The train is scheduled to leave at 10:26. The time is 10:10.

I luck into a spot fairly close to the train station, just after dropping Shannon and Benjamin at the entrance. I pull my mobile phone from its holster and dial Shannon.

She doesn’t answer. My phone vibrates and Shannon’s picture pops up on the screen. I answer but hear nothing.

“Come on, come on,” I say to the phone and the empty van.

I dial again and the same thing happens. I decide to wait. Shannon calls again. I answer.

“So, is it cash only?” I say.

“Yes. We’re not going to make this one.”

The time is 10:12.

“Just hold on. You guys stay put while I go find a bank.”

I start the Odyssey and back out of my plum parking spot. At the parking lot’s exit I can turn either left or right to begin my search.

I choose left, and after a short distance I see a Bank of America down the next street, on the right. I head that way.

The person ahead of me pulls away just as I arrive. I stop at the ATM and insert my card, then cringe at the surcharge fee notification. I grudgingly accept the fee, snatch the cash and the receipt and make my way back to the parking lot. I luck into the same spot I had left.

The time is 10:16. I jump down from the driver’s seat and call Shannon to let her know I’m back with the money.

I walk quickly to Shannon and Benjamin and the machine that exchanges cash for train passes. Just a few feet away the train waits quietly at this, its northernmost stop. After I feed a $20 bill into the machine, we tap the touch screen in the appropriate places and then grab our passes (and change) and approach the train.

The doors are shut, but there is a black button with words above it reading, “Open.” I push the button and the doors respond.

We board with a few minutes to spare, for my first ride aboard a DART (Dallas Area Rapid Transit) train, and we’re on our way to the West End Station. Final destination: Dallas World Aquarium.

(continued in Part Two)