The Train

Train:
–noun
1. Railroads. a self-propelled, connected group of rolling stock.
2. order, esp. proper order: Matters were in good train. 
3. a line or succession of persons or things following one after the other.
4. a series of proceedings, events, ideas, etc.
5. the series of results or circumstances following or proceeding from an event, action, etc.; aftermath: Disease came in the train of war. 
6. a succession of connected ideas; a course of reasoning: to lose one's train of thought. 
7. a line of combustible material, as gunpowder, for leading fire to an explosive charge.

–verb (used with object)
1. to develop or form the habits, thoughts, or behavior of (a child or other person) by discipline and instruction: to train an unruly boy. 
2. to treat or manipulate so as to bring into some desired form, position, direction, etc.: to train one's hair to stay down. 
3. to bring to bear on some object; point, aim, or direct, as a firearm, camera, telescope, or eye.
4. to entice; allure.

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CHAPTER ONE:
  Sandra knew she should have stepped on it to beat the train but it had been a long day and her brain was a bowl of pudding, and the snap decisions she was known for were not going to happen until she could have a chance to unwind.  But she really wished she had gone for it - if for no other reason then the guy in the car behind her giving her that glare and the creeps.

  "How long is this damn train" she said aloud to herself.  She tried to focus on the train and avoid the rear view mirror but she just couldn't.  "How silly am I, do I think he is going to jump out of the car and shoot me.  Maybe he just naturally looks that way, I should probably feel sorry for him.  Besides he has no reason to be mad, even if I had made it he wouldn't have."  Unfortunately neither logic nor rationalization was reducing her anxiety.  But after what seemed like an eternity, of only 90 seconds, the crossing arms went up and everyone was on their way.

CHAPTER TWO:
  Sandra quickly forgot about creepy guy behind her; she was off to a relaxing evening at home.  A good book, hot tea, maybe a long bubble bath, that was what she needed.  Her son would be spending the weekend at her sister's vacation house by the beach, and her husband would be late again; but he promised only one more week and then no more late nights.  No worries were allowed for this evening, just relaxation.

  Then she noticed creepy guy was following her.  He had that same menacing but yet blank look on his face.

  She felt her stomach spin and her heart flutter but convinced herself that everyone takes this route home.  At some point he would turn off or pass her.  Again she faced the same dilemma - stop looking in the rear view mirror. "Now it will end." she thought to herself as she got off the freeway.  With her heart pounding she looked in her rear view mirror and he was gone.

  She took a deep breath and laughed at her silliness, "Goodness, I'm more stressed out then even I thought." Which she was, she started reflecting on the draining week at work.  One fire-drill after another, which meant no time to get her actual work done. When, out of her peripheral vision, as the light changed there he was.  The creep.  He was right next to her and he was staring her down.

  Now her stomach was not spinning, it was retching, "He's going to kill me," she was feeling herself get short of breath.  "Calm down freak-girl, this is just silliness," but logic was not working with her pudding brain.  "Find the nearest police station, or fire station or, where does one go?  Ugh, I should have a car with a nav system." Her mind was racing, she certainly could not go home, not to an empty house.  As her mind was going multi-directional he pulled into the driveway for the In & Out Burger and was gone.

  I'm insane, she thought, and drove home to her tea, book and bath, and maybe a shot of tequila.  She still felt a sense of uneasiness but attributed it to how worked up she allowed herself to get.  "I'm sure he was playing mind games with me, he could probably tell I was freaking out.  Sheesh, I'm sweating and he's probably laughing away."

  Sandra pulled up the driveway and into her garage.  What should be a pristine lawn and garden was definitely showing the wear of disregard.  "I've got to do some yard work."  But the exhaustion she felt from her recent feared close call only left her with the energy to pull out some tools and get the mail.

CHAPTER THREE