Enchanted: Dotties Story

by Linda Gerald

  They sat in a train depot without communication. This quietness was not unusual for the couple. Occasionally, he took her hand and kissed it softly. Soon, other travelers arrived. These folks were of a different class than most they encountered on this trip. Elizabeth noted that many of their fellow passengers appeared to be of the peasant community. Chatting in small groups, they clutched bags of packed lunches in brown paper sacks and beverages for the arriving train ride. Some even carried live chickens in wire baskets. The smells soon overpowered Elizabeth. Trying not to create attention to herself, quietly, she removed a handkerchief. Slowly, she covered her nose. Although she attempted to prevent them, heaving gags erupted from the unpleasant smells; it was impossible not to react. The others turned to look at the young woman who seemed to find them repulsive. She lowered her head. Never would she intentionally hurt anyone’s feelings. Murmurs from them angrily proclaimed, “English!” This reaction from the others caused her and Harry embarrassment. Quickly, she removed the handkerchief. The others relaxed slightly.

  The attendant, who helped them board the train, smiled brightly. His smile meant so much to the American couple who did not intend on offending anyone. He appeared to understand the plight of his guests.

  “It’s okay.” Although his English was poor, his kindness pulled at their hearts. He thoughtfully patted her hand.

  Elizabeth followed Harry. Suddenly, he stopped half-way up the stairs to board.

  “My love, get ready for the ‘rain.’ I made another terrible miscalculation. I feel sick. Now, I need the handkerchief.” He turned and continued up the stairs. Confusedly, she followed.

  Another attendant waited for them. Without speaking, he opened the door to a private compartment. They entered into a clean room with air-conditioned comfort. Harry quickly closed the door. Elizabeth thought this isn’t bad at all. Why did he become so upset?

  “Oh, my goodness, I have made a terrible blunder. You must forgive me. We will get off this train at the next stop and try to make other arrangements.” His skin was pale and sweaty.

  “Harry, I don’t understand. What’s wrong with this? Look at how comfortable we will be. We have padded benches with a large window. The air conditioning is wonderful. What’s not to love?”

  Grover shook his head at her naivety.

  “My darling, you think about it. Did you see that crowd? Look outside; they squeezed in the other compartments like sardines. Don’t you think they are going to question our comfort? Yes, we paid a pretty penny for this luxury. However, that resulted in causing the others to be even more uncomfortable.” She realized her foolish question.

  He had just completed his statement when several men stood outside their closed cabin door. There was no lock. They angrily glared inside at the Americans.

  “We need to take action at once. You go out there and find a couple that you may feel comfortable around. Invite them to join us in our space here. That should alleviate some of the misgivings.”

  “Me? You want me to do this?” She could not believe that he would send her outside the room to the overheated passengers who looked miserable. Still, she stood. When her hand touched the handle of the door, an elderly couple walked slowly past. Sadly, they looked at her.

  “Please, why don’t you two come inside. You need to rest.” Gently, she ushered the older Greek couple inside. Of course, the couple did not understand, but they smiled agreeably. The men, outside their door, did not look happy, but they walked away. At least, the haughty Americans had attempted to include a couple of locals. Gratefully, the little couple entered promptly at her invitation. They nodded graciously at the Americans.

  Elizabeth joined Harry, on one of the seats, as she pointed at the one remaining across from them. The older couple sat with sighs of relief. What the little Greek couple had thought would be a miserable trip turned into a luxury for them. Their eyes searched their unfamiliar surroundings. Heavily, they breathed the clean, crisp air. Large smiles greeted the Grovers.

  Although they did not talk, they made signs and laughed a great deal at each other. When the train chugged peacefully along, and the previously disgruntled passengers began to relax, Harry slipped his feet from his shoes and stretched them onto the seat in front of him. This bench carried the strange couple. The man smiled broadly. To Elizabeth’s amazement, the little Greek man did the same. Carefully, he removed his tired, old shoes. His socks had holes, and his feet were a little smelly. Once again, she demonstrated her lack of travel when she gasped in horror at this act. The wife looked at her with concern. Realizing the ungracious action of her husband, the Athenian lady slapped his feet from the seat. Now, they all looked at each other in confusion. Harry understood that he caused this episode of discomfort.

