Behind the Most Cherished Smile is the Saddest Frown

…

Thomas had been on the Island of Sodor for almost three months, after arriving from England on ship. Everyone absolutely adored him. Especially his siblings Edward, Rosie, and Gordon.

The fifteen year old even got his own train and job at the yard, shunting trucks. It was perfectly fine for Thomas because he was close to Edward, even if he was a mixed traffic worker and often did other jobs outside of the yard. He loved his train as well. It was very special to him.

His train was painted blue with red trim, and had a yellow number '1' on both sides also outlined with red. It had a short stumpy boiler, a short stumpy dome, a short stumpy funnel, and six small wheels. It was perfect in Thomas' eyes, and he absolutely loved it.

One day, while Thomas was working, Edward was taking a break, and chatting with Rosie and Gordon, who had come to visit.

"Isn't he adorable?" Rosie cooed as she watched her baby brother working, shunting trucks while singing.

Gordon chuckled. "He is. But…"

"But what, Gordon?" Edward asked, putting down his water bottle, staring at him inquiringly.

"But," began Gordon. "My question is, why was it only him?" the twenty four year old asked.

"What do you mean?" Rosie asked.

"I mean," Gordon started, "England is a big place, and from certain circumstances, Thomas came here from, dare I say it, an orphanage."

Edward gasped. "Well… why do you think that?"

"Think about it." Gordon started. "Thomas most likely wouldn't have come here if he had parents, or any other relatives for that matter. And like I said, England is a big place, so disasters are sure to happen at any point…"

"Are you suggesting, that Thomas' parents died?" Rosie asked quietly.

"Or did not want him…" Edward spoke hesitantly. "Because not all disasters are caused by nature…"

"Exactly." Gordon said. "And… my earlier question is still bothering me. Why did only Thomas come here?" He asked. "Surely, others, even if only a few, would have arrived here with him…"

"I know..," Rosie mumbled. "It's very puzzling..,"

"Oh good." A voice said behind them. "I was afraid I was the only who wondered that."

Edward, Rosie and Gordon turned around and saw their friend, seventeen year old Percy.

"Hey Percy." Rosie greeted. "What's up?"

"Hi Rosie." Percy greeted. "I heard you talking about Thomas' background, correct?"

"That's right." Edward said. "We- well, originally Gordon, but now all of us, were wondering about Thomas' past."

Percy nodded, and breathed a sigh of relief. "I'm glad I'm not the only one who wonders about that."

"You're curious too?" Gordon questioned.

"Yes," Percy said. "And I'm honestly shocked that not many other people are curious about it either."

"Well, to others, he's probably just another arrival" Edward pointed out.

"While I agree with you to an extent brother," Rosie said. "He's still Sodor's Precious Child, so he's a little more than 'just another arrival'"

"And he's only fifteen. He's a child. Granted, there are others here that are teens-, Percy, Toby, Flora, and Stanley but…" Rosie trailed

"All of you had a reason to come here." She finished. "But Thomas- he seemed to come here for no reason…."

"And if there is a reason," Gordon said. "Thomas hasn't told us..,"

"That is true..," Edward mumbled.

Then they all heard crying behind them.

They turned around to see their best friend, their baby brother sitting in his cab… crying. Holding his knees to his chest, his face hidden, and his form shaking

They saw no physical injuries, so he wasn't hurt and no one was around, so no one could've made fun of him.

"Ok…" Gordon said, his voice heavy with concern. "There's definitely something he's not telling us…"

"Agreed." Mumbled Edward.

Then, they watched Thomas stand up, wiping his eyes, and clearing his throat. He grabbed a water bottle from the floor of his cab, and drank it down. He then put a smile on his face, and continued working and singing, except, this time it was different….

Thomas' singing sounded strained, cracked.., broken.

And if they looked close enough, Edward, Rosie, Gordon, and Percy could all see Thomas' eyes glistening with unshed tears.

"We have to find out what he's hiding." Percy said. "He looks so sad underneath that smile..,"

"But we have to be gentle." Rosie said. "If we're too persistent, he could close himself away from us…"

Gordon then asked a question that would be stuck in their minds.

"But how are we going to ask him?"

…

Here's the new story I promised!