Once there was a man named Benjamin who rode the Hypersonic Express every morning. He always had too much to do and not enough time to do it. He hated the train rides because he couldn’t actually accomplish anything in the three and a half minute commute. Phone calls were frowned upon, and there was no sitting room to open his laptop. The only thing he could do was check his email, which he did between 100 and 170 times a day — he counted — in order to make sure he didn’t miss a thing.

During this particular ride nothing was in his inbox, and he swore aloud. A young lady across the aisle looked up at him in astonishment, and he immediately blushed. “I’m sorry, Miss,” he said as he took off his wool flat cap and bowed slightly to show his sincerity. This awkward bow bumped another passenger who growled at Ben in such a way that he dropped his hat in surprise. “Dear me,” he said and tried to recover the hat.

However as he stooped to pick it up, he was not quick enough, and the young lady picked it up first. She shook off the dust and smiled at him in amusement. He held out his hand and tried to smile back, though he was afraid it came across as more of a grimace.

“Have a good day,” she said, handed him his hat, and got off the train as it stopped for but a moment. He was in shock as he returned his cap to its place and wondered if he should have asked the girl her name. And then the Express sped off again, and he realized he’d missed his stop.