bad guys will catch up with you is if they drive ahead of the train and park at a large station where the train takes longer to load passengers. So I suggest we get off here at the next stop and talk some more about how we met in Puma. They won't expect that. So what do you say? You can refuse coffee and get off by yourself. I am your insurance in case they have their own lookout guy lagging behind. What do you say? We will have coffee, that's it I promise." she said.

"I am nervous enough to say yes. Wait a minute, what if you are with them? What if you are the bait. What if you will kill me?”he asked.

"What if I am with the cops? What if there is no Puma. But there is and I promise you I think I know you in case I don't, I want to get to know you." she said

Immediately the train stopped. She was right, it was an empty platform and not that many passengers were on the platform. The whistle blew as soon as quickly as the train stopped. She looked at him and he looked back and both stood up and left the train. As soon as they landed on the platform the train"s doors closed it took less than ten minutes for the train to complete its scheduled stop. Most stops take about 20 to sometimes 30 minutes. He thought about that for a minute and wondered if he was not being lured to his death or his mutilation. A stranger had bought into his trust. He was not thinking straight. It is difficult to think straight when a possibility of unexpected but anticipated danger lurked. His days had become very strange like a betting cage and depended on events that he did not have any control over.

They walked as if they knew each other. Strangers who depended on one another, one fearing imagined killers who wanted their money back and the other an illusive stranger who wanted to have coffee with him and believed that she had hooked up with him. As tantalizing as that was, he walked knowing it was not a good idea but the curiosity in him made him do it. When they walked toward the shopping center there were tons of shoppers who knew each other even knew their carts. Most talked to their kids and to each other. Others parked their cars irritated by finding parking which wasn't ideal for their destinations. Youngsters walked around happy and clueless about the responsibilities of being adults. This couple had the basic need to recall each other's names.

"You said your name is Shirley right?" he asked.

"Yes, you said your name is Joseph. Hi Joseph." she said. They both smiled.

"Here is an empty seat, let's sit here." he said, pulling a chair for her. It was a very tiny restaurant with outdoor chairs and more waitresses than the patrons. The wind blew continuously and the sun glared with promise to get better and sting less as a reminder to wear shades. The day was slow. Giggles here and there were heard around the restaurant. Many seemed familiar at being in a place which provided comfort and sustenance. The waitresses in pink and white uniforms stood sharing jokes with each other. The chef called out numbers of orders systematically and the waitresses would all walk in and deal with just one order all at once. The main waitress would serve the food to the patron(s). One waitress would fill in the bottles of water and bring them with glasses to the table, take orders of wine or coffee if needed and return and wipe glasses and utensils. The other would replenish salt and pepper and wipe shakers. Others would clear the tables and take the dishes to the kitchen. When done they would briefly stand around waiting for patrons to request additional items to their orders. As soon as they felt that the patrons were satisfied, the waitresses would go outside and stand around outdoors. It was an ensemble meant to be focused on the business of sharing meals of eating and nothing else.