Myers is on a train heading toward Strasbourg, France, where his estranged son is a student. The last time he saw his son was eight years ago, when the son had attacked him Myers as he fought with his now ex-wife. A man enters Myers’s compartment and immediately goes to sleep. Unable to fall asleep himself, Myers is jealous. He walks to the bathroom to wet his face and thinks about the letter he unexpectedly received from his son. Much to Myers’s surprise, the son signed the letter “Love.”

Myers wrote back, also signing his letter with the word “Love.” His son encouraged him to come to Strasbourg, and Myers took all of the six weeks of vacation time that he accrued at work. However, Myers realizes now that he has no interest in spending that much time in Europe and looks forward to going home as “he was tired of trying to make himself understood to strangers” (53).

Upon returning to his compartment, Myers realizes immediately that someone moved his coat. Though he still has his passport and wallet, someone took the expensive watch he purchased as a gift for his son. Annoyed, Myers attempts to question the sleeping man, but he clearly does not speak English.