By the same author:

Steve 1
dining car

Steve 2

Steve 3

Steve 4

Steve 6

Steve 7

Steve 8

Steve 9

Steve 10

Steve + Peter 1
Steve + Peter 2

"Absolutely, please sit down," said Steve and pointed to the empty stool next to his. "Thanks for saving me. I was just about bored enough to start writing a song about this train," he laughed.

Peter ordered a drink. "I noticed you brought your guitar along. If you do you not want to write a song, how about singing a song? I assume you can play?" Peter pointed to Steve's guitar.

"Yes, I can play. Not really well, but well enough to play and sing a few campfire songs, you know? Sometimes I wish I hadn't stopped taking lessons. But I wanted to become an actor so badly that I took acting lessons instead. And you know what?" He put the guitar case in his lap and opened it. "This is actually my very first guitar. See how battered it is? My dad gave it to me when I was a little boy. It must have been about thirty years ago.... Boy, time sure flies," he added after a little pause. He suddenly felt uneasy, like he had gone a little too far. Here he sat with this stranger (and he was practically a stranger, was he not?) and he had almost told Peter the story of his life, told him about his father. Not about the one who died in the fire, but about his real dad and how much he wanted to find him alive!

Peter's instinct told him that Steve wouldn't say much more on that subject. So he finished his drink, ordered another one and was quiet for a while. "Come on, let's sing a song," Peter offered. "I'll join you with my bodhran." Steve shook his head no. "What's you favorite Christy Moore song?" Peter insisted. "The Wicklow Boy, that's my all-time favorite," answered Steve. And, trying not to appear rude, he asked " And what's yours?"

And pretty soon it was music-talk and drinks. Then another man joined them, his wine glass in hand, and introduced himself as Dieter Tsitra from Cologne. He also travelled with his guitar, he said. When Peter started singing The Wicklow Boy Steve ordered a double Scotch. Then he listened to himself sing along.
Everybody else was listening, too

Start|Net.Train-Map | Stories overview |Participate! |Project Information | Contact the team |