  “Darn, if I’m going to put my shoes back on. I paid for this cabin. Let them get their own.” This statement did not reflect the graciousness which he usually demonstrated to others. He was tired. Elizabeth understood his impatience. Smiling at the Greeks, she waved her hand in the air as an act of dismissal. This action created further confusion, but they both smiled and waved their hands in the air as well. Elizabeth pointed at Harry’s feet. Everyone laughed.

  “Oh, great, they think that you mean MY feet smell, whatever.” He sighed loudly.

  Elizabeth caressed his face and whispered, “This too shall pass. Try to relax.” Once again, the peacemaker shined in Elizabeth.

  Harry knew that their guests could not comprehend their conversation.

  Speaking to Elizabeth, he said, ”I hate to tell you. This train ride will last all night and well past lunch time tomorrow. We must cross the Turkish border. Since we are coming from Greece, this could create a problem. The Greeks and Turks are not friendly. What did I think when I made plans? It seemed funny to ride a third-class train among all the opulence of our travels. This situation is not funny, Elizabeth. I don’t believe we are in danger, but you need to prepare yourself for problems.” He sighed loudly. The Greek couple repeated his action, as they too sighed with nods of happiness. Harry hit his head in frustration. They reiterated that as well. The woman without memory could not help but laugh. It would all work out fine, she believed.

  When evening began to descend, the small Greek stranger offered Elizabeth and Harry an apple from her brown bag. Gratefully, they received it. Munched bites loudly replaced the quietness. Everyone breathed a little easier. All along the way, multiple stops slowed the train. It seemed that it either slowed or stopped at every station along the way.

  “At this rate, we won’t arrive until next week.” Harry groaned again.

  At least, their guests stopped copying everything that he did. They all stared out the window. The approaching darkness obstructed once pleasant countryside views. Soon, the little couple stood. They bowed many times, as they thanked the American duo for their kindness. Handshakes accompanied unfamiliar words. Then they departed. The entire train appeared much less crowded.

  “Harry, we will sleep fine here. Maybe the attendant will provide us a blanket? It is cold.” Shivering, she wrapped her arms around her shoulders.

  “Step outside, if you are cold. It is blazing out there. Honestly, I don’t understand how those people kept from demanding entrance into our room. Now, I feel disappointed in myself for not showing more compassion.” The young woman nodded in agreement.

  Soon, the passengers began to walk past their compartment door. They laughed. Now, they appeared happy. Apparently, they were relaxed at last. The Grovers followed the crowd with fascination. What changed? People, who earlier seemed stressed and unhappy, now laughed. They joked with each other. Even the Americans were greeted with kindness when they entered a large, warm room where the people happily assembled.

  Before Harry and Elizabeth appeared a great, cozy car. The temperature was warm, but the temperature outside must have fallen drastically. There were lines of seats. Passengers played cards while enjoying cups of Turkish coffee. Everyone appeared light-hearted and congenial. />
  “Well, we no longer need to be concerned that they may have an uprising and storm our little piece of heaven.” He grinned for the first time since leaving Athens.

  Just as they began to relax and feel a part of the scene, a frantic attendant grabbed Elizabeth’s arm. With broken English, he described the fear that he felt while he frantically searched for the American couple. He explained, with broken English, that when they disappeared from their car, he felt terrified for their safety. It was now imperative that they follow him.

  “You don’t belong in here. You are on a different car. The train will separate a little further ahead. Come with me to the correct car.” Again, this sentence was understandable but expressed in broken English.

  All of the emotion and strangeness of the night began to wear the Grovers down. They followed the young man to another car. He opened a door into an empty cabin. There were no padded seats. Only a hard wooden bench waited in a dark cabin with no lights. Occasional light from outside cast distorted blocks of splattered glows. The air in the cabin was cold. Elizabeth scanned their surroundings for a blanket or pillow. There was none. Their luggage had been stored. They did not have sweaters or wraps.

