Thomas and I have traveled to Dublin for a vacation. We are staying in an unusual lodging - a small, one room, single story dwelling in an old part of town. It's old and has a stone floor and stone walls, and it feels a little shabby and dark.
The room is full of messy, open suitcases and I'm trying to find something to wear. Thomas is outside waiting anxiously for me to get ready because we have plans to go out. My friend E, Michelle, and Anne are with me in the room helping me pick out an outfit. Thomas is really in a hurry and his friend MW stops by - she used to meet us out occasionally many years ago. Impatient, he left with her and the girls and I were left to find our own way. It was a little annoying.
We walk out in a group and find some other people also making their way to the train station. We all start out walking together - one group turns and walks up the train tracks and we continue on walking up the street. We get on the train. It is open air, like a trolly with no roof, or like the upstairs of a double-decker bus. We start to travel and I see that we are on the highway, not a train track. I assume this is one of those trains that can also travel on the road (?).
Up ahead I see some strange figures in the distance. They are all tall, broad shouldered, bald men in suits. They don't seem to be working together in a group, but they are all standing in the middle of the highway leaping out at vehicles. We swerve to miss several. I wonder why the police haven't shown up to make the road safe.
Suddenly, one of the men leaps onto the train right next to me. It's a robbery! He says, "I will be accepting folded bills only today, ladies and gentlemen!" I feel like I'm in danger and I decide I'm going to do whatever I have to do to keep myself and the girls safe. I look at him and give a look of total compliance. I put my hand into my pocket and pull out my money - all I have are 2 folded up five euro bills. He comes over to me to take my money. I hand the money to him and while I'm holding it out to him I say, "Listen - I am so sorry! This is all I have and I promise it's every penny! We are from out of town and haven't had a chance to get our euros yet!" I have several hundred dollars in my purse to exchange, but I'm hoping he doesn't ask for anything else. Because I am so apologetic and sincere, he takes the 10 euros and doesn't demand anything else. Anne stands up to give him her purse and he reaches around and also casually grab her rear end appraisingly. I help maneuver her away from him without making it obvious.
I see that Thomas is on the train now and I'm really worried about what's going to happen when this scary man tries to rob him. Suddenly the train stops and Thomas says, "Welp, I guess that's all the robbing you'll have time to do today! By the way, what's your address?" I know he wants to find out so he can go kill him. "No!" I say. "You don't need that! Go ahead and get off, honey!" As I am getting off the train I grab my purse and walk towards the exit. "Hey! That's my purse!" I hear behind me. The scary, bald man has turned into a woman. I see that I do have her purse, full of items she has stolen from us. "Oh my gosh! I'm so sorry!! I would never have intentionally picked this up!" She laughs and says, "I know you wouldn't - I could tell how submissive you are by the way you kept covering your mouth with your hands!" I think to myself that my plan worked. I give her the bag and get off the train.
Comments