Lee's Thomas the Tank Engine & Friends

Stories

Life's a Breeze

Duke, the hero of all the engines, had been found again. He'd been missing for some time after not returning from the works quite a while back, but he was now home again on the Skarloey Railway. He'd been found by Stanley under a tarpaulin when he'd gone to visit the other railway for a delivery job, but Duke wasn't alone there. Another small engine, named June, was also found with him. She used to work alongside Duke in the days when Sir Handel was still called Falcon and Peter Sam was Stuart. Both were glad to be going home and after a quick job at the works, the pair are now happy again on the line. They don't work all the time but love to regale the younger members of the railway with stories of their past. It's like they've never been away...

One morning, Duke was resting in his shed when Duncan huffed by. The Scottish engine was not in a good mood at all and hissed as he came to a stop.
"Nice to know you're being as quiet as possible..." mumbled Duke. "Some of us are trying to rest you know."
"Huh," snorted Duncan. "I don't care if you need rest or not. We're being overworked here and you and June just idle about for most of the day. It's not fair! I'd like a rest too..."
"You will get one," said Duke. "You'll just have to wait your turn." he added before closing his eyes, hoping to drift off for a small nap. Duncan just sulked before carrying on his way. He was in no mood for talking to anyone and just grumbled to himself. For Duke, it meant he could relax at last but this didn't last long as Skarloey arrived with the Thin Controller in tow.
"Duke," said Mr Percival grandly. "I know you're still readjusting to the line but I think it would be best for you to get back on with passenger duty again. I have a train lined up for you, the passengers can't wait to see you properly again." Duke smiled; he loved taking passengers but wasn't sure if he could cope. He didn't say no though and was soon coupled up to carriages and was off again. He steamed proudly as the passengers cheered for him. They'd missed him as much as he'd missed them. The weather wasn't as forgiving though as the earlier sunny sky was being taken over by dark grey clouds.
"Just what we wanted..." thought Duke. "I bet it'll rain too." and sure enough it did. Rain lashed down on the rails but Duke was determined not to let anyone down. At stations he waited patiently for his passengers and talked fondly to guards and stationmasters too. Everyone was glad to see him back.
"You're looking like you've never been away," said June to him at one station. The maroon engine with the tall funnel was also glad to be home but was clearly overjoyed to see her friend happiest of all. "If you're happy, we're all happy." she added. Duke was happy but the weather wasn't changing. This was the only dampener on the day and come night time, Duke was glad he'd done the job.
"My wheels do need a rest," he said. "Phew, it was good but I do like a nap in the shed!"

When morning came, the grey skies were present but there was no rain, only strong winds. Trees were moving fast in the breeze and Duke was surprised to see the weather like it.
"Cheer up, Duke." chipped in Skarloey who was next to Duke at the sheds. "It's only wind. It could be worse, it could be snowing."
"Hmm," sounded the old engine. "I suppose, but it's not going to stop me working." he added as his crew came to light his fire for the day. Once he was ready to go, Duke was off once more but the winds were pushing against him hard. He wasn't feeling strong against them at all but in true Duke style he was trying his best. His passengers were concerned but Duke didn't want to let them down. "Mustn't disappoint them." he said. "Mustn't disappoint them." But however hard he tried, something wasn't right for Duke and he was struggling. When he came to the next station, June came to help at the back of the train. She'd done this before many years ago for Duke and was just glad to be helping out once more.
"Just like old times," she remarked. "Although we're even older!"
"Don't I know it..." laughed Duke as the pair pulled out of the station. The wind had picked up even more but with June in tow, the passengers weren't so worried. They were running on time even if the wind was battering both engines and the carriages hard.
"I've never known wind like it." said June. "It wasn't like this in our day."
"No," agreed Duke. "Times change and so does the weather." he added as he battled on. The pair were making good time but as they progressed down the line they could tiles on roofs coming loose from the wind.
"I hope they don't come too loose." thought June but as she and Duke passed buildings next to the rails, tiles flew in their direction. Some smacked against the carriages, but no damage was done, and some smacked against the side of the engines themselves. Some shattered on impact while others just crashed to the ground.
"Ouch!" said Duke aloud after another tile hit him right on his side. "That's it. We're getting there even quicker," he thought. "No tile messes with Duke." and sure enough Duke began to push faster. June was surprised by her friend's new-found speed.
"Duke," she called out. "Hold on, I'm not young myself!"
"You are compared to me." said Duke firmly as he huffed and puffed. Tiles were still flying around them from buildings old and new but Duke didn't care. He didn't want to let his passengers down and just carried on. In fields next to them, hay was also being blown onto the line but again it didn't phase them. Whatever came in Duke and June's way, they just powered on. The wind may have been strong but Duke's desire to get home was even stronger.
"We're doing well, lad." said Duke's driver. "You're doing brilliantly."
"I thought as much..." panted Duke as he pushed and pushed. His wheels were aching and so were June's but it didn't matter. They were doing so well that they passed Duncan by with ease. He was stuck in a siding complaining of hay on the line and was refusing to go until it was cleared out of his way.
"Get back to work!" laughed June to Duncan as she and Duke passed. Duncan was just shocked.
"W...w...w...was that who I thought it was?" he asked.
"YES!" called out June loudly as she and Duke's train vanished into the distance.

By now, the winds were getting so strong that it wouldn't normally be safe to carry on, but Duke and June were near their final stop. They couldn't give in now. June was tempted but she knew Duke wouldn't do such a thing.
"Almost there," Duke muttered to himself. "Then you can rest like a king. Almost there, almost there..." he thought as leaves and branches flew about in the air. Nothing phased him now and it wasn't long before Duke and June eventually arrived at their final station. With steam hissing everywhere in relief, the passengers cheered loudly and praised the pair's crews' ever so much. Waiting at the station was the Thin Controller who was doing his best to hold onto his bowler hat.
"Well, that was very good from both of you." he said. "You did this railway very proud. Not only have you returned to service but you've done it with so much determination."
"It was nothing sir." said June. "Well, okay it was, my wheels ache a lot and think Duke will say the same, but it was fun."
"Can't disagree with that at all." smiled Duke. "A strong wind is nothing for engines like us. Life...well, it's a breeze isn't it?" he then joked as June and the Thin Controller laughed.