| The next night, Anton decided to go the The Triple Caboose after his English class, so
he jumped onto the pedestrian sidewalk and rode it to the Blair Avenue
Mall and walked across the street. He watched the sunset because the colors were such a beautiful site; orange red and yellow and gold. When Anton arrived at the Caboose, Betty Snaznowski and Jim Robbins, the day bartender and
waitress were outside hosing off and scrubbing the concrete platform and the three sets of stairs. Each stairway lead to the entrance of a caboose. Each caboose has a small bar which stayed open all the time. The main tavern and restaurant was only open after five o'clock in the afternoon for the after work crowd. During peak hours, each of the three bars sold lots of booze to patrons waiting for a table in the main restaurant.
"Hey, it's Anton. Whew! Some party last night, huh buddy?", Jim said. "Best time I've had in months. What's ya up to, Anton?", said Betty. "Hello my friends!", said Anton. "Looks like a quiet afternoon. How are you? I am doing fine." "Been to English class again, huh dude?" asked Jim. "Yes, I do well, you think so?", responded Anton with a huge smile. "Sounds like you're getting the hang of it, Anton" said Betty. "You already talk better than lots of people around here do who were born here." "So much I thank you Betty. I am learning much and I try to think in English, but sometimes my words come out in Russian word order." Anton added. "Don't sweat the small stuff, Anton. Sometime my words come out in Russian order too." Betty said with a grin. Jim looked
at the amulet hanging around Anton's neck.
"Oh no." answered Anton. "Actually all it cost me was a handshake and three bags of potatoes." Betty had noticed the amulet too but was more interested in the dark, curly hair that covered Anton's chest and the naturally curly hair that topped Anton's five-foot-ten inch body. Since Anton bicycled almost everywhere or trotted while riding the slowly moving pedestrian sidewalks, he was in very good physical condition. Betty had tried to make him notice her and had almost asked him out on several occasions, but had always lost her nerve at the last minute. The closest she and Anton had ever come to going out, was staying at the Triple C after work on weekend nights to shoot pool, play darts or just hang out and talk. Like a lot of educated and inventive types, Anton had little time for a social life. |
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