On an Amtrak train the same day. The train is traveling from Florida to New York City. Grandpa is sitting on the train. A woman puts her suitcase on the seat next to him.
Elsa:	Excuse me. Is this seat taken?
Grandpa:	No, it's not taken.
Elsa:	Oh, thank you.
Grandpa:	Oh, let me help you with this. [He puts her suitcase in the overhead rack.]
Elsa:	Oh, thank you.
Grandpa:	Do you want to sit by the window?
Elsa:	No, no, no. I like the aisle seat better. Please, you sit by the window. [They sit down.]
Grandpa:	My name is Stewart ... Malcolm Stewart. Pleased to meet you. [They shake hands.]
Elsa:	I'm Elsa Tobin. How do you do?
Grandpa:	Do you live in New York?
Elsa:	No, no. I'm from Florida.
Grandpa:	I am too. But didn't you just get on?
Elsa:	No, no. I just changed my seat. A man next to me was smoking, and smoke really bothers me. Where are you from in Florida?
Grandpa:	Titusville. It's near Orlando.
Elsa:	Small world. I'm from Titusville, too.
Grandpa:	Really? What part?
Elsa:	My husband and I live near Spaceport.
Grandpa:	I know that area. My house is only a few miles from Spaceport. Do you still live there?
Elsa:	Oh yes, yes. My husband's there now. He couldn't take time off to come to New York with me. Do you still live there?
Grandpa:	No. I sold the house and the furniture, put a few personal things in an old trunk, and shipped it to my children in New York. That's my destination.
Elsa:	Are you married?
Grandpa:	My wife died four years ago. She was a wonderful woman. A real friend.
Elsa:	I'm sorry. Really, I'm sorry.
Grandpa:	Lots of wonderful memories. We were married almost fifty years. Well, forty-seven, to be exact.
Elsa:	John and I celebrate our fortieth anniversary next month.
Grandpa:	Oh, congratulations! That's nice. What does John do?
Elsa:	He's an aerospace engineer and works for Orlando Aircraft Corporation. He started with them almost forty years ago. What do you do?
Grandpa:	I just retired. Had my own company. A construction company. Roads, bridges, big stuff. But I just sold it and retired. [A conductor walks over to them. He asks to see Mrs. Tobin's ticket.]
Conductor:	Excuse me, ma'am. Ticket, please.
Elsa:	[to Grandpa] Would you kindly hold these keys, please? I have a ticket, I know. I was in the smoking section.
Conductor:	It's OK, lady. Take your time.
Grandpa:	I'm sure it's in your purse, Mrs. Tobin.
Elsa:	Oh, here it is. [She finds the ticket in her handbag and gives it to the conductor. The conductor moves on.]
Grandpa:	And here are your keys.
Elsa:	Thank you.
Grandpa:	Do you have family in New York?
Elsa:	No, no. But I do have very close friends in New York City. We like to go to the theater together. You said you have family in New York.
Grandpa:	Yes, indeed. A son and his wife and their three children—my grandchildren.
Elsa:	You must be excited.
Grandpa:	I can't wait to see them!
Elsa:	Are you going to live with them?
Grandpa:	Yes.
Elsa:	Permanently?
Grandpa:	Well ... they want me to, but it's too early to know for sure. I'm pretty independent. I tried to teach my kids the importance of independence, but I'm not sure I want to be alone. Some people don't mind being alone. I do.
Elsa:	I understand. But tell me. Why did you stop working?
Grandpa:	I retired because ... I wanted to be with my family. I didn't want to be alone anymore!