The Woman Who Waited at Caltrain - 94401

Every morning, 7:12am, Caltrain San Mateo station.

There was a woman. Maybe 60 years old. White hair. Always with two coffees.

She would sit on bench, wait. When train came, she would look inside, look for someone, then sigh, sip her coffee, leave one coffee on bench, and go.

Monday to Friday. Same time. 7:12am.

The station worker, a Nigerian man named Bayo, watched for 2 years.

One day Bayo asked, "Ma, who you dey wait for?"

She said, "My husband. He used to take 7:12 to San Francisco. For 33 years. He died 3 years ago. I still come. I buy his coffee. Black, two sugars. I leave it here, so if he passes, he will know I waited."

Bayo was quiet.

Next day, Bayo came early. He bought a small flower. Put it next to her coffee.

He said, "Now he will know not only you waited, but somebody else knows you waited."

She cried. Hugged him.

After that, every morning, 7:12am, Bayo and the woman would sit together. Two people waiting for a train that would never bring back someone.

One day, woman didn't come.

Bayo waited.

She didn't come next day. Next week.

Month later, a young man came to station. Said, "Are you Bayo? My mom - the coffee lady - she passed last week. In her will, she said to bring you this."

It was a thermos. Engraved: "For Bayo - Thank you for waiting with me. - Margaret"

Bayo still works at Caltrain. Still keeps thermos.

Moral: Some people dey wait for train wey no go ever come. The kindest thing you can do is wait with them.