I sat, the old man stood.
I listened, the old man talked.
The old man ranted on about the railroad and how angry he gets when things aren't just so.

Nearby the young boy listened to the talk about the railroad, the very place where he worked. The young boy who had grown fond of his job, who had a smile on his face when he spoke about his job, now was uncertain as he listened. For the young man had always believed that old men were wise. The young boy sat down, seemingly unable to handle all that he was hearing.

Bright and early the next morning the young man woke to make ready for a day of work. He was quiet, as if in thought, while he prepared himself and his meal for the workday.

Evening came.
I sat, the old man stood.
I listened, the old man talked.

The old man was filled with delight in himself as he talked on about his day and how he had squelched the anger in the young man when he saw him today!

I continued to listen as he went on...

The old man had gone to the young man's work. Seems the old man went to the young man's work and was surprised to see him fueled with anger. The old man repeated all the words the young man had spoken to him that day about his job. The young man ranted at how unfair things were at the railroad and how angry he gets when things aren't just so.

Tears welled up in my eyes and my heart was hurting, for I knew the exact words that the old man had spoken were the exact words the young man now carried in his heart and on that day, spoke aloud to the old man. Saddest of all was the old man didn't hear himself or see himself in the young man, nor what he had done.

All the old man heard and felt was the angry young man and was proud that he had calmed him...