Mission Control –Where is he? Where is she?

We had moved up to near the Welsh border.
My son, a teenager, had needed to go to London for a week.

First long journey on his own
– we’d meet mid-way at Birmingham.
Dad at home, the telephone rings:
‘Will you accept this call?’
 A voice begins,
‘I’ve lost my money, Mum’s not here.’
“She phoned to say that you’re not there.
– I’ll phone her back, stay where you are!”

“ He says he’s there, he can’t be far!”
‘Next time he rings, could you check to see
– could he maybe, possibly, somehow be
at Birmingham International Station?’
– not so near to me
at the central Birmingham New Street Station!’

“Are you at Birmingham International Station?’
‘Yes! I was in a dream, the train paused here, 
– Is this Birmingham? – I gave a shout.
They said, Yes, so I got myself out.
… Isn’t this right?’ “Not quite …!”

He had mild Asperghers –
which is why he had lost his spare cash and hadn’t his own mobile yet,
and so was phoning from a station phone to his father,
reverse charges each time. 
Had skill in busy innovative thinking how to 
solve awkward situations he’d got himself into!

I decided to ask officials at this station if they could contact officials
at the other to go look for him, and set him on his way.

They did so, and guided him to the next train to New Street.
Happy reunion!
‘You didn;t need to involve them,’ he said.
But ruefully understood my need for resolution,
especially as I could not contact him directly.

Incidently, we had now lost our rail connection through
and had a very late night meet up with my husband
and car in Worcester!. 

[IP: a story or poem set in a station, or other place of arrivals and departure]

Based on a real incident, about 20 years ago, and a revision of a version I did 6 years ago, when the  IP was ‘Journeys that didn’t quite work out as they were meant to.’  His Aspergher-affected organisation gradually improved. I was new to the area and hadn’t realised the train stopped at Birmingham International just before the main Birmingham station.