Just a Monumental Summer: Girl on the train Read Free Page A

the rest of the summer. She was accustomed to my departures. After saying good-bye to my mother, I bought a ticket and then boarded the train. The rest was history.
     

                                                           CHAPTER 2
PUPPY LOVE
     
    It didn’t take long for the train to set in motion again. After a few minutes, Alin stood up and sat next to me. He touched my hand, wrapped his fingers around mine.
    Finally. I liked the strength of his fingers.
    We sat for a while, both lapsed into a comfortable silence. We were still watching out the window as the scenery sped by. My eye followed into the distance to where a meadow shifted into a beech forest. At the horizon, a mountain loomed; it was difficult to tell where the mountain ended and the cloudy sky began. The meadow and forest disappeared slowly as the train gained momentum. The view was lifting my spirits and creating a sense of freedom as we continued toward our destination.
    After a while, Alin broke the silence. “Tell me about yourself, Mona.”
    His voice was low, close to my ear. I turned from the window to look at him. I tried to look him in the eyes. Green and brown swirling together, green winning. Or was it more brown and just a hint of green?
    “I thought I did. What else do you want to know?” I asked.
    “Everything,” he said, and he let my hand go. He stood up and sat across from me. Apparently, stories were told face-to-face.
    “I hate my town.  One of the most famous metropolises in the world. You know: New York, Paris, Tokyo, and…Medgidia.” I replied with frail humor. “It’s not a city; it’s an ugly shithole. Or a black hole that will suck you all your life. It’s small, and populated by judgmental people.”
    He smiled and offered me an apple. I took a bite and gave it back. He took a bite from the same place I left a hole in it. He offered me it back and I refused. I had a story to tell. The train ride was my chance. I continued:
    “My first boyfriend was the best-looking boy in my school, but boring. I used to imagine him kissing my neck and doing naughty things with me.”
    He laughed. “Why, I had a feeling he didn’t do them?”
    The train gave a lurch, and the guitar shifted, bumping into his arm. He gently set his arm back against the seat while pushing his guitar aside.
    A thought struck my mind. Maybe he sings in a rock band.
    “Something was missing. I knew I was not madly in love with him. Besides, I suspected he might be a moron. A good-looking one, though. I wanted to break up with him every day. Then, I would remember all the girls wanted him. So I would give up and continue to stay bored and listen to never-ending fishing stories.”
    “Poor guy.” Alin was smiling broadly.
    “I don’t think he had any idea what was in my brain. He was proud of being my boyfriend. I was the cool girl everybody wanted to be around. Boys would love my sexy looks, my big boobs, my flirting style. Girls would envy me and wanted to be me.”
    “Oh, no doubt about it.” I caught him rolling his eyes at me.
    “Hey, I am telling you, I was special.” I reached across the space between us, taking a halfhearted swat at his head. He ducked, throwing up his hands and laughing at me. I gave up and sat back. I continued: “I loved to break the rules and push people around me to do the same. I hated to be normal, and I hated to follow stupid rules. I got in trouble a lot because of that.”
    “What trouble? Did you go to jail?” Alin gave me a smug smile.
    “No.” I was laughing. “Let me think. You know, in school, we were forced to wear the school uniform. Well -”
    “You didn’t,” he interrupted triumphantly.
    “Oh yes, I did. I had to. But my uniform was different. I had my sewing machine, and every day I would add new things; make it shorter, longer, add ruffles, lace, bows, pearls, sequins, chains. I would wear scarfs and headbands. Or wear net