jphoto
The coal powered engine crept along the narrow gauge track
past the berm of goldenrod and 6 foot tall ironweed with its deeply burgundy
flower clusters attractive to butterflies lined the way through the large bay
opening into the roundhouse for routine greasing.
The heavy iron beast slowly rolled to a stop at the wheel
block. His thick canvas yet warn glove grabbed hold of the vertical bar outside
the engine’s open back caked with oily soot that had polished a black streak
along the palm.
Stepping down facing forward toward the glorious curved
design of the brick building filled like a railroad stockyard with its beasts
getting tended to.
His dungarees stained with the grime of an engineer and boot
leather nicked and scuffed from the hard work required each day.
Into the top center pocket went two fingers reaching for the
candy bar, which he placed in it every morning at 4:30 as he stepped out the
backdoor on his way to the yard.
Peeling away the wrapper, he walked out the open bay to
where a patch of pokeberries grew full of their dark purple fruit lining the
slender each individually positioned, one next to the other at the point to
where they attach to the tiny stems like a ball upon the end of a very short
pull chain. The juice stains permanently making an excellent fabric dye.
Bringing the sweet chocolate candy to his mouth, he placed
it under his tongue allowing it to slowly dissolve, resisting chewing, letting
the flavors mash upon the roof of his palate savoring what began as a solid,
and now becoming a creamy gel further disappearing into a liquid.
The sun bright and warm upon his face as he lifted his head
to accept the heat delivered from millions of miles away. Stepping back, his
body leaned against a wall waiting for the next moment to arrive.
