For several hours, an elderly woman waited at the train station for her son, but he was nowhere to be found!

Barbara arrived at Paddington station, huffing and puffing from the tiny village she called home, wrestling with two absurdly heavy bags. She didnt visit her family in London all that often, but when she did, she blew her last few pounds to bring them gifts, convinced that a packet of shortbread and hand-knitted socks could fix all woes. Barbara had never turned up empty-handed, but this time shed really outdone herselfthe bags weighed nearly a stone each. The journey had been nothing short of ordeal, but she was buoyed by the promise that her son would be there, waiting for her.
Only he wasnt. No sign of him. Not even a quick on my way text. With an aching back and arms that felt like shed just arm-wrestled a rugby team, all she could do was shuffle to a bench, plop her bags down, and dial his number, hoping for prompt rescue.
Naturally, the phone rang. And rang. After enough rings to rival Big Ben, her son finally answered, sounding as though hed just woken up inside a tumble dryer.
Oh, Mum. Im so sorry. I totally forgot you were coming today. We decided at the last minute to visit my wifes parents in Kentwont be back for a week. Honestly, it slipped my mind to tell you. Can you just, you know, head back? Sorry for the mix-up!
Tears pricked at Barbaras eyes, but she kept her voice steady. Alright then, she muttered.
There was no way she was lugging those bricks back to Berkshire. Instead, she graciously donated her two parcels to a pair of homeless chaps loitering near the ticket office, figuring at least the biscuits and jumpers would find a loving home. She didnt scold her sonhed never grasp how deeply hed wounded her. After all shed given, had he even once come to visit now she was getting on? She doubted hed ever given it much thought.
A month later, her daughter-in-law rang, asking if dear Nana could mind the grandchildren for the weekendthey needed to dash off to a friends wedding. But Barbara, quite politely but firmly, refused. Shed grown weary of being remembered only when they fancied a last-minute babysitter. And this time, she felt just fine about putting herself first.