Eavesdropping

8:10 AM- On the train to D.C. (Baltimore really) and of course I sit next to the two gentlemen who must have a very passionate conversation about the price of nickel and other things that don't interest me, especially not at this hour. My intention was to sleep. Foiled. The train that was scheduled to leave at 8:00AM was cancelled so everybody and their grandmother had to take the 8:10. My feelings are hurt. The chance of sleep is unlikely since this train is overcrowded and everybody has things to say, work to do. I'm just thankful that I got a seat.
What will I do since sleep is a dream? I don't feel like doing any work. That will begin as soon as this train stops. Why start now? No need for that. So, what will I do? Listen to all the conversations that are happening around me of course. I just wish this nickel conversation wasn't so close…I don't know which of them is correct but seriously they need to agree to disagree…


The woman two seats in front of me has family vacationing on Fraser Island and they are enjoying the white sand beaches and they miss her. She can't wait to go on vacation. Her husband, lover or boyfriend who is on the train with her says Prague she says Fraser Island or Alaska. I would say Egypt or South Africa or Greece but nobody asked me.


This guy three rows ahead and to my left in the window seat is having a conversation about subtext. I can't tell if he is an actor or if he is on the phone with a significant other questioning his or her use of subtext. Why won't he speak louder? That conversation sounds good.


Behind me the accent is too thick. Don't know what they are talking about.


These two standing above me are competitors. They keep trying to outdo each other. I wonder if they are brothers. They are giving the nickel guys a run for their money. Looking at them dressed in their suits it's funny to listen them talk about sports like they have on dirty sweats and just came in from their neighborhood bar. If I had to guess what they did for a living I would guess salesmen. I'm probably wrong.


The lady in the aisle seat directly in front of me is trying to have a very quiet phone conversation about her son getting a warning at school just before summer vacation. The conversation is possibly with the child's father. Whoever is on the other end is helping her figure out a just punishment for the son.


I am in a window seat and the guy sitting next to me has some kind of fresh baked bread or cake or muffin. It smells divine. I want a piece of whatever it is. I wonder if he is taking the baked good into a meeting or to his out of state lover. He looks very important and I like his tie. I would tell him but I can't handle uninteresting chatter at the moment and something tells me he cant's either.


A woman who just boarded the train (in Philadelphia) is walking through the car with her ear piece in and speaking very loudly. "I don't want them waiting for me, doing nothing. They should respond. I don't want to hold hands on this one." Somebody is in trouble. Nothing like witnessing and listening to a petite, powerful woman, in a suit, with flats on carrying a bag that I am sure holds a pair of heels and lot's of important paper work giving somebody the business. I just wish she wasn't that loud. The train is only but so big.


She is followed by a sweaty man who exclaims to no one in particular, "I thought I'd never make the train, WHEW!" With all that sweat he clearly ran all the way.


"The address is 100 South Charleston? Is that it?" I wonder what's there. Maybe I'll Google it. I'm assuming D.C. but he could be talking about a location in any city anywhere I suppose.


Lots of budget talk and fiscal planning talk is happening in this car. I all of a sudden have the urge to change cars. I want to hear another set of conversations. I would love to sit in the car that is housing the petite, powerhouse who boarded the train in Philadelphia...wonder who she's giving the business to now.


"Our wives have a play-date today…with each other."
The punch line was followed by hearty laugher and was by far the funniest thing I heard this morn.
I just got a phone call that I had to take. For fear of someone like me being on the train I only allowed myself to give the following responses: yes, no, okay, sure sounds good, and the most informative response I gave- I'll see you in a bit.


Enough people have come and gone I think I could sleep at this point but the desire to do so is gone too…eavesdropping is probably more entertaining than the five minute dream I would have anyway. But I'm not really eavesdropping am I? These conversations would have to have some semblance of privacy for that to be the case…right?