The Strange Occurance

Some time passed before Felix spoke again.
"You go on, Ma. I've got a few things running around my head that I could do to figure out." His mother furrowed her brow slightly, checked Felix's expression, then nodded and wandered on.
"Best not be too long, mind!" She called as she trundled away.
Felix watched her gradually disappear down the lane. He rubbed his face, took a deep breath and let it out again slowly. The day had not turned out the way that he hoped, in fact it couldn't have been worse. What was going to happen to him now? A person without an apprenticeship was nothing, and would never have a hope of becoming anything. This was not something that Felix had ever considered for himself and his future, and he knew that his mother would not have let it enter into her mind either. His bag was starting to dig into his shoulder and the thoughts in his head were making Felix feel hot and tired. He shifted the weight around a little and took a few steps off the lane towards a small wooded area.
When he got there, Felix swung the bag down next to a tree and lay down on the cool grass. His head was beginning to ache now and he closed his eyes for a moment.
The cool shade of the tree and the quiet of his surroundings had a calming effect on Felix. His pain eased as he relaxed and allowed his thoughts to drift to less important matters.
A low cough made Felix suddenly open his eyes and sit up. He saw a smallish, elderly man that he didn't recognise.
"Mmmm." Felix squirmed under the man's intense gaze. "What's the matter with you?" The man's shrilling reminded Felix of somebody else.
"I don't...I'm not ill, if that's what you mean," Felix responded. This was just too odd and Felix wasn't sure what this man wanted.
"No apprenticeship? A boy with your capabilities?" The man was speaking as if he had known Felix all his life. He sounded almost as shocked as Felix felt at this moment. "We better get you fixed up, boy, and quick smart!"
Felix rose to his feet, still trying hard to make sense of what was going on. He heaved his bag back onto his shoulder.
"Come along then, boy." The man began to stride off across the field and before he realised what was happening, Felix found himself hurrying along to keep up.