Page 8 of Miles. Alton & The 9:04
Chapter Four – Joust
Thom Brown faced Saturdaymorning with a bout of optimism.Yesterday, in his estimation, had been a fluke.After months of correspondence and Thursday night chats with Carrie, he'd never thought to ask for a full figure shot of the woman.A bit hippy, he didn't mind, but her attitude when meeting him in person was a complete turnoff.Today was a new day, and he washed his body, added a dash of cologne, and brushed his hair, adding a bit of gel.
The courting routine of the past six months meant he ended his Saturday evenings on the phone with Agnes Spignew, who was due to arrive in Alton on the 11:11 train to discuss their future.He planned to take her for a pleasant lunch, then bring her to the home he'd built, show her the train museum, and potentially begin planning for their happily ever after.At least, that's what he hoped.
Optimism rode with him to the train station.As the 11:11 rolled in, the hissing of brakes along with the smell of diesel fuel permeated the air.The conductor lowered the steps and passengers waited to load onto the train.Thom Brown stood back, waiting for one woman in particular to disembark.However, he noticed a few familiar faces on the train platform.
One held a sign for The American Ghost Hunting Society, another held a sign for the Alton Philatelists Society, and Jerry, the local drag queen who was in charge of the Beekeeper’s Association.They all, like Thom, awaited one person.
He stood back.
He didn't move forward when he spotted her in the train's doorway.
He observed her actions as she disembarked, obviously expecting all three groups.What he didn't see, and couldn't help but notice, was the little lady didn't look up and search the crowd for the man who potentially could be her future husband.
Thom Brown considered himself to be an observant man.He noticed minor details about people which in the long run amounted to character traits that couldn't be overlooked.He found the first flaw in the lady's character.Try as he might to not feel some sort of way about Agnes's behavior, the anger began to bubble up when she went into her oversized bag and removed her planner to schedule afternoon meetings with each of the people.Once she completed the task, she looked into the crowd, searching for Thom.She smiled and waved.
He simply nodded his head in acknowledgement that she'd finally seemed to remember why she was here on his dime.She excused herself from the mini fan club, making her way to him.A wide smile covered her face.
“'Well, hello, Thom Brown,” she said, extending her hand.
“Miss Agnes, looks as if you have a busy afternoon planned,” he said.“I see you brought no luggage.”
“I plan to take the 6:30 back tonight,” she said.“Today is simply an opportunity for me to meet you in person, see your home, and determine if a life in Alton is for me.”
“The scheduled meetings after our lunch today I assume are to line those things up for yourself,” he said, using a very calm voice.
“Pretty much,” Agnes confirmed.“Yes, if this works out with us, that would be wonderful, but at the end of the day, whether I am your wife or not, I am still my own person.I have my own interests and hobbies, and meeting with the locals to see what is in place is important to me.”
“Understandably, considering I paid for you to come to town to meet me, it seems, I dunno, a bit off-putting,” he said.
“Off-putting is this conversation,” Agnes said, playfully swatting at him.“What were your plans, Mr.Brown, to take me to lunch, show me your home, make out, and possibly test out the waters before you buy the product?”
“No, Ms.Agnes, that is not my style.I booked you a room at the local bed-and-breakfast, which reminds me, I will need to cancel,” he told her.“Since you've researched everything else, did you choose where you wanted to have lunch?”
Agnes, a moderately attractive woman, had soft brown eyes.She wasn't physically fit, but she wasn't a slouch either.Her height was ideal, reaching just under his chin, and she had mousy brown hair and a smile that changed the entire appearance of her face.Thom loved the smile and Agnes's sense of adventure.
“Of course; there is a place close by that has great seafood,” she said.“We can go there.”
“We can, but I think I told you on more than one occasion of my shellfish allergies.”
“They have food other than shellfish,” she challenged.
“Yes, but if it is cooked in the same oil or on the same grill as the shellfish, I mean I'm not looking for Kashrut or anything, but I also don't want to spend the rest of the weekend with my eyes swollen shut either,” he countered.
“You're Jewish?”
“No, I simply use the term as an example.”
“Oh, so where do you wish to take me for lunch then?”
