Four lonely years Penelope waited for Jack to return from the Trojan wars of college, like the wife of Odysseus had patiently waited for her conquering hero. She didn't care if he'd gained worldly experience as long as he'd share everything.
'Boys will be boys', she thought. 'But he's a man now.'
***
The train ride east was torturously slow for Jack. Penelope was meeting him.
She'd changed significantly. The tomboy, affectionately known as 'Penns goil', with grease under her nails and exhaust fume fragrance didn't match the adult letters they'd exchanged last month.
Watching a dappled moon rise over a field of corn, the cool light flashing between the rows in time with the clackity wheels, sent a chill through him. Life moved so fast. He wanted to hold this moment of anticipation forever.
"Stewartville, next stop," said the conductor, as he patrolled the aisle, inspecting passengers to make sure no one slept through their destination. "Hey, buddy. You awake?" he asked, touching Jack's arm.
"Yeah, man. Thanks," he said, dragging his pack out from under the seat.
The bathroom was empty. Splashing water on his face, he pulled himself together as the train slowed. The reflection altered by four years of study and parties looked angular and hairier.
Back in his seat, he peered out at the platform. Pods of grinning strangers glided by and he worried she didn't come, or worse, he didn't recognize her. Then suddenly, like a beacon, there was Penelope's new hat -- a straw hat with a turned up brim and a red ribbon. It sat atop a shadowy head with shoulder length hair. The night was cool. The trim woman wore an open sweater, tee-shirt and jeans. With one hand pressing down on the quirky bonnet and the other gripping a suitcase, without a backward glance, she stepped aboard the train.
Everything was going as planned.
***
The porter helped Penelope stow her luggage and then tipped his cap when she paid him. "Thank you, Ma'am."
"Is it okay for me to walk through the cars?"
"Yes, Ma'am. Feel free to stretch your legs. It's a long run to Michigan."
"Thank you."
As the engine began to accelerate out of the station, the car rocked and Penelope sat down before she fell down. The pounding in her chest and lightness in her head was frightfully thrilling. 'So, this is what it feels like to be carefree.'
A few occupants were sprinkled about. None looked remotely like Jack. Although a pudgy salesman type, with a thick valise and venous nose, smiled broadly when he caught her eye.
'Jack probably sat near the front so he could see me get on,' she thought, and eased away from the bulbous nose.
Each car had a smattering of people -- some were couples and families, others just business travelers. But no Jack Crandall. No magnum cum laude smarty pants. The old cigar band felt strange on her finger and she fiddled with it. 'I'm a silly dope for keeping this and wearing it tonight. I've been a fool for love too long.'
"Penny?"
Her name spoken by an unfamiliar deep voice made her quiver. Turning, she looked up into her benefactor's matured face and smiled, "Hello, Jack," she said, unable to prevent a slight vibrato. "It's so nice to see you again. My, you've grown from a cute boy into a handsome man." Her cheeks burned with the bold truth. All those years growing up next-door and it only took four to make him a stranger.
A sudden bump caused a loss of balance until Jack steadied her with a firm grip and a quick smile. Tears welled up when he said, "It's wonderful to see you too, Penelope. You're prettier than I ever imagined."
She pulled away to hide building emotion. "Shut up!" she laughed. "You were always a smoothie. And please, call me Penny," she answered, while sitting down, sliding over to the window to stare blankly outside, gathering her scrambled wits.
"Did you think this would ever happen, Penny? Can you believe we're still keeping our promise after all these years?" His warm hand engulfed hers.
"Jack, I've always believed in you."
Gentle fingers pushed her chin until she met his warm eyes. He said, "Me too you."
Lifting her left hand, he inspected the ring finger. "You kept it," Jack said, proudly. "I knew you would, Penns. We had some great times, didn't we?"
He began to toy with her hair and she liked it. Penny asked, "Remember how we always greeted each other? The one question we'd ask?"
Without a pause, he answered, "What's the good word, Penns?"
Historically, she would answer something like, 'Peanut butter -- spread the word,' and they would giggle childishly. Tonight was not child's play. It was time to put aside the things of youth and move on to serious answers to adult questions. Turning on the bench, bending close, she whispered, "Lips -- spread the word, Jack."
There was a delayed reaction to his response, perhaps a reluctance to change their innocent ways. Maybe she'd been wrong about his desires. Then, like a powerful shift in her magnetic field, Jack's mouth was stuck to hers, at first soft and tender and then pressing. She felt his tongue enter, tease and withdraw. Responding with urgency, her tongue invaded his mouth and replayed his kissing lesson with fervor, letting the teacher know the student was a quick study and applied knowledge willfully.
They sat quiet for twenty miles, nestled against each other, as reality set in.
Jack broke the silence, as he rummaged through his bag. "When do classes start?"
"The day after Labor Day."
He held out an envelope. "Here's the first installment."
Penelope took it and held it with both hands on her lap.
"Go on and open it up," he said. "I know how you feel. But get over it. I used every dime you sent me and I expect you to do the same."
She continued to stare at the virginal whiteness.
"Listen, there are no strings attached. Just like when I went to school." His voice was anxious. "You can live on campus or take another roommate. You don't have to live with me."
"You don't want me too?"
"I didn't say that."
Jack was obviously struggling with the arrangement. "I lived up to my part of the bargain," declared Penelope, "now I expect you to live up to yours. Don't get prudish about this."
"I won't, Penns." His face softened. "Just making sure you didn't change your mind. Women change their minds, a lot."
