Summer Nights

Summer Nights

Johnny is waiting in line. He doesn’t know for how long but he is fine as his train departure is 10.30 pm . It is now 8.30pm and he has been waiting to get his train ticket to Los Angeles since one hour.

Detroit station, also known as Baltimore Street station is very busy at this time of the day. Somehow the large crowds help him wait since he spends his time watching, observing and sometime entering passerby minds.

One character in particular attracts his attention, in this constant coming and going of people. Johnny was watching this man close to his thirty as he was buying a bottle of water. He was a tall man rather long black hair. If Johnny had to guess , he would say this man was from Syria or Afghanistan or may be Irak?

Strange how we relate people based on the images we receive in the news.

The reason why Johnny was scrutinizing this man is because he looked very nervous, he was constantly looking around and behind him checking if nobody was looking at him or following him.

Finally Johnny is able to board the train. It is a long train going to LA. The cabin Johnny chose was for 2 travelers and it would take him 2 days to reach Union Station.

As he entered his cabin , like a slap in the face there was the Syrian or Afghani or Iraki man sitting straight like he was expecting something to happen.

• Hey Good Evening said Johnny to the man while entering the cabin

• Good Evening responded the man with a heavy accent , somehow reassured by the presence of Johnny.

• Are you stopping in Kansas City asked Johnny?

• No I am going all the way to Los Angeles answered the man who visibly was anxious .

• What brought you here Johnny asked ?

• Oh it’s a long story answered the man who’s name was Abdul.

As the train started to move Abdul felt more and more confident as if he was escaping something in Detroit.

It was one of these hot summer night where you could sense anything could happen because everybody is letting his guard down. Traveling is magic.

Feeling this special moment, Johnny asked Abdul why he felt so insecure and anxious back there in the station. Abdul started a long story explaining that back in his home country of Irak , he was a journalist helping foreign press to report on everything that was going on during the war. He explained that he was fleeing his country but was afraid to be followed by special agents who wanted to bring him back to Irak where he could risk the death penalty.

There were sitting side by side, Johnny couldn’t believe what he was hearing . A sudden emotion and they intuitively hold hands. Thanks to the rocking of the train or to the sweet summer night , they fell asleep shoulder to shoulder and still holding hands.