(this story takes place before curlly found her way to the Covert Lover's Head Quarters)

I'd like one B. with no H on the side please

Curlly was headed to the bay area to visit her sister. It would be her first time on a train and she was very excited. She'd saved her money and gotten one of those spiffy cubical with pull down beds, mini-frig, and desk. After displaying pics of her family, friends, and cat around, she decided to go grab a bite in the dining car.

The car was surprisingly empty for 4:00; so Curlly ordered her blackened chicken with red peppers and cheese on a sunflower bagel to go. That way she could start her new Amelia Peabody mystery. Once she got her to go box Curlly tried to balance her food and open the door. Much to the waiter's unhelpful amusement.

Then the door suddenly opened nearly knocking Curlly down. Once Curlly regained her balance, she beheld two young men. One looked shocked to see her, and the other allowed a sly smirk to slide across his face. Shouldering the opened mouthed one aside, MR.I- Just-Ate-A-Canary-Are-Any-Feathers-Showing took the box out of my hands and said, "Well Seymour, looks like taking the train wasn't such a bad idea after all. I am Hillinger. May I escort you to your room lady?"

Taking back the box without touching him. Curlly replied in her I-am-the-ice-princess voice,"Thank you but that will not be needed." She skirted around him and with and realized the other guy Seymour was still just looking at her. With an impish gleam in her eyes Curlly flashed him her most dazzeling smile and said, "So nice to have met you Mr. Seymour." With that Curlly returned to her compartment.

After devouring her food, Curlly opened her book and went back to the turn of the century in Egypt. "Glory!" exclaimed Curlly in disgust! The people in the compartment next to her's had been arguing for the past hour or more. Curlly kept trying to fall back into her book, but tweedle dee and tweedle dumb over there were making it a chore. Finally she couldn't take it anymore! She threw one of her combat boots at the wall followed by a "take it some were else!" Silence reigned for a minute when a knock sounded at her door.

Fuming Curlly stalked over to the door, put on her most innocent expression and opened the door. "Yes?"

"I'm sorry were we disturbing you?" inquired Hillinger softly.

"Oh, how lucky. YOU are my nieghbor. And yes you were. Some people are trying to enjoy themselves so stuff that testosterone back in your sock where it belongs!" With that Curlly slammed the door shut and flopped ont othe bed.

Outside the door Hillinger turned to Birkoff, who was standing in the door way, "Oh yeah, she wants me."

"Why didn't they get me a separate compartment. My numbers were up last quarter," mumbles Birky as he went back in and shut the door.

************

The next morning Curlly woke up refreshed and packed up her things. As she started to get out the jeans and t-shirt she planned to wear she stopped. With her giggles floating through the room Curlly opened her suit case back up.

Opening her door Curlly stuck her head out just in time to see Birkoff head into the dining car. Hearing off key singing coming from the guys room Curlly followed.

Walking into the dining car she spotted Birkoff.

"Hey Seymour, how did you sleep?" asked Curlly.

With a visible gulp he replied, "Just fine thanx"

"My outfit must be even better than I thought," thought Curlly. So with that she plunked herself down and had a great time having breakfast with "Birkoff" as he liked to be called. Just as Curlly finished wiping her eyes after one really good laugh, Birkoff spied Hillinger coming in and bee lining towards them.

"Oh, well I'm off. Nice having breakfast with you." Curlly slid out of the booth and headed to the door neatly avoiding Hillinger.

"Seymore, your not supposed to make them cry. Have you learned nothing by observation?"

GLory thought Curlly rolling her eyes.

************

One time in the hall returning to her room, Curlly bumbed into Hillinger. He managed to keep a tight reign on himself. He was kinda cute, but way to self-absorbed for her tastes. Right before bed that night Curlly went to their door and tapped lightly.

They must not have heard her because their conversation kept on going. It wasn't a very good habit and would get her in trouble some day, but Curlly listened for a few moments anyway. Something about a section of something and resident genius? Birkoff definitly wanted to do something one way and wondered how what he'd done to deserve this. And Hillinger just kept pushing buttions. Oh well.

Curlly called through the door, "Good nite, guys," and ran into her room.

*****

Curlly didn't see them again on the train. But some guy in one of the real expensive cars near the front of the train had some stuff broken into and was wailing about some one hacking into his lap top destroying some files and how it was all over. "Gee, I guess some people never learn to do backups."

After getting off the train and collecting her baggage, Curlly went out of the train station to get a taxi to her sister's apartment.

"I hope you have a nice vacation," stated a voice behind her.

"Why Birkoff! I thought I wasn't going to be able to say goodbye. Where is your friend?"

"Oh, off doing a little data entry for some people."

"Is that what brought you to the San Fran area?"

With a smile strangely guilty, "Yah, I guess you can say that."

A taxi just pulled up in front of her and asked were Curlly was going.

"Well, I guess I'd better get going," she said as Birkoff helped her place her bags in the trunk.

"It was nice to have met you," said Birky looking somewhere past Curlly's left shoulder.

Standing up on tiptoe, Curlly placed a kiss on his cheek. "Hope I see you again some time. Hope you enjoy your time here." Curlly hoped the shade of pink he was, wasn't life threatening.

And with that Birkoff opened the door for Curlly. Once she was in he shut the door and the cab pulled out into traffic.

"Why are there never any nice, normal guys like that where I live," wondered Curlly as she waved to Seymour until he was out of sight.

the end

This story ©copyright Curlly, 09/17/99