Random reminder

Press, 19 May 1989, Page 34

Random reminder

TRAILS OF THOUGHT

Because of an unfortunate incident in his youth, the gentleman, now in his sixties, has long had a fixation about toy trains...

As a lad, he saw in the window of the village store, a beautiful miniature trainset of such high quality that he knew the price of it would be far beyond the means of his family. But wait! His heart leapt with hope, for beside the display was a card reading “TO BE RAFFLED.” He became obsessed with the idea of owning that train-set. All his pocketmoney went on buying raffle tickets for it, he even did extra jobs to earn money for still more tickets, because he just KNEW deep down in his heart it was meant for him and him alone.

Twice a day, going to and from school, he paused to gloat over it, nose pressed to the glass, until the day came when the irate shopkeeper rushed out and ordered him away — because of the greasy marks he was leaving on her window.

At last it was time for the draw of the raffle. With pounding heart our hero stood in the shop to hear the number of the winning ticket. Surely, among the clutch he was gripping in his sticky little hand there must be the lucky one? "Fifteen!" the shopkeeper announced. •Tve won! I’ve won it!” he cried at once, not even bothering to check, because he knew all his numbers off by heart.

But she checked, and found that he did indeed hold the winning number. The woman didn’t look too pleased. He wasn’t really surprised. He knew he wasn’t a favourite of hers' after the “window” incident But he didn’t care, not when he’d just gained his heart’s desire. She reached under the counter and brought up a small box. “Here y’are,” she said. “Yer a lucky lad.” He stared at it in disbelief, that miserable little box containing a tinny,

bazaar-produced apology for a toy trainset. The one he’d thought he was going to get remained on display. And that was why he made a vow that one day when he was grown-up and had children of his own he would buy them the best electric train-set available.

All very well if the children were sons: his turned out to be daughters. So for a few more years, he was thwarted again. Daughters do grow up, however, and sometimes get married. And sometimes have sons of their own — which happened in this case. So in the course of time he found himself with four little grandsons, much to his satisfaction — and not just because he now had a valid excuse for buying the long-awaited trainset.

By this time he could afford a good one, and was soon having a lot of fun setting it up in the basement of his home. All done for the amusement of the grandsons, of course. When they visited they were allowed to watch Grandpa conducting operations, but not yet allowed to touch. When they were a little older perhaps...

Meantime it was best if he ran “the system” personally. Came the day when three-year-old Philip arrived with his mother. Grandpa was absent, so Granny was called on to act as Railway Controller in his stead.

Unfortunately, she didn’t ■ acquit herself very well, not being of a mechanical turn of mind and never having tried this before. In desperation, she pushed and pulled every knob and switch in sight, but wasn’t even able to get “the system” started. In the end she had to confess herself beaten, pretending to the little lad that the power must have failed.

He received this in silence for a moment, then with a pitying look declared, “Only MEN and Grandpa can make trains run, can’t they?”

Now Grandpa isnll sure if this is a backhanded compliment or not.