PART 1: THE TRAIN RIDE

The train rides along, the pattering of raindrops soft and comforting despite my confusion. I try to look back to what brought me to this point but I'm bringing up nothing but blanks. All I know is that I'm going someplace new—something different. I have to start anew and live out the rest of my life in peace, away from the qualms that plagued me back then.

I'm trying to mind my own business and think about the emptiness in the back of my mind, but I can't help but become interested in the guy in the mascot costume, sitting a couple rows away—except it isn't really a mascot costume. His eyes blinked as if the stubby anatomy of the figure actually consisted of fur, flesh and bone. I am creeped out by it, but at the same time it isn't very otherworldy to me, which is strange. But it is no stranger than my current situation, and I just chose to roll with it.

Suddenly the figure looks at me with the red slits of his huge, bulging eyes attached to his massive head. The thing looked like a cat almost, the colors of his fur quite outstanding among the dull aesthetics of the train interior. He wore only a simple, almost cute little sweater, designed in red and black diamonds with a yellow collar and bottom. He gets up off of his seat and walks his way toward me, his fashion of movement quite humorous what with his stubby arms and legs moving back and forth comically. Regardless, his approach also made me a little uneasy. What did he want with me? Can't he just leave me alone?

ROVER: Oh! Excuse me! I have a quick question for you.

For me? I don't know if a creature like him has seen many people like me, but the fact that he's taking the train to wherever leads me to think he should be acquainted with our world…if that meant anything anymore. To the side of the cat's head I notice the conductor, who carries the same stubby figure and animalistic look. I look back at the cat, who is waiting patiently for my undivided attention. He continues.

ROVER: It's now 1:30 p.m. on August 30, 2013, right?

I look around for a bit, not really knowing the answer myself. I guess the question is innocent enough. I gaze at my arm to find I'm wearing a watch. I almost forgot about it. Yep, he's right. I nod to him.

ROVER: Thanks! It seems I forgot to set my watch this morning! I'm just going to plop down in the seat across from you. If you don't mind, of course!

This is where my lack of real social skills start to show. My eyes roll around in unease. My mouth opens but I don't say anything. My shoulders rise and hands gesture toward the seat he is referring to, a pathetic invite. The cat waddles over to the seat in front of me and he hops on. His eyes still glued onto me, he says,

ROVER: By the way, you…hold it! Can I ask your name?

He seems like he wants to be friendly, but I've become easily wary of almost everything, and I'm not sure why. I feel tingly inside and disturbed. I give him a random name since, that's right, I can't seem to remember what exactly my real name is.

Mark, I say. It sounds inconspicuous and plain enough. That's what I want to seem—plain and boring, so that the cat can keep quiet, but I knew that was not going to happen anytime soon.

ROVER: Oh, Mark? Well, that's a fantastically great name!

Thanks, cat guy. I came up with it so it must be pretty good.

ME: Cool, right?

ROVER: Yeah! You seem like a pretty cool guy to me!

ME: I know, right?

Trying to come off as a tough guy, someone with a higher degree of self-esteem, but truthfully, the cat flattered me. He's almost too friendly, which is a little weird to me.

ROVER: So, Mark, tell me, where are you headed today?

Oh my. That's the big question here. I'm just going someplace far away—someplace hopefully quiet and peaceful. He seems to want a name, so I just scramble around in my head and spurt something out.

QUIETOWN. Yeah, a town that's nice and quiet. That's exactly what I'd like.

ROVER: The town of Quietown? Hmm, Quietown, yeah, Ok…Don't think I've heard of it. I wonder where it is…

That's the point. I hope not many know where it is. Then again I did just pull a random name out of nowhere.

ROVER: Oh, right! Map, map, map…let's take a look along this train line. Ah, maybe this is it right here?

What the – how did he? The cat pulls out a large map of Quietown, or at least that's what I think it's a map of. He could be bluffing as much as I am. Regardless, it looks nice. It's small, quaint, there's few houses, and there's even a river and a small beach. I'm assuming the small green houses are those that belong to other villagers. The purple is…I don't know, maybe the town hall? There's an icon slapped on that looks like two arrows circling around each other. I can't really guess off the top of my head what it means. Above the town hall and arrows there is a train track and a pinkish house below it. I'm assuming that's where I'm getting off.

That looks like it for the map. I like what I'm seeing, and even though that's probably not what my little Quietown will look like in the end, I roll with it.

ROVER: I see, so that's where Quietown is! So do you get to go to Quietown very often?

Huh, good question. I don't remember where I've been before this, but what the cat showed me almost seems familiar and…homey. A place like Quietown is something I don't remember being a part of. Despite that, I just tell the cat it'll be my first time there.

ROVER: Oh, today is your first time? That sounds like tons of fun! Can I ask, why're you headed there?

Peace and quiet. I don't know. Start anew. That's what I keep telling myself. The cat's really delving into this whole thing a little deeply, so my first gut reaction is to tell him that I can't really say.

ROVER: Whhaat?! You're not going to tell? Hmm, now I'm even more curious…Boy, I wonder…Oh, wait. I've got it! Yeah! Are you perhaps moving to a new town?

He's like a psychic. I commend his abilities.

ME: You guessed it.

The cat looks pleased with himself, laughing.

ROVER: Mya ha ha! I've got a gift! Or maybe I just have a nose for guessing! I mean, you know, if I had a nose.

He's turning out to be pretty entertaining.

ROVER: But you're moving, huh? That's so great! Starting a new life in a new place is really exciting!

I guess he could say that, but excitement itself isn't something I'm looking for in this travel.

ROVER: Going to live somewhere you've never lived before sounds like such a fun adventure!

Just as he finishes, a little jingle echoes throughout the train car. We both look towards the conductor.

SPEAKER: Now arriving in Quietown! Quietown station!

What the hell?

ROVER: Oh, hey! Looks like we're about to arrive in Quietown!

I'm probably just dreaming. Screw it. This could be the best dream I ever have.

ROVER: Thanks for chatting with me! It's been a long time since I've enjoyed a train ride this much!

I guess that's double for me.

ROVER: Come to think of it, I've been riding the rails an awful lot again lately. Haven't done this much traveling by train since 2002 or so…Man that's weird.

2002. Pretty random, but I nod and smile.

ROVER: Ok, good luck, Mark! Bye-bye!