The Platform Sign

Hassan and Alice are taking the train to a school art visit. They arrive early at the station. Their teacher is meeting them by the ticket desk. Hassan checks the platform number on his printed plan.

“Platform two,” he says. Alice looks at the large screen. It shows their train on platform one. She stops beside the ticket desk. “These do not match,” she says. They stay where the teacher can find them.

Hassan looks at the time on his plan. It is the right train. He feels unsure. Has he read the wrong line? Alice points to a small word on the screen. It says the platform has changed.

Their teacher arrives and checks with the station assistant. A train is waiting on platform two, but it is going somewhere else. The assistant shows them the safe route to platform one. They walk together through the station.

On platform one, Hassan reads the train's destination. It matches the art visit. Alice checks the time again. They wait with their teacher, well back from the edge, until the train has stopped.

The doors open. A passenger steps off with a large case. Hassan waits for her to pass before getting on. Alice follows him. Their teacher finds seats where the group can sit together.

Hassan folds his printed plan. “I am glad you checked the screen,” he tells Alice. “I nearly followed this.” Alice smiles. “It helped us get here. We just needed to check for changes.”

As the train leaves, Hassan looks at the plan for the return journey. He draws a small box beside the platform number. He will check the screen again before they go home.