The Cuckoo and The Choo Choo

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I am at the train station again. The one with the Starbucks.

I come here almost every Saturday morning when the kids are in Religious Ed. Free babysitting provided by the Catholic Church. That’s the least they could do for me really.

When I was waiting for my non-fat Venti latte, I heard “Hi, Mrs. Absence!” and barely recognized A, a boy who lives in the house across the street from us. I was pleasantly surprised for surely most kids his age (13, the same as my oldest) would have preferred to slip by without having to say hello to a neighbor lady whom his family does not socialize with other than “Hello!” when we chance to see each other outside. When I walked into the train station with my coffee, my oatmeal, my laptop and my iPhod, I realized that he was with a group of a good size, comprised of fathers and children. One of the fathers whom I have never met before explained that A’s grandfather organizes such a group outing for the dads every year around Valentine’s Day so their wives could have a grand day off.

[A’s mother does not work outside of the house. Both kids are old enough to take care of themselves and are away from school between 8:30 am and 3 pm. They have house cleaners that come every other week. What will she be doing today that is going to be different from her Monday through Friday? I cannot help but be curious…]

The stranger dad asked, “So are you going downtown today?”

I wondered what he made of me: me in my Aerosmith t-shirt, jeans, black boots, thick black eyeliners, and a choker necklace at 9 o’clock on a Saturday morning, oh, and I just noticed now, no wedding ring. (I often leave my ring at home together with my bracelet and watch. I get allergic reactions from metal easily…)

“To the Auto Show?” He added. Perhaps that’s somewhere he would rather go instead of the show they are taking the kids to?

“No.” I had not realized yet that it might have sounded odd to people that I come and hang out at the train station. I joked, “I am not going downtown. I am trying to get away from the kids,” taking for granted that he would know what it was like, what I meant.

Of course he did not. He looked downright uncomfortable, not knowing how to respond to my impromptu confession. Laughing awkwardly, he said, making a sweeping gesture towards the kids in his group, “Getting away from the kids? Sorry about that then.”

I laughed. “No, no. I am not getting on the train. I am not going anywhere. I am just here.”

He looked puzzled. “Here? The train station?” His eyebrows arched. Was that a cloud of horror passing through his eyes?

“Yes, I am here for the Starbucks. You know.”

Judging from his quizzical eyebrows, I doubted that he did.

I was baffled. What’s wrong with being at the train station? I thought.

At this moment A’s dad made his way across the train station and spotted me. “Hey! What are you doing here?” I gave him a hug and told him in mid-hug, “Well, I am coming with you guys!” Feeling sorry for the confusion visible in his face when I released him, I quickly added, “Just kidding. I am just here at the train station.”

“The… the train station?” He looked so confounded as if I had told him that I had been there for, oh I don’t know, a rally for the democratic party. Actually, he would probably have been able to understand that. It is this “hanging out at a train station with no specific purpose by myself” that caught him off guard I suspect.

“You know. They have a Starbucks here,” I added with an emphasis, “The ONLY Starbucks in town.”

“Surely there is a Starbucks closer to our houses, no?” He insisted, unconsciously attempting to steer me away from the train station perhaps.

After I rattled off the alternative locations, he concurred that this is indeed the closest Starbucks we’ve got.

“But…” He still could not let it go, “The train station?”

“Well, you see, when the train leaves, there will be nobody here. It is quiet and very nice. The Starbucks is here. And there is free Wi-Fi.” I could tell that he was not convinced that this was the most logical choice, or a logical choice at all, so I shrugged, “Well, I am strange this way in case you haven’t figured that out after more than 10 years…”

Now it’s his turn to reassure me my normal-ness. “Nah. Nah. You are fine. You are fine.” We both chuckled.

Fortunately the bell started ringing to announce the arrival of the commuter train.

“Have a nice day downtown!”

“Enjoy the train station!” He said, and I thought I detected a tinge of the kind of tone that people use to someone who insists on, say, rummaging through a junk yard. “Have fun at the junk yard even though I cannot for the life of me understand WHY but hey this is a free country so go for it!”

I did. For another hour until I had to pick the kids up. But I could not shake my own puzzlement over how they were so befuddled and possibly, amused.

