Creative writing story

Fourth episode: Getting Tuned
Ulrike Meyn

While Dieter was making his way towards the buffet car, guitar in his hand, he went past an arguing couple.
"Andreas, didn't we just decide no drinks before 8 at night?"
"Alexandra, that's none of your business, is it?" They laughed.
They were also on their way to the buffet car.
The guy reminded Dieter of Magnum, the soft variant, and he wondered whether they were a couple, maybe sister and brother? But perhaps they just met on this train. Dieter couldn't help being very amused about these "Scenes of a Marriage" by Ingmar Bergmann. He was lucky, he could just order a glass of Merlot whenever he liked.
When he entered the buffet car, he saw the two guys at the bar with drum and guitar drinking Scotch and talking as if they had known each other for ages.
(That wasn't the case, they had actually met on their way from Hamburg to Cologne, but how could Dieter know? Maybe if he had looked in the Internet before he left Cologne?)
Dieter took a seat at a table where a woman with bleached hair and a very big mouth was sitting. Her face was actually covered with huge artificial lips as red as fresh blood. Dieter just couldn't help staring at her lips, these lips moved up and down. The woman was smiling at him, hilarious. A mask of horror.
A natural, attractive waitress ask Dieter what he would like. He ordered a glass of Merlot, red wine from France. While he was still thinking about the waitress with the wonderful smile and deep voice the guys at the bar began playing and singing, Dieter took his glass and joined the musicians trying to find the right chords with his guitar.
"Where are you going?", the guy with the ponytail asked Dieter.
"I'm going to Ireland, to Achill Island."
"Me too", the two guys repeated in unison. Dieter was no longer surprised to hear that people on this train were going to Achill Island. He hadn't met any other so far. Except for the "bloody blonde", she was probably not one of the group.

About one hour to go until they were to arrive at Brussels-Midi.

Dieter suggested to the two musicians to come and join him, Bruno and Kim since there were two seats vacant.
Back in his carriage Dieter found Bruno and Kim having a serious conversation.
Steve Schiff and Peter Mint took out their instruments and got carried away with Irish rhythms again. Bruno joined in. He had an extremely loud basso profundo and got really carried away. Dieter looked at his watch and thought: "Well, if I join in with my guitar I can probably suggest a break say after a quarter of an hour and offer Bruno some of my food, stuff him with delicacies so that he shuts his mouth until we arrive at Brussels."
Dieter's strategy worked. Banana, cake, cheese sandwich and finally a very dry muesli bar turned "Bruno, the nuisance" into "Bruno, the most delightful character".

Dieter began to enjoy his trip to Ireland.
The Thalys punctually arrived at Brussels at 4:35 p.m.



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