The next morning when I woke up, I didn't hesitate for a moment getting out of bed. I quickly threw on a set of clean clothes, and ate breakfast as quickly as I could. I wanted as much time as possible to get started on Lady before I had to go to work.
I hopped into my truck, and started the engine. If I was careful, I could maneuver it into the forest all the way to Lady. It would be much easier than carrying the parts and tools to her by hand.
I rolled along the grass, into the forest, and could hear twigs and roots crunching under the weight of the truck. I switched on the headlights, and could eventually see the tracks. I drove along next to them, and gently nudged my truck through the thick brush, all the way to Lady.
She did look surprised to see not only me, but the truck as well. I turned the truck around, so the bed was facing her, and shut it off. When Lady saw the old, but usable parts, her eyes widened.
"How did you find so many parts?" she asked as I got out of the truck. I chuckled.
"Like I said, I work at the Steam Works. Fixing broken steam engines is kind of what I do." I said, pulling my large toolbox out of the truck. I set it down next to Lady, focusing on her rusted wheel rods.
"Might as well start with the easiest to get to." I said, finding the proper wrench size for her rod joints. I fit the wrench on, and after a great amount of force, finally got one of them to loosen. After about fifteen minutes more of working, I had all the nuts removed. Thankfully, Lady was a small engine with only four wheels, so there weren't as many nuts to remove. I then took the cover of her compression box off, and disconnected the wheