[3,286] Ticket, Please (a complete short story)

A tollbooth operator is close to retiring after a long and lonely twenty years. In all his time manning the one-man station, he has never had a person or car visit his small lot, until now.

story: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1fm-ZswcZdKvRQdX8szVsHovOdyqwjtBY4RaoPLs8E6c/edit?usp=sharing

This was an idea I had last weekend and something to keep me entertained while I write my main book. Looking to test the waters if this is good enough for publication somewhere.

Please see my questions after reading:

!Is the story interesting to you? Does it have meaning, a purpose? Etc.!<

!Do you understand the ending?!<

!Did you see the young man's ending coming?!<

!What genre is this?!<

Of course, I welcome everything else like the ease of reading and style and flow and all that. Looking forward to hearing critiques from my fellow members. Thank you in advance.

critiques:

[500] https://old.reddit.com/r/DestructiveReaders/comments/ppcpyu/500_will_you_hate_me_if_i_murdered_you/

[1103] https://old.reddit.com/r/DestructiveReaders/comments/pqczca/1103_solar_harvest/

[3500] https://old.reddit.com/r/DestructiveReaders/comments/pqeef5/3500_war_for_water/