Where is he? Where is she?

By Rhiannonw

Mon, 15 Apr 2019
  • 1540 reads
8 comments
 

First long journey on his own
– we’d meet mid-way at Birmingham.
Dad at home, the telephone rings:
‘Will you accept this call?’
 A voice begins,
‘I’ve lost my money, Mum’s not here.’
“She phoned to say that you’re not there.
– I’ll phone her back, stay where you are!”

“ He says he’s there, he can’t be far!”
‘Next time he rings, could you check to see
– could he maybe, possibly, somehow be
at Birmingham International Station?
– not so near to me
at the central Birmingham New Street Station!’

“Are you at Birmingham International Station?’
‘Yes! I was in a dream, the train paused here,
– Is this Birmingham? – I gave a shout.
They said, Yes, so I got myself out.
… Isn’t this right?’ “Not quite …!”

Based on a real incident, about 14 years ago. I had a mobile, but my son just couldn’t keep track of a mobile yet (cf. the money lost), but his Aspergher-affected organisation gradually improved. He was good at handling awkward situations (cf. phoning his Dad – who felt like ‘mission control’ – from the station phonebox and reversing charges! I don't know whether he could have phoned my mobile reverse charges.) I was new to the area and hadn’t realised the train stopped at Birmingham International just before the main Birmingham station.

[IP: journeys that didn’t quite work out as they were meant to.]

Certificate U
Poem
Families
Humour
Inspiration Point (work that responds to our weekly writing cue)
Autobiography

Comments

Submitted by airyfairy on

I so sympathise with this, Rhiannon!  I've had very similar conversations with my own offspring.  I've also managed to miss people entirely even when we were at the same station!

Submitted by Rhiannonw on

Thanks, and empathy! He was a teenager and just recovering from a real tension-time (with some time off school) because of Asperger-type difficulties and growing/puberty/GCSE pressure, but was feeling much better and wanting to do this journey to return to his school despite our move, and coped well to a point! Later on he did it all on his own when we found he could go all the way up to Crewe and then down the border. Changing there was much easier than Birmingham anyway, and at that time, I think both cost the same.

When continuing education here locally, short train journeys sometimes had their excitements, like violin left on train etc! Rhiannon

 

Submitted by airyfairy on

I am very reluctant to criticise anyone else's train capabilities.  Last year, after a bit of a kerfuffle over platform changes, I got on an admittedly longer than usual train for a half hour trip to a nearby North Yorkshire town, only to hear the announcement, once the train had started off,  'Welcome to your LNER service to Edinburgh...'

Submitted by Rhiannonw on

!wink Now that's sparked some memories, and worries, warnings re checking, double-checking …!! Rhiannon

 

Submitted by skinner_jennifer on

That must have been so frightening for your son Rhiannon, I admire him for wanting to be independant.

Jenny.

 

Submitted by Rhiannonw on

Thank you, Jenny. I think probably it was me that was a bit frightened. I don't think he tended to think about that aspect, just what to do himself, or expect us to sort it out! Once he knew the mistake, I think once he knew what the problem was, he would have been able to get to me, but I did ask at the office could they contact 'International' and get someone to find him and see him on to the right train. He said, I needen't have, but wasn't cross with me for doing so! Rhiannon

 

Submitted by Di_Hard on

I did the EXACT SAME THING. Coming back to Scotland, with my son some years ago, we needed to change at New St. I was dozy as had done the not sleeping thing for 2 nights and charged off at Birmingham International. Luckily I was together enough to get us back on track (!) though severely damaged the already small faith my son had in my navigating abilities! Did my best to turn it into a lesson about how it's possible to get back from making a mistake, nothing is as bad as it seems , don't panic etc. Dubious would sum up his expression...

 

I love the funny way you have described what must have been so worrying for all of you, the exasperated, loving "Not Quite" at the end :0)

 

Submitted by Rhiannonw on

smiley It must be good for children when they see we can be honest about our failings, and they're watching how we tackle them! Builds trust and relationship better really! Rhiannon