I don't think the person he met up with offered him a ride all the way back. Maybe he didn't buy a return ticket because he was simply uncertain about how returns or the train system work. I mean he was 14 and traveling a long way unsupervised for the first time, probably a bit nervous, mind racing, packed train station. The ticket guy could have started going into detail about returns (you can use it at these times for this price, off peak, etc) and it might have just been information overload and he just thought meh, i'll stick to what i know and buy the ticket back on the way back. It's certainly not uncommon for a kid of his age from a 'sheltered' background to trust routine and what he knows in those sorts of instances. Just because he was intelligent it doesn't mean he would have a grasp on how budgeting and traveling works.
The only reasons that make sense for him going to London to me are that he met up with someone or that he was going to buy something or do something specifically. I know the parents looked into concerts and gigs that were going on around that weekend, but is it possible he went to London to upgrade his PSP or something like that? I believe he had the older PSP and the newer model came out even in that same week, so maybe he went down to London to get the newer one? Or part exchange his old one? But then, why wouldn't he go to a major city nearer to where he lived? How widely were these new PSP's stocked across the country?
The messenger bag he took wasn't THAT big. Maybe he did just throw a jacket or hoodie in there in case it got cold but not much more. It definitely seems to me that he was only planning a day trip whatever he was doing. I honestly think too much emphasis is placed on him not buying a return ticket. Suicide makes absolutely no sense to me and neither does running away to start a new life. He would've taken more cash, more clothes, a bit of food, etc if he was running away for good.
The only reasons that make sense for him going to London to me are that he met up with someone or that he was going to buy something or do something specifically. I know the parents looked into concerts and gigs that were going on around that weekend, but is it possible he went to London to upgrade his PSP or something like that? I believe he had the older PSP and the newer model came out even in that same week, so maybe he went down to London to get the newer one? Or part exchange his old one? But then, why wouldn't he go to a major city nearer to where he lived? How widely were these new PSP's stocked across the country?
The messenger bag he took wasn't THAT big. Maybe he did just throw a jacket or hoodie in there in case it got cold but not much more. It definitely seems to me that he was only planning a day trip whatever he was doing. I honestly think too much emphasis is placed on him not buying a return ticket. Suicide makes absolutely no sense to me and neither does running away to start a new life. He would've taken more cash, more clothes, a bit of food, etc if he was running away for good.