Chicago bound: He and his wife are taking a train to Chicago, to be at a concert. It is thrilling for both of them.
Charles tells his wife “This is going to be great.”
Lana, his wife, who is the singer for the Chicago concert, said “You know, I am going to need you by my side, as much as you can. You know I am scared to death of going on stage by myself.”
Charles said “You will be fine. You have the whole band with you, and your bodyguards won't let anything happen.”
Leaning her head on her husband's shoulder, and wrapping both her arms around him, Lana said “You know you are the only one who has ever gotten me out of a lot of trouble. You have a sixth sense about these things. Besides, you are the one who believed in me when I first started singing. You are the one for me and the only one I trust. It is something I have issues with.” Knowing how his wife gets, Charles said “We have everything down to a tee. Nothing will slip through security. I will not let anything happen to you.”
Lana said “That is what I love about you. Your quiet confidence. I feel safe and cozy with you.” Lana couldn't contain her desire to kiss Charles, lustfully, on the mouth.
Charles didn't fight the temptation, either.
Afterwards, her husband said “You always have a way to take my breath away.” Lana laughed and said “ You also know how to make me feel good, with those compliments of yours. Keep bringing them on.”
It was her husband’s turn to laugh.
“You give me far more credit than I deserve, my love.”
Lana looked at Charles in stunned disbelief, and said “How can you say that? After all you have done for me.”
Charles said “My dear, you are not an international sensation because of me. It is because of your talent that has brought you this far. I am just merely on your coattails, enjoying the ride.” Lana gave a gasped expression.
“Where do you come up with these things?”
Charles looked at his wife, and said “What things? I am speaking the truth.” Lana said “My sweet husband. You have no idea the impact you have on people. This includes me. Without your support of my talent…”
Charles said “ I want to make a correction. Talents.”
Lana said “Yes talents. Without your support of my talents, my determination, my desire, and most of all, my self-esteem would be gone.”
Charles looked surprised.
Lana said “This is true. You always undervalue yourself. You needn't be so hard on yourself. You did help write some songs for me.”
Charles said “Two songs. They weren't that great. Your writing ability on songs, out does mine any day of the week.”
Lana said “ Did you forget, one of them went gold, the other platinum?”
Charles said “It was your singing that did it. Trust me, it had nothing to do with me.” Again, Lana didn't like what she heard from her husband.
“Look, I am not going to argue this. Too many people think you need protecting, including me, and you end up coming to the rescue of those same people, and never get any appreciation for it.”
Charles said “As long as you are in my life, nothing else matters.”
Lana said “That is very sweet of you to say, but we all know who makes life happy.” Charles couldn't get her to see that she was a gift from God to him. It didn't get any better than this.
On a lighter note, Charles was happy they were taking a train. Flying scared him. He knew it scared Lana. Charles hoped his fear didn't show. The last thing he wanted to do is disappoint Lana.
A conductor came over and asked Lana and Charles if they wanted anything. Lana said “Oh, just a glass of wine.”
Charles looked to his wife and asked “Do you want anything to eat?”
Lana replied “Yeah. It sounds like a great idea. I'll have a vegetarian sandwich.” Charles said “Two vegetarian sandwiches.”
The conductor said “Very good. Would you like a glass of wine, Mr. Saxon?” Before Charles could answer no, his wife said to the conductor “Listen, he can't have alcohol. I don't agree with him. He will have a ginger ale, though.”
The conductor said “My apologies Mrs. Joseph.”
Lana said “I am Mrs. Joseph on stage. I am Mrs. Saxon when I am with my husband.” The conductor said “Yes, Mrs. Saxon.”
When the conductor left, Charles said “You might've hurt his feelings.”
Lana said “Charles Kingsley Saxon! I will not have someone trying to hurt you! That is all!” Charles, still remaining calm, said “I am sure he got the point.”
He smiled at her and kissed his wife.
Lana said, after the kiss, “I am only looking out for you.”
Charles said “I do appreciate that.”
Lana said “Someone has to take care of you. It might as well be your wife.” Charles said “Nobody does it better than you, baby.”
Lana said “You are damn right!”
Charles said “You are the best.”
Just then, their food and drinks come.
After the trays were put down, Charles gave two twenty dollar bills to the conductor. The conductor accepted them, and said “Thank you, sir.”
Charles waved him off.
When the conductor walked away again, Lana said “You know you didn't have to do that.” Charles said “ It isn't a big deal.”
Lana just gives him one of her looks.
They ate their sandwiches and drank their beverages.
The first bite was fabulous. This is what Lana told Charles.
Charles said “This is good.”
He ate some more.
Lana said “Maybe you were right to give him that tip.”
Charles, indulging himself with the sandwich, said “Yep.”
