The Night Train

I'm going to try and describe what its like to be 6'7" on a night train with 5 people in one hot 100 degree cabin. First let's introduce the personalities of our cabin. 22 year old Montenegran student with aspirations of graduating with a masters in physical education which would let him secure a career as lifeguard. 18 year old sister in full panic that the test she writes tomorrow at noon is her last chance to go to college or she'll end up at Montenegro's Jr College. But what can that possibly mean!!...when you have to get a masters to be a lifeguard in this country?!? Of course there is Katy, a joy to be around :) and last but most certainly not least... The Marlboro Man. Age 70 or 35 without adding cigarette years. Nah seriously he was probably 50, if its possible to smoke a pack of cigarettes every hour, this is the man that can do it. The train starts moving, there is a slight breeze beginning to circulate in the cabin with the window being down, cold sweats 18 year old insists on having the window up, because she's freezing. Hasslehoff has his eyes closed and is somewhere on the beach rescuing 10 chicks at the same time. And the Marlboro man, having been sitting still for the last 2 minutes from last smoke break has just left the cabin for a puff. We're 2 minutes into our 9 hour train ride. After about 15 minutes the Marlboro man wants to get some shut eye, which means the lights get turned out and we all bunk down. I'm pretty sure I know how uncomfortable it is to be an unborn child. Not a lot of wiggle room would describe my middle bunk, I could stretch out if I put my chin to my chest, and assumed the cannon ball position. I don't think I was actually ever asleep at any point for the next 9 hours. Partly because of the revolving door used by Marlboro man to get up and down in the night. That and if he wasn't outside, upon opening my eyes he was sitting in his bunk looking at me. I've also now started playing the window game with "cold sweats". Basically the routine went like this. If I could smell smoke it must mean Marlboro man was outside cabin (Mark closes eyes); No smoke?! Marlboro is back in cabin and assuming the stare down position (Mark opens eyes and window)...Smoke?! close eyes...cold sweats thinks I'm sleeping and closes window. Repeat.