Femi works in a small parking booth near a big car park. Every day, he sits in the booth and helps people with their cars. He has a notebook on his desk. He writes the time in his notebook when cars arrive. He also writes the time when cars leave. It is a quiet morning. Not many cars are coming today. Femi is drinking a cup of tea. He is reading a small book about trains. He loves trains very much. The book has many pictures of old trains. Femi smiles when he looks at the pictures. He turns a page slowly. Then he hears a car stop outside. He puts his book down. He looks up at the window of his booth. A woman gets out of her car. She walks to the booth. She has a big bag on her shoulder. "Hello," she says.

"I need a parking ticket, please." "Of course," says Femi. He smiles at her. "How long do you need?" he asks. "About three hours," the woman says. "I am going to the train station." Femi looks at her. His eyes open wide. "The train station?" he says. "Yes," says the woman. She nods her head. "I have a train at eleven o'clock." Femi laughs a little. "That is very funny," he says. "I finish work at ten thirty today. I am also going to the train station!" The woman smiles. "Really?" she says. "Yes, really!" says Femi. He prints her ticket. He gives it to her. The woman takes the ticket. Her name is Adaeze. She tells Femi her name.

"My name is Femi," he says. They shake hands. "Which train are you taking?" Adaeze asks. "The eleven o'clock train," Femi says. "Going north." Adaeze's mouth opens wide. "That is my train too!" she says loudly. They both laugh together. "This is a very small world," says Femi. Adaeze puts the ticket in her bag. "I will wait for you at the station," she says. "We can sit together on the train." "I would like that very much," says Femi. He is very happy now. Adaeze walks back to her car. She parks it carefully. At ten thirty, Femi closes the booth. He walks to the train station. He sees Adaeze near the door. She waves at him. They walk inside together, talking and laughing.

Femi has worked as a parking attendant for three years, and he knows the rhythms of the car park better than anyone. On quiet mornings like this one, he keeps himself occupied by reading, and today he is deeply absorbed in a well-worn book about the history of railways. He is so focused that he barely notices the soft crunch of tires on gravel outside his booth. When he finally looks up, a woman is already stepping out of a dark blue car, pulling a travel bag from the back seat with the practiced ease of a frequent traveler. She strides towards the booth with purpose, and Femi sets his book aside, ready to help. "Good morning," he says warmly. "I need to park for about three hours, if that's alright," the woman replies, adjusting the strap of her bag. Femi nods and begins to process her request on the small screen in front of him.

"Could I ask where you're headed?" Femi says, making conversation as he waits for the ticket to print. "The train station," the woman answers, glancing at her watch. "I've got a train leaving at eleven, so I'm hoping to get there with a little time to spare." Femi pauses and looks up from the screen, a slow smile spreading across his face. "That's quite a coincidence," he says. "I finish my shift at half past ten this morning, and I'm heading to the station myself." The woman raises her eyebrows, clearly surprised. "The eleven o'clock train as well?" she asks. "Going north, yes," Femi confirms, sliding the printed ticket across the small counter towards her. She takes it and laughs softly, shaking her head in disbelief.

"I'm Adaeze, by the way," the woman says, extending her hand. "Femi," he replies, shaking it firmly. They exchange a few more words while Adaeze tucks the ticket safely into her bag, both amused by the unlikely coincidence that has brought two strangers to the same destination. "I'll look out for you on the platform," Adaeze says with a smile, before heading back to park her car. When Femi locks up the booth at half past ten, he walks the familiar route to the station with a lighter step than usual, already looking forward to the journey ahead. He spots Adaeze near the entrance, and she raises a hand in greeting. They fall into easy conversation as they walk through the station together, two strangers who have, quite unexpectedly, become travel companions.