Green Shirt
Original writing: September 2019Reworked: May 2021
"Thank you very much."
I walk out the hostel's front door after a short two-day stay. Walking quickly, I open my phone to get my GPS running. I'm headed to Toronto's Union Station to catch a train, and I'm a little bit last minute.
Thankfully, my long legs carry me quickly towards my destination, tiny suitcase rolling right at my heels (and occasionally ON my heels). I board the VIA Rail train without any issue.
The train is headed across almost the entire country, and I'll be on it for three days and three nights on my way to Vancouver.
An attendant shows me to my seat/bunk. I will be top bunk, the kitchen is (…) and the dome car is (…). Cool, good stuff. Bag under the seat? Amazing, thank you. Aight, talk to you later man.
As I put my stuff away under the seat, I realize the other seat is empty.
My bottom bunk buddy isn't here yet.
I head out to explore the train. I find the kitchen in the (…) as expected, and the dome car as well. Every hallway in the train is narrow, only allowing enough space for one large-size person to get through. I get stuck face-to-face with other people in (every!) wagon, and we end up doing some strange contortions to get by. These awkward teamwork moments make me smile.
I scope out the dome car, there's a seated area at the top to allow a 360 view outside. The activity car is only a little further, with a coffee machine and crackers available at all times. I love crackers! There are also various board games like chess available and a movie about the Via Rail train history playing on loop at a low volume.
Past the activity room there's only the kitchen followed by a restricted area. There's no point in going further.
Maybe my bunk buddy is finally here?
I make my way back to my seat. The process is slow, some of the people who were chatting in the hall last time are STILL in the way, and they give me this annoyed look as they slide into corners to let me pass.
I eventually reach the car where my seat is.
I see someone putting their things away at my seat!
They're totally my bottom bunker!
They're a girl!
(*Gasp*!)
How do I proceed from here?
I see what appears to be her parents in another bunk not far away.
I should try to make a good impression (not much worse than having suspicious parents give you the stink-eye for three days).
I notice she's also wearing a Green Shirt.
Wait, that's not very helpful.
Let's just be friendly.
"Hey there, I think we're going to be bunkmates for a few days!"
The girl is currently sitting. She cranes her neck to look at me through her glasses, face angled, analyzing.
Interesting.
There's a moment of silence before she answers.
"Hey."
I extend my hand slowly, carefully watching her reaction.
"I'm Yanik."
There's a short pause as she observes me, blinking. My hand is still extended, chillin'.
"What's your name?"
She looks at my hand, reaches out and shakes it. It wasn't a limp handshake; it wasn't moist, and it wasn't rough. What does that leave? Gentle?
She gives me her name.
"Daniella."
Daniella…
I stand still for a second.
I realize that don't know how to proceed from here.
Wow. My social skills are TERRIBLE.
As intriguing as this encounter is, this interaction is nothing like the other travellers I met so far during my time in Toronto (they usually did most of the talking).
Welp, time to bail!
"Cool, well, I'll let you unpack."
She nods at me.
"See you around!"
I play it cool, smile at her and start backing away. Her eyes don't leave me. I turn around and leave, feeling her gaze on my back.
Oh boy. I feel a mix of confusion and excitement rise through my chest. What in the world is going on?
Part of me wants to turn around to learn more about this girl in the Green Shirt.
I push the thought out of my mind.
I walk back to the dome car area, bumping into slowpokes and attendants for the third time, earning myself some exasperated looks. I make sure to say sorry as I walk past them.
Reaching the dome car, a young man in an attendant's uniform smiles at me. His nametag has “Alain” written on it.
He asks me if I'm settled in, and I tell him that I am.
"Perfect! That means you'll be ready to meet us in the dome car at 11AM! I'll be hosting a little course I like to call Railway 101, where I talk about the basics of the railway system. It's very interesting!"
I tell him I'll be there, these types of little courses are always fun, especially if it's in the dome car!
I decide to hang around the coffee machine until 11AM.
It's a little earlier than 11AM, I decide to head up to the dome car early. The seats are arranged in rows, two on each side facing the front.
Most of the seats are already taken, people typically travelling NOT alone like I was. Only the front row was free, so I sat there in the aisle seat with a nice view of the winding staircase that led down to the hall. Our host Alain had not yet arrived.
The view outside was spectacular, I could see the train slowly winding along the tracks, with trees and hills all around. The tall buildings of Toronto were slowly shrinking in the distance.
A movement at the foot the staircase catches me eye, a Green Shirt is walking past.
That's my bunkmate!
I glance around to confirm that our host has yet to arrive, and duck into the staircase at top speed.
I reach the bottom of the stairs to see Green Shirt open the door to the next car, a few meters away.
I speed walk after her, trying not to trip over a bunch of legs just barely in my way. I finally open the door to the next car and see her already halfway to the next door.
Damn, this girl is fast (to think I was proud of my speed walking abilities)!
One long step at a time, I manage to inch closer and closer. I call out her name.
"Daniella!"
No response.
She walks (sprints?) on.
I keep moving, calling out her name another time. Still no response. There's no way I'm stopping now.
I open another car door, close behind her.
I see her stopped at the coffee machine. Out of breath, I walk up and tap her shoulder. She quickly turns to face me, eyes wide, coffee in her hands.
My head leans forward as a smile forms on my face.
"Daniella."
Eyes still wide, silent, she stares at me. Smile growing even wider, I point back to where we came.
"There's this course in the dome car, it's called Railway 101. Wanna come? It's starting really soon."
She brings her coffee cup to her bottom lip. Her brows furrow. Her gaze moves to the side for an instant, quickly returning to me.
She's totally going to say yes!
She lowers her coffee and finally speaks.
"Sure."
Yes! I knew it!
"Great! This way!"
Happy, I lead the way back to the dome car, practically skipping along, Green Shirt in tow.
I had found myself a friend.