by Stephanie Durden Edwards

Created on: November 07, 2009

The Strangers

The chill of the October wind followed the old man in as he clamored to find an empty seat on the train. He sat down quickly, stuffing his bag beneath his feet, just as the rails began slowly sliding beneath the iron beast once again. He sat back and closed his eyes. The lines on his face spoke of many years and much heartache. Minutes and miles passed; and still the old man did not look up.

There was no hint of the mischievous glint that often gleamed from his brown eyes; and the tired grimace hid the laughter and smile lines etched into his rugged face. Looking at him, he seemed merely a haggard curmudgeon determined to make through the wind, rain, and rails until he reached his stop on the journey.

A few of the other passengers glared at him for a moment, hardly believing for themselves his rude and abrupt interruption into their reverie. But he was quickly forgotten and faded into the background along with the rhythmic click of the rails beneath the cars. Forgotten, but for one man, seated straight across from him. He hadn't taken his eyes off the stranger since his arrival.

It had taken a few moments for his own aging eyes to be sure, but soon it was clear to Joe that this old man was no stranger. That afternoon was the first time the tired blues eyes had laid their gaze on the old man in thirty years. He tried in vain not to stare. But he found it too hard to keep his eyes off of the face three feet in front of him. Although it was contorted in pain and exhaustion, he was surprised how fast the old memories came flooding back into his mind. The shape of the nose, the hollow of the cheeks were almost as familiar to him as his own reflection in the lavatory mirror. It could be no one else but Dave.

He closed his eyes for a moment and savored a memory of happier days, when he and Dave walked together along a dusty road to wrangle one more stubborn young calf back through the hole in the fence. His back had ached, and his feet protested each step, he had scarcely known such exhaustion until that day. But one smile from Dave, one wisecrack from his friend was enough to erase the aches and pains and get the job done.

Opening his eyes, he studied the face again. A single tear rolled down his cheek as he remembered the love for his friend so many years ago. Life was never dull with Dave around. There wasn't a worry or care that a few hours with Dave couldn't chase away. They had broken bread together through the years for holidays and

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