This is a translation of a story in Japanese Short Stories for Beginners.

Everyday, Ayako rides the train. She rides the train when going to work, when going shopping, meeting friends, going to English lessons, and when going to see a movie.
In weekdays when it’s time to go to work, Ayako and the same people ride the same train everyday. On weekends, it’s always different people riding the train.
Everyday when Ayako rides the train, she always has a strange thought. These people, I wonder where they’re from and where they’re going?
Today is June 15th, it’s Sunday morning. Soon it will be summer. Totally good weather. Today, Ayako is riding the train to see a new movie.
Ayako saw the inside of the train slowly. Because it’s Sunday morning, there aren’t a lot of people riding.
Before Ayako’s eyes, a small boy and a young man were sitting down together. The boy was watching videos on a tablet. The young man gazed at the outside of the train window. Were these two people parent and child? Student and teacher?
Near Ayako, a woman was sitting alone. This woman was wearing a blue dress. And, she was sending messages to someone with her cell phone. Wearing the blue dress, where was she going? A job interview? Or, a friend’s wedding?
Ayako looked around. She saw a woman. This woman was standing near the door, reading a book.
When Ayako went to work, she saw this person every day. But, she never spoke to her. This woman was always reading a book.
Why? How come she never tried talking?
But, what would they talk about?
Ayako tried very hard to think about it. One minute, three minutes, and then, ten minutes passed. At the next station, Ayako was supposed to get off the train.
Why? What to say? There was no time.
The train arrives at the next station. The woman got off at the same stop.
Ayako quickly got off the train and said something in a big voice to the woman.
“Um, hello!”
The woman didn’t reply. And then, she walked.
Ayako was disappointed.
And then, Ayako went to the movie theater.
When Ayako arrived at the movie theater, that woman also was there.
Ayako thought she should introduce herself to the woman.
That woman wanted to see a subtitled movie, and talked to the theater staff.
That woman was hard of hearing. Because of that, when Ayako introduced herself, the woman couldn’t hear it.
And so, Ayako wrote the woman a letter. “Do you want to see the movie with me?”
Now, Ayako and the woman on the train everyday use a pen and notebook to talk about the movie.