  Even though their arrangements appeared less than ideal, they stretched out on their “beds” for the night. Only the clackety-clack of the train greeted their ears. No sounds of other passengers disrupted the peace and darkness. The Grovers felt desperately tired. Without a pillow, surrounded by depression, and cold, sleep overcame them. Blessed, peaceful sleep, as though they rested in an ivory castle.

  Sunny brightness now flooded their room. They sat. With confusion, they looked at each other. The once stylish trendsetters now embarrassedly stared at the dishevelment from their mate. Both displayed blackness from the coal of the train. They laughed at the change in each other.

  “Elizabeth, is that you? No offense, but you need a shower. I have never smelled this potent side of you.” Gleefully, he laughed heartedly.

  “Really? Well, ditto to you, Harry. Your face and hands are speckled with coal dust. Do YOU want to discuss smelly? Let me say that YOU call rights to the shower first, so that I will not be forced to smell you anymore. That is if we ever stop.” Both laughed good-naturedly.

  Harry left the compartment briefly. He returned with two small cups of black, heavy Turkish coffee. Careful not to spill the dark liquid, he slowly entered their chamber.

  “Listen carefully to me. I know that you must need to use the restroom. Trust me. You do not, under any circumstances, want to visit the one on the train. I almost threw up, after I walked into it. This torture will never end.”

  Elizabeth stood. With dread, she entered the restroom out of necessity. It was worse than imagined. With great restraint, she tried not to throw-up. Shaken and pale, she returned to the privacy of their car.

  “Harry, you weren’t kidding. That is the worst thing that I have ever witnessed.”

  “You think that is bad? Don’t join the military for service overseas.” He grumbled.

  They huddled together for peace from their surroundings. Both remained quiet when they realized they passed through the Turkish border. Men walked with guns. No one appeared happy. This crossing was serious business. Soon, the train rolled to a stop. Custom guards boarded. Passengers silently waited for instructions. The Grovers looked at each other with no idea what may happen. Pensiveness heavily weighed in the air.

  They did not wait long until their door opened. Two border guards entered. Both men were tall and thin. At least, they smiled. Harry offered their passports. Not a word passed for several minutes. At last, the guards began to question Grover. Shocked that he easily conversed with the Turks, Elizabeth felt encouraged. Frequently, the border guards looked at her. Why did they tarry so long? Harry did not smile. His hands shook slightly. The discussion seemed to last an unnecessarily long time. What was going on? Why did they continually look at her? Obviously, she was the topic of conversation between them.

  When panic began to ascend over her, Elizabeth gleefully witnessed the guards stand. They shook hands with Grover and left but not before peering strangely at her.

  “Harry what was all that? It seemed very tense.” He merely nodded, as he waved the entire episode away.

  “My love, that was ‘rain’ but it has passed. Wait till you see what awaits us. It is, ‘away from the rain and hello to luxury.’” Gladly, she followed him from the third-class train. Never would it be forgotten.

  TWENTY-NINE: ISTANBUL

  The sounds of their footsteps echoed from the shiny marble floors much too loudly. They both tried to dim the sounds; it was impossible. Elizabeth thought of Eliza Doolittle. That was exactly the way that she felt. An imposter was attempting to gain acceptance into the world of the wealthy and powerful; what a ridiculous concept. With head held high, she refused to cater to the curious looks and whispers. The constant thought, which filled her mind lately, was that Harry loved her. All others seemed unremarkable.

  The laughter, of a child, reverted from the ivory halls. Now, accustomed to the finest in all of Europe, the woman without memory continued to march straight ahead toward RESERVATIONS. No one at that desk looked at anyone. They were refined individuals, well-trained in the perfect response to each situation. Just wait until they see us. She smiled with anticipation.

  “Good morning, Miss, may I be of service?” This phrase was quoted by a most attractive young woman. The clerk had long, dark hair, similar to Elizabeth. Her long locks were pulled back from her face. Stylishly, a beige dress hugged her curves.

