The Old Man and The Boy

On a deserted railway platform, an old man is sitting on a bench, awaiting his train. The stillness is broken by the chirping of birds from the park across the station. The indicator shows the train will be arriving in 7 minutes. The old man glances at his broken wristwatch, which reads 20:17. Across the platform, a boy is seen descending the stairs, his expression anxious and fearful. He takes a seat on the bench directly opposite the old man.

The boy looks at the indicator: 6 minutes remaining. His expression remains fearful, as though troubled by something. He receives a call from someone. The old man hears him say, “I am scared. I don’t know if I will be able to do this. Taking this connecting train, moving to a new city, away from everyone. This is going to be tough.” The boy takes a short pause and continues, “I feel like coming back, right now. I am not even sure if I should take this train. I don’t know if I will be able to survive there.” The boy pauses again and listens to the person on the phone very carefully, “yes, I know. I know” he nods “I will miss you too” he says very softly and hangs up. The boy drops his head down, shaking his legs, edging to make a decision. The old man notices a black band on the boy’s right hand.

The boy stands back up and walks from one end of the bench to the other. He dials another number but hangs up before the person answers. The boy sits back down, his eyes falling on the old man sitting across the platform, eating a turkey sandwich. The old man is wearing a well-tailored suit and a pair of shiny derby shoes. The boy notices him smiling at the indicator: 3 minutes remaining.

The boy remembers the words of his grandfather – “It was tough when I first came to this city. I didn’t know what I was going to do. I just had a briefcase with a few dollars in my pocket. I spent days sleeping at bus stops until I found a job at a restaurant. The initial struggles were very tough. I was missing my home, my parents, friends, and on top of that I had nowhere to sleep. One day I almost broke down, but chose not to give up and soon my hard work paid off. Look at the life we are living now. It will be tough for you too. Life is not easy, but it will stop getting tough the day you decide not to give up.”

The boy looks at the indicator again: 1 minute remaining. His heart starts pounding faster than a car’s engine. He sees the train approaching the platform. Both the old man and the boy stand up, exchanging a final glance before the train arrives. The boy finally decides not to board and sits back down, sulking over his decision.

The old man’s suit is torn and completely open from the back, his derbys have no sole. He adjusts the black band on his right hand before pulling a bag full of plastic bottles from underneath the seat and boards the train.

Sometimes in life, you have to make tough decisions. Remember it won’t be easy, whatever you choose, chooses your future.

THE END