He was a big man, with a very heavy stomach and a very thick neck. The train company had given him a uniform, but he couldn’t wear it smartly: the collar of his shirt was wide open and the tie was loose. His jumper was too tight, and standing in the aisle he looked hot and uncomfortable – but he was determined to be friendly. He was getting no pleasure from the boy’s discomfort, and it occurred to Michael how hard men like this must have to work to avoid confrontations. They were being scrutinised, too, and their conduct had to be faultless and professional: there was a camera just ten paces away.

The man was not a bully.

‘The problem we’ve got,’ he said, ‘is that without ID we can’t do it on board. What I’m going to have to do, therefore, is ask you to get down at the next station, and they can take a few details there. Is that okay?’

‘I’m not lying,’ said the boy.

‘I’m not saying anyone’s telling lies, sir – I’m just saying—’

‘I’ve got nothing on me.’

‘Nothing at all? Did you tell the police?’

‘Yes.’

‘How did you board the train without a ticket?’

The boy shrugged.

‘Did you not mention this to anyone at Birmingham? The fact that you’d had your ticket stolen?’

The boy shook his head.

‘I just want to get home,’ he said quietly. ‘I just… I just got the train.’

‘Were the barriers open?’

The boy nodded.

‘You see, I understand that, and I can see you’ve had some trouble. But the problem is, son… boarding a train without a valid ticket is an offence. So I have to charge you a penalty fare, and—’

‘How much is it?’ said Michael.

The guard looked at him.

‘We’re not travelling together,’ said Michael. ‘But I can help. What would the fare be, please?’

‘From Birmingham to Newport…’

The guard looked down at his ticket machine, and the boy looked out of the window.

‘With the penalty fare, it will be… I can tell you in a moment.’

He pressed buttons and checked a piece of paper. Everyone in the carriage was working so hard to ignore what was happening – it was a collective effort, and Michael felt the torture of embarrassment as he waited to hear the figure.

‘Forty-three eighty.’

‘That’s with the penalty?’ said Michael.

‘No. We’ll do it as a single, but I can’t emphasise this enough – if you lose a ticket, you’re best off talking to staff at the station where you board, and they will try to help. You can’t travel on a train without a ticket.’

‘That’s very kind of you.’

Michael presented his card, and there was another fifteen seconds of suspense as the connections were made. At last, the transaction was allowed and the guard gave him his receipt.