They heard some music playing on the train. It was by Fergie, from the Black Eye peas. They sang the song together. After the song was over, they laughed. It was great being together. Just then, a man came over to both of them, and asked quietly “Can I get your autograph?” Not paying him too much mind, they continued to eat.
The young man looked at them both, before asking “Excuse me, I don't mean to interrupt your eating, but I wanted to know if you could give me your autograph Miss Lana Joseph?” Both Lana and Charles looked up. They saw a young man holding a pen and paper. Charles said “Maybe, he wants your autograph.”
Lana said “Ok. Come here young man. I'll just do what you ask me to do.” She took the pen and paper, and then asked “What is your name?”
The young man replied “T J Connelly.”
Lana asked “Is that with two n’s and two L’s?”
T J said “ Yes, it is.”
Lana then asked “What do you want me to say?”
T J told her.
It is what she put on the paper. She proceeded to give T J back his pen and paper. Lana said “I hope it meets with your approval.”
T J looked at it, and said “Yes, it does, greatly! Thank you!”
Lana said “Shhh. I don't want to make a big deal about this.”
T J said more quietly “No, of course not. Thank you, again.”
Lana said “Not a problem.”
T J walked away.
Charles said “Another fan.”
Lana said “Seems like.”
Having her laptop with her, and having it hooked up to WiFi, Lana connected with some music, the both of them could hear.
Charles enjoyed it, as much as Lana. It was satellite radio.
When one of Lana’s songs came on, they both sang it. They didn't do it too loud. After the song, they both laughed.
Charles said “That was great.”
Lana said “Yes it was.”
Her cellphone rings.
Lana decided to answer it.
She was surprised who was on the other line.
The conversation went back and forth for a while.
Lana was looking at Charles the whole time she was on the phone, whether it was talking or listening.
Charles had been curious with Lana’s conversation, but decided to let Lana finish first. After about fifteen more minutes of talking, Lana decided to hang up.
Charles wanted to know who it was, but didn't want to sound rude about it. “Nothing too serious, I hope?”
Lana replied “Nah. Just my manager wondering when we will arrive in Chicago.”
Charles said “Well, that's cool.”
Lana said “Yeah. Nothing drastic.”
Charles and Lana admired the scenery of wilderness and farmland. It was a sight to see. Lana said “Did I ever tell you I've always wanted to live on a farm?”
Charles replied “No, you did not.”
Lana said “Yeah, it’s always been a dream of mine. Maybe somewhere in Iowa or Montana, or someplace like that.”
Charles said “Why don't you do it? You can afford it.”
Lana said “Correction.We can afford it and i can't do it now, with this hectic schedule.” Charles said “Maybe, after this tour, we can go somewhere nice and quiet. Pick a farm that is available.”
Lana said “I think I will take you up on that offer.”
Charles said “I know you will.”
The train suddenly stopped, because it stalled.
The engineer came out and said “Don't worry folks! Just a minor glitch! We shall be on the road in no time!”
Nobody could explain what happened next. The whole train just blew up. Nobody survived, including Charles and Lana.
It was lucky the engineer wasn't in it, or he would've been dead, too.
Ten years later: In a bar, a man is drinking a gin and tonic. He is not in the best of moods. He was always thinking about the past.
Just at that moment, another guy walks in, and starts talking loudly. He is drunk and doesn't know it.
The man with the gin and tonic observes the man talking loud. He walked over to him, and said “I think I know you from somewhere.”
The loud man said “You must be drunk, because I have never seen you before!” The man with the gin and tonic starts walking away.
He spins around, takes out a gun, and proceeds to shoot the loud man in the back of the head. The loud man is killed, instantly.
Everyone scatters. Someone calls the police.
The man goes back to his gin and tonic.
About a half an hour later, the police came in, with guns drawn, yelling “Everybody, put your hands on your head, where we can see them!”
The man continues to drink his gin and tonic.
Another person tells a police officer “That is the guy who shot the man lying on the floor!” The police grab the man with the gin and tonic, and take him away.
The morgue was also called, which is why there are people checking the body. They check the dead man for identification, before lifting the body on a stretcher and covering him. One of the people from the morgue said “The dead guy is identified as T J Connelly.” Everyone is surprised by this.
Another person from the morgue asked “Did you find out the shooter’s name?”
The first morgue worker replied “Yes, I did. His name is Charles Kingsley Saxon, Jr. Son of the late singer Lana Joseph and her husband Charles Kingsley Saxon, Sr. Seems like a revenge thing.”
The second morgue person asked “Do you think Charles Jr. will go to jail?” The first morgue worker replied “Hard to say. We have to have the body looked at for an autopsy, first, but if you want my opinion, Charles Jr. will either be found innocent or just plead insanity, for the events he’s been through.”