STRAWBERRY KISSES

by Carl Steiger

Martin slouched on the seat in the train taking him home from classes in the Highly Capable program. His gangling legs had outgrown his jeans. He had taken a worn paperback from his satchel, but it was hard to read, even though the lighting was good. He just couldn't concentrate.

At the other end of the car were three girls about Martin's age. They were pretty. Unattainable. They giggled among themselves. Sometimes they looked in Martin's direction and giggled louder. Martin pretended to read his book, stealing occasional glances at the girls.

Presently the girls rose from their seats and approached. They snickered and smiled. Martin knew the sort of smile they wore. They meant no good. The girls stopped and looked down at Martin. He was petrified.

"My name's Mona," one girl said. "Do you like strawberry kisses?"

"I don't know," Martin said. He could think of nothing else to say.

Mona bent down and cupped his face in her hands. He half expected her to transform into a vampire or worse. She kissed him full on the lips. She held in her mouth some effervescent candy that crackled against his teeth. An intense taste of strawberry washed over his tongue.

The other girls took their turns giving Martin strawberry kisses. Then they hurried though the door to the next car, laughing and squealing.

Martin sat stunned, staring at the door. He stared at it for a long time, unsure whether he wanted the girls to return or not.

He cursed when he turned his eyes to the window. He had missed his stop. How long had he been sitting in a daze? He couldn't remember even feeling the train stop and restart. He didn't recognize the twilit landscape sliding by outside.