A Crowded Train

Iris boarded an afternoon train with a small suitcase and a paper ticket. Her ticket showed seat thirty-two by the window. The carriage was almost full. When she reached her row, a young boy was sitting in her place. His father sat beside him and held two large bags. The father checked his tickets and realized their seats were in different rows.

The First Change

The boy looked worried about sitting alone. Iris offered to take the father’s seat across the aisle. The father thanked her, and the family stayed together. Iris put her suitcase above the new seat and opened her book. A few minutes later, an older woman arrived. Her ticket showed the seat where Iris was now sitting, so everyone checked the numbers again.

Finding the Right Row

The father had read one number incorrectly. His actual seat was in the next carriage, beside an empty place. A train worker helped carry one bag and showed them the way. The boy and his father moved together. The older woman took her correct seat. Iris returned to seat thirty-two, but she noticed that the boy had left a small green notebook behind.

A Quick Delivery

Iris gave the notebook to the train worker. He carried it to the next carriage and came back with a message of thanks. The notebook held the boy’s drawings from his trip. Iris was glad that she had seen it before the train reached the next station. She finally sat by the window and watched fields and houses pass in the late sunlight.

A Friendly Goodbye

At the final station, Iris saw the family again near the exit. The boy held the green notebook against his coat. He showed her a new drawing of the train and waved goodbye. The father thanked Iris for being patient during the seat problem. Iris smiled. Her journey had included several changes, but the last window seat still gave her a peaceful ride.