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Little boy on the train by Ann Wood

"Every year, Martin's parents accompanied him on the train ride to his grandmother for the summer holidays. When he grew up, the boy said to his parents:
- I'm big now, will you let me travel alone by train for my grandmother's summer vacation?
After a short debate, his parents decide to let him go on the trip alone. And here they are standing on the platform of the station, ready to let their child alone in the journey. They stand anxiously under the window of the wagon, giving final instructions and advice on the moments when he will be completely alone, and Martin, already bored with their recommendations, keeps repeating to them:
- Yes, I know, I know, you've already told me a hundred times!
Just before the train leaves, his father says:
"Son, if you suddenly feel bad or scared, this is for you!" - putting a piece of paper in his shirt pocket.
And now the boy is alone, for the first time sitting in a car without his parents and looking out the window happy. Strangers push around, make noise, get in the car, get out, and the conductor surprisingly comments with the others on the fact that he is so small and travels alone and even sees one of the passengers looking at him with regret. All these comments and glances from those around him make him feel uncomfortable and alone among everyone. With each subsequent regretful look or remark addressed to him, they make him feel worse and lonelier. There comes a moment when he feels scared and frightened. Feeling lonely and scared, the boy lowers his head to avoid staring at the pitiful glances of the people, curled up in the corner of the seat, trying to hide the tears streaming down his innocent child's face. At this difficult time for him, he remembers that his father put a note in his shirt pocket. With a trembling hand he groped for a piece of paper, then opened it and read, "Son, I'm in the last car."
We need to let our children live on our own, trusting them, but we must always be in the last car so that they are not afraid and feel lonely and scared. To be close to them - while we are alive ...

Short story by Ann Wood