Read: A Better Way to Wait

On Friday afternoon, Aaliyah and Jayden waited at the train station while their train was delayed by a signal problem. A crowd gathered near the departure board, and several travelers checked their phones again and again. Aaliyah noticed an older traveler looking confused, so she offered to help him find the updated platform information. Jayden saw a station worker carrying a stack of paper maps and began handing them to people who needed directions. Soon, other travelers joined in: one shared a phone charger, and another helped a parent guide a stroller around the crowded benches. The delay lasted nearly forty minutes, but the mood in the station changed. Travelers found ways to help each other while they waited. When the train finally arrived, the station worker thanked the helpful passengers. Aaliyah and Jayden boarded tired, but pleased. They had not made the train arrive sooner. Still, their small actions had made the wait easier for many people.