Walter had been a track-switcher on the railway line that ran past his tiny English village for most of his life.
All day long, he sat in his little hut and switched the points as trains approached.
He took great pride in his work.
One afternoon, an inspector came to check the railway station.
He watched Walter carefully as a train approached.
Walter pulled the lever at exactly the right moment, and the train safely continued along the correct track.
The inspector was impressed.
“You’ve been doing this job for many years, haven’t you?”
Walter nodded proudly.
“Forty years.”
“Forty years! You must have seen thousands of trains.”
“I certainly have.”
The inspector looked around the small hut.
“You must spend a lot of time alone.”
Walter smiled.
“Not really. The trains keep me company.”
Just then, another train approached.
Walter quickly switched the points.
The inspector watched with admiration.
“You never make mistakes?”
Walter shook his head.
“Not once in forty years.”
The inspector smiled.
“That’s an incredible record.”
Walter nodded.
“I always make sure I pull the correct lever.”
The inspector looked at the row of levers.
“How do you remember which one is which?”
Walter pointed to a small handwritten note taped above them.
“I don’t.”
The inspector laughed.
“So what’s the note for?”
Walter smiled.
“It says, ‘Don’t guess.’”
The inspector nodded thoughtfully.
“That’s actually very good advice.”
Walter leaned back in his chair.
“It’s kept me alive for forty years.”
At that moment, another train whistle sounded in the distance.
Walter immediately stood up.
“Excuse me.”
He rushed toward the levers.
The inspector followed him.
Walter looked carefully at the note.
Then he pulled the correct lever.
The train passed safely.
Walter returned to his chair.
The inspector smiled.
“You really are the most careful railway worker I’ve ever met.”
Walter nodded.
“I have to be.”
“Why?”
Walter pointed toward the tracks.
“Because the trains don’t know how to forgive mistakes.”
