Scene 7

§ Journalist

Scene 7. “The Canadian,” Vancouver to Toronto

by Georgette Freeman

At the beginning of the trip, it seemed like she was new to the phone and the whole selfie thing, so we got to watch as she perfected her technique. Towards the end, all the pix seemed to be taken from above with her looking beseechingly into the camera. But that was at the end. In the middle, with the technique getting under control, there was the whole train to conquer.

The dining car. Most disconcerting to come up to a table with this woman making love to her phone across from you as you're sitting down to the meal and as a good neighbor attempting some kind of contact. I mean after all, you're going to have dinner together. Never said a word. Just had eyes for the phone.

Then there was the dome, where she let it all out. God, that phone. It was almost too personal to watch. Something to be done in private, which is probably something she got too. Toward the end, she just lived in her (our) section(s), Car 31, Sections 1 and 2. Got so that I went back there only to retrieve things, and to sleep.

Wonder where she was going. Who she was taking the photos for, assuming she was taking them for someone else. Wonder who that person is.

Back to the top • Home