  Without batting an eye, the polished woman quickly surveyed the haggard travelers standing in front of her. In a moment’s time, she deducted the two were extremely wealthy. Both held a high degree of education. Looking for a thrill, they had boarded a third-class Turkish train. Bet they won’t do that again. Looking into eyes with streaked mascara and specks of dark coal dust, she did not falter, nor did the battered American traveler flinch. Elizabeth looked straight into irises of deepest blue. Yes, her dark eyes were tired but not for long. Surrounded by luxury, such as this, her exhaustion may soon be relieved. Hadn’t she noticed a sign for the spa? That was just what she needed.

  “You are home now.” Words spoken with a British accent had never sounded kinder or more perfect to the blue-haired stranger.

  Caressing her hand, the employee of Ciragan Palaces Hotel smiled not a smile of sympathy. Instead, her look conveyed the need for adventure. There was a tremendous difference. This highly trained clerk precisely knew what she was doing. Educated in many cultures, with the ability to speak several different languages, resulted in this individual who was much more than a mere “clerk.”

  “Oh, these are most kind words. Thank you, more than I can say. My husband,” Elizabeth raised a finger quickly toward Harry, “is quite the adventurer. He loves trying to throw a jab at me. I enjoyed the third-class train from Greece to Turkey. It didn’t bother me at all. However, our smells seem to be offensive to other guests. We need to reach our room and bathe before dinner.” Touching the hand of the clerk, only briefly, she pictured the woman hurriedly scalding her skin as soon as they walked away. This idea created a small giggle from the woman with no memory. The British women looked deeply into eyes of merriment and joy. They appeared cut from the same cloth. Harry smiled at the interaction.

  The clerk waved at the bellhop standing by the elevator. He left for a second to retrieve their luggage and deliver it to their room. These mysterious ways mystified the younger woman. How did he know which room? It all appeared rehearsed and perfect.

  “Elizabeth, I should tell you that this room cost more for one night than all of the others combined. We had to accept a large suite. They are holding some blasted medical conference with doctors from all over the world assembling here. At least, if we should become ill, we are in competent hands.”

  Elizabeth understood what he meant. While they were in Venice, casually she collected brochures on other hot
els. When the pictures of this 5-star beauty unfolded, she insisted that they must stay in this hotel. The images and information, which they presented “were over-the-top” luxury.

  She stopped mortified in her tracks.

  “Harry, why do you listen to me? I apologize for demanding the best in all of the world. I had no idea that this hotel was so much more expensive than the others. Please accept my apology. I’ll go back and demand a different room. Surely, we can be given one without the premium ticket?”

  “No, we cannot. The doctors meet here once a year for a conference of the best medical minds in the entire world. The only room available was the highest-priced suite. I believe it is as large as Enchanted. Well, I find this intriguing. Let’s just enjoy our three days here. We were going to stay four, but I couldn’t do it, not at these prices. This place seems too extravagant, even for the high-flying Grovers.” Again, he grumbled.

  Lovingly, she flicked coal dust from his nose. They turned as they disappeared into the elevator.

  THIRTY: LOVE

  Istanbul is like Venice in that there is no other city like it on Earth. The sights and smells vary with unusual, titillating scenes, and smells. Colors, of deepest reds and golds, sprinkled with intense blues thrill the visual sense. Scents of flowers, mixed with spices from all over the world, create wonder at the strange, intoxicating allure which stimulates the olfactory organ. Elizabeth found herself constantly rubbing her nose. It seemed to be excited by unusual aromas of exotic spices and peoples from every culture on earth. Harry clutched her hand. They walked to the Grand Bazaar. A little fear tugged at her mind. She refused to fall prey to the clutches anxiety produced in her. This city demanded boldness. The ancient history, of this stimulating center, continued to evolve with each century into something different from the past. What a history encompassed this area!

  Elizabeth and Harry felt exhilarated as they strolled the history-laden streets of many glorious pasts. They silently clutched each other’s hand. They marveled at the “Covered Bazaar.”