Train journey: A story about two 'strangers'

'Which street do you live in?' 'Albany Street' 'Me too! House number?' '56.' 'Me too! But I've never seen...

“It’s a beautiful day,” he said, to break the silence.

“Yes. It looks good,” she replied, smiling.

“Yesterday was horrible. It rained all day. But now, it seems fantastic.”

“I know.”

“I wish I was outside, sitting in the sun and reading a book. I love sunny days. What about you? Do you like sun?”

“Yes, I enjoy sunny days.” She answered, picking up her book.

“You like crime stories?”

“Yes, I do. But this one is a detective story book. I like detective stories.”

“Me too. Have you read the latest book by James Armtek?”

“No, I haven’t.”

“You must! I’m sure you will like it. It’s a great book, sold more than twenty million copies.”

“Wow! It must be a good book.”

“Yes, it is.”

“Have you read it?”

“No, I haven’t, but I read the review of the book on the paper.”

He then quickly changed the subject to another topic.

“Are you going to London?”

“Yes, I’m visiting a friend there.”

“I’m also going London to see friends in Walthamstow. Whereabouts in London are you going?”

“I’m also going to Walthamstow but I’m going there for the first time.”

“Wow! What a coincident! Me too. Anyway my name is John and I’m a journalist.”

“I’m Suzie, I work in a charity shop.”

“That’s great. Which charity shop do you work in?”

“Oxfam.”

“Is it somewhere in the city centre?”

“Yes, it’s near the bus station.”

“I think I’ve seen it. I haven’t been inside but it looks great from the outside. You must be a manager of the shop?”

“No, I’m not. I just work part-time.”

“Is it the only job you do?”

“Yes, for the time being. I like working in the shop.”

In the meantime, he took a pack of biscuits out of his bag and offered her some,

“Would you like to have some?”

“No, thank you.”

“I didn’t get a chance to have breakfast in the morning. Now, I feel a bit hungry.”

“It’s okay. You can have it.”

“Do you always travel by train?”

“Not really. My friend sent me the train tickets.”

“Wow! You have nice friends.”

“Yes, she is very nice.”

“Do you mind if I ask you which city you live in?”

“I live in Manchester.”

“What part?”

“I live in Spring Bank area, near the football stadium.”

“I also live there.  Do you know which road?”

“Adelaide Road.”

“Wow! I live there too but I’ve never seen you.”

“I can believe that.”

“What street do you live on?”

“Albany Street”

“Wow, this is uncanny. I also live there.”

“I’m not surprised. I can believe it.”

“I know but it’s not a crowded street, there are only very few houses. How long have you been living there?”

“About three years.”

“Me too, but I’ve never seen you before.”

“Me neither.”

“What house number do you live in?”

“House # 56.”

“Oh my God! I live there too.”

Another man sitting close to them was listening attentively and immediately interrupted them and asked,

“This is unbelievable. How can you both live in the same house and not know each other?”

The young woman looked at the stranger, smiled and said quietly,

“This is my husband.”