This is a true account of an encounter with a young man on a train.Only the places have been changed to preserve anonymity.
I live in the South of England, in what is known as the `West Country', and I had to take the train from Taunton to Leeds one Friday evening.It was going to be a long journey, leaving Taunton at about seven in the evening, and travelling through Bristol, Birmingham, and on up to Leeds, getting into Leeds at about one in the morning.
I found a seat in a train that was almost empty, and looked around. Sitting across the aisle from me was a young lad with fair hair short hair, who was reading a magazine.He looked about sixteen or seventeen, and was wearing brand new blue jeans, brand new white trainers, and a white T shirt.As the train had come through Plymouth, one of main Navy bases, I suspected he might be a young sailor going home on weekend leave.
I read my book for a bit, noticing that he was already bored.After a while, I smiled at him and asked him if he was going far. He was clearly pleased to talk, and started by telling me that he had just finished his basic training for the Royal Navy.
"I had my passing out parade today, and I've been up since five o'clock this morning"
He chatted on, telling me all about the parade, what he had done on the course, and what he was planning to do next.He was slightly older than he looked, having just turned eighteen, but was still very boyish.He had two days' leave, and had decided to go home for the weekend to see his mum.