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. 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. Grandpa: My name is Stewart……Malcolm Stewart.Pleased to meet you. 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 chaged my seat. A man next to me was smoking, and smoke really brothers me .Where are yuo from in Florida? Grandpa: Titusville.It's near Orlando. Elsa: Small world. I'm form 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 NewYork. That's my desination. 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, congratulation! 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. Conductor: Excuse me, ma'am. Ticket,please. Elsa: 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. Grandpa: And here are your keys. Elsa: Thank you. Grandpa: Do you have family in New York? Elsa: No, no.But do have very close friends in New York City. We like to go to the theater togther. 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! |