So my dear Soren Lorensens, do you know, what is so strange about hanging out at a Starbucks inside an empty train station?

28 thoughts on “The Cuckoo and The Choo Choo”

  2. tattytiara

    It seems strange to be so thrown by a person’s choice of locations to have coffee. You’re out, you want a coffee, there’s a coffee place, why would you think “no, but I can’t have one there – trains go there!”

    If it really is considered that odd in your area, next time someone asks you what you’re doing there I’d just answer “Oh I’m just considering buying the place” and really give them something to boggle at.
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  3. Velva

    Hanging out at the Starbucks in a train station sounds perfectly normal to me. I like the idea of sitting in a Starbucks with my wi-fi gadgets, and drinking a Venti-Pikes Roast coffee (cream and 2 Splenda), and passing time.

    Velva

    P.S. I got an iPad-oh no! I love it.
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  8. pattypunker

    people watching and free wi-fi – HELLO! also your train station “uniform” sounds bad ass. if i saw you there, i’d think “who’s the awesome rocker chick”? i need to befriend her. can i come sit with you in my “back in black” acdc tshirt and doc martens?
    pattypunker recently posted…voices in my headMy Profile

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  9. writerwoman61

    Hi Lin:

    We don’t have a train station in Saint John…it closed many years ago…

    My refuge was the library…I could spend hours there doing research!

    Why don’t men understand the need to get away from one’s children? Jim would happily spend 24 hours a day with his…I would be locked in a secure facility if I was with my kids all the time!

    Hugs,
    Wendy
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  11. BigLittleWolf

    I would adore hanging out at a starbucks at a train station. In fact, I love when I have the opportunity to sit at a train station in France. The people watching is incredible. The words flow. And frankly – a coffee shop or some little strip of anywhere other than home turf is the ideal escape from “real life.”

    Such a difference between the parenting world (or those who have lived it) and, well… the rest of the world.

    And I bet your choker is spectacular! 🙂
    BigLittleWolf recently posted…UnknownMy Profile

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  12. Ameena

    If I could find peace and quiet at the airport I’d head over there with my laptop. Seriously.

    Also, you are totally on to something with this Religious Ed business. I am suddenly interested in finding out more about the religious programs in our neighborhood – I am envisioning an hour or two of peace on Sundays….

    Love your blog – you just hit the nail on the head every time!
    Ameena recently posted…sighted – p diddyMy Profile

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  13. The Sweetest

    I think many people are afraid of being alone. Which is what sitting in an empty train station will get you. One man’s heaven is another man’s hell. Or something like that. Personally? I’d love an empty train station.
    The Sweetest recently posted…I Want the Pink OnesMy Profile

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  14. chickensconsigliere

    I don’t know, but in a more fair world, where A’s father drags your husband into the mix, it would have been HIM hanging out at the train station. While you….hang out with A’s mother? Then you could have asked her, “Hey, now that we’re buds, would you mind telling me what the hell it is you do all day?” I’ll bet she hangs out at the Starbucks at the train station.
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  16. TechnoBabe

    It make perfect sense to me. Your interaction with the group of men and children is a riot. They have an annual outing to get the kids away for the moms can have some time to themselves and yet they did not grasp your desire for a little time to yourself at a place of your choice. Numbnuts.
    I get the same reaction often when I tell people I do not watch TV. None. It is as if people cannot understand what I could possibly have in my life to entertain me. Yikes.
    TechnoBabe recently posted…The L WordMy Profile

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  18. A Vapid Blonde

    You could have totally fucked with them and been all like…”SHHHH, PLEASE DON’T TELL MY HUSBAND!”

    Or something like. “Oh my god. I am so embarassed. I work a second and third job here and I am just waiting for my conductors uniform. Times are tough. By the way, do you have a ticket?”

    Or, Or, Or!!! “My kids are in the middle of an exorcist… Right. Over. There. And God Damn it, I need a venti. Whoo boy, the old man kept me up WAY late last night!” And as you are saying this you need to pull out a flask and spike your coffee with Jamesons.
    A Vapid Blonde recently posted…Motherfucking Knuckleheads- Don’t They Know Who I AmMy Profile

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