Toby, Pat and Mary Pekkerman are returning home to Cloverdale on the Coastal Express after spending much of the day at Tamworth on Tide. Tody and Pat read the American film Inception was playing at Tamworth’s Egyptian Theater, and being huge fans of Leonardo DeCaprio, they decided to make a full day of it with lunch on the Boardwalk, an hour or so in the Arcade and the movie - their definition of the perfect afternoon.
Toby is a sweeper at the Comprehensive School, Pat works in the lunchroom and Mary attends Cloverdale’s Community College. Toby lied and called in sick. Pat took a vacation day and Mary went along against her better judgement.
Inception got Toby to think, and even though trains put him to sleep, he was determined not to fall asleep on the Express for fear of having his mind probed. Pat was asleep well before the Conductor slipped the compartment’s door open and asked for their tickets. Mary watched the countryside move by from her seat’s window.
Twenty minutes into their journey home, Mary felt a stirring of mischief. She leaned over to Pat and whispered “You’ve got to pee. You’ve got to pee.” She spoke slowly, giving each word an opportunity to anchor in Pat’s subconscious. Toby watched, and although not being the sharpest knife in the drawer, he caught on to the prank.
“You’re inceptionizing her aren’t you?” he questioned wearing a broad grin. Mary nodded.
“You give it a go,” Mary pointed to Pat's other ear. Toby licked his lips and leaned in closer.
“Tinkle, tinkle tinkle,” his whisper was more a raspy scratching. Mary chuckled. Tinkle was their childhood word.
The trained lurched momentarily as it changed direction for Cloverdale. Pat awoke with a start finding her brother perilously close to her ear.
“Get off!” she shoved him away. She looked a bit hazy, looked at her watch and asked, “How long was I out?”
“Not long,” Mary answered resuming her gaze at the rolling countryside.
Pat got up, straighted her shirt and adjusted her trousers.
“Gotta tinkle,” she said as she slid the compartment door open. Toby and Mary burst into laughter.
“What do you want me to say? Gotta Piss?" Pat wasn't amused by their reaction to her choice of words. "Leave it,” she added as she stepped into the corridor to look for the nearest toilet.
“She got Inceptionized,” Toby said proudly.
“She did at that,” Mary answered as she reached into her purse to find the Wonka Bar she'd purchased earlier at Tamworth on Tide's Train Station. She broke it in half to share with her brother as a reward for work done well.
