The Ten O'Clock Train

Diego stood at the ticket window in the railway station. He was going to visit his sister in the north.

“One ticket to Leeds, please,” he said.

The clerk looked at her screen. “The next train leaves at ten. But there’s a delay. It’s going to arrive twenty minutes late.”

Diego looked at the big board. His train was there, with a red line next to it.

“Which platform?” he asked.

“Platform four. Down the stairs and to the right.”

Diego paid and took his ticket. He walked to platform four and waited. The train was the fastest way north, faster than any bus or car.

At ten-twenty, the train came in. It was late, just like the clerk said. Diego smiled and found his seat. He was going to see his sister tonight, and that was all that really mattered.