“I’m sorry, Mr. Sands,” the conductor explained, “I know you have a reservation for a private berth, but due to over booking all we have left is a compartment for two.” “Your berth mate is a nice young man, so we hope you can see your way clear to accept these alternate accommodations at no cost to you of course.” The train was about to leave the station and Vic Sands was just finding out that his reservation on the Overland Chief from Chicago to Seattle was not being honored because of some stupid bureaucratic bungling!

He had hoped to spend his travel time alone in his room reading and sleeping, but now that would be quite impossible, so with an obvious look of disgust on his face, Vic grudgingly accepted the conductor’s offer and stowed his luggage in his berth and headed off to the observation car for a drink. After several high balls, Vic began to relax and tried to put the incident with the conductor behind him. It wouldn’t do any good to mope about it, and he was saving a bundle of cash on the deal so why not make the best of a bad situation. The drinks had not only calmed him down, but they also had made him quite drowsy, so after rising to his feet on slightly unsteady legs, he made her way back to his berth for an afternoon nap. Sliding open the compartment door, Vic was surprised to find his traveling partner in their room unpacking his suitcase. The conductor had been right, he appeared to be a very nice young man, whom Vic guessed to be about twenty four or five years old. After stepping into the room, he extended his hand and said, “I’m Vic Sands, I guess we’ll be sharing a compartment together!” The younger man accepted Vic’s hand and replied, “My name is Seth Kilmer, I took the upper berth if that’s okay with you, I had the upper bunk back home and I’m used to sleeping up in the air!” “No problem,” replied Vic, “since I have about twenty years on you, I just as soon not have to climb all the way up there.”