It’s Not Just Trains
The ticket office was closing
when we arrived and were informed
our train had left ahead of schedule.
“Is that possible?” I asked. “Trains
depart on time, or late, but never early.”
“Such things happen,” the agent replied,
“more often than you would think.”
Then he added, “Look around
and pay attention. It’s not just trains.”
When I told my family the story
of our predicament, I was taken aback
by their lack of surprise. “Let’s wander
a while through this pretty little town,”
my wife proposed, “and see what happens.”
“Or else,” said my son, “let’s head off
into that dark woods beyond the tracks,
each alone and without our baggage,
and see if we can find our way out
before nightfall.” He smiled, I thought,
at me in particular, as if he’d known
all along that would be the plan.
