Thread by @HZiauddeen

🧵 A New Year's Eve tale:

June 1990
"Hello, could you tell me when the next train to Birmingham is?"
"One moment, ah yes, it's at 1:40."
"Brilliant!"
"People aren't usually this excited about Birmingham."
"I've got a date with Sam, I can't believe it!"
"Have fun young man."
1/12

July 1990
"Hello, are there any trains to Birmingham tonight?"
"Last one's at 8:00 but you'll have 2 changes."
"That's no problem, thanks so much!"
"It's Sam's young man isn't it?"
"Oh, was it you I spoke to last time? Sorry, I was a bit excited."
"Sounds like it went well."
2/12

July 1990
"Hello, when's the next train to Birmingham?"
"Another trip so soon? Sounds like the second date went well.
"What? Oh, yes, very well, thanks. I mean, sorry, seems a bit weird..."
"There's one at 5:20."
"Thanks. I'm Tom."
"Martin. Have fun Tom."
3/12

August 1990
"Hello Martin. It's Tom. Strange how I always I get you."
"Just coincidence. The Birmingham train again?"
"Uhm, yes please. You probably think I'm some sort of lovesick fool."
"I remember that feeling. The breathless thrill of possibility. 3:30 Tom."
"Cheers."
4/12

Sept 1990
"Hi Martin, when's the next Birmingham train?"
"In 30 minutes if you can make it. Things going well with you and Sam?"
"Yeah, brilliant. Last trip before we go off to Uni, Sam to Bristol, me to Cardiff. Won't be troubling you for a while."
"You're no trouble Tom."
5/12

October 1990
"Hello, could you tell me when the next train to Bristol is?"
"Hello Tom, you back in town? How's Uni?"
"Oh hi Martin, just popped back for mum's birthday."
"And going to see Sam?"
"Yeah, Sam's been really busy so it's been a while."
"4:30's your next one."
6/12

December 1990
"Hello...(sob)...could you tell me when...(sob)...the next train from Bristol to Merthyr Tydfil is?"
"Tom? Are you ok?"
"Martin? I'm sorry...I meant to call the Bristol station..."
"It's ok, I can look it up for you. Just hold on."
"Thanks Martin"
7/12

"You've got a bit of a wait Tom, next one's in 2 hours."
"That's ok Martin, I haven't got anything to do."
"Is everything ok Tom?"
"(sob), Sam dumped me."
"I'm so sorry Tom, that always hurts."
"(sob)"
"Get yourself home and your mum will look after you."
8/12

"Mum doesn't know about me and Sam."
"But she'll understand-"
"Sam's a boy Martin."

"Doesn't hurt any different I guess but it must be lonelier. I'm sorry Tom."
"Yeah. Thanks Martin."
9/10

December 1994, NYE
"Hello, is Martin there?"
"I'm afraid not. Can I help?"
"Oh,ok. Could you tell me when the next train to London is?"
"I think you've got the wrong number, we're 63947, the station is 63948."
"But I've always called this number. And spoken to a Martin."
10/12

"That was my dad. People used to call his number by mistake so he kept a timetable by the phone. He passed away last year."
"I'm so sorry. He was a lovely man."
"Thank you. Let me see if I can find the timetable."
"It's ok, Robert & I will just try our luck. Thank you."
11/12

In memory of Dave's dad, who was a lovely man.
Happy New Year folks
12/12

https://twitter.com/davedhjones/status/1475430625033207809?s=20

Hi folks, thanks for all the likes & the lovely replies. This isn't a true story, it was just inspired by Dave's tweet about his dad. I thought the last tweet would have made that clear but sorry to everyone I misled. The really beautiful story though is the one in Dave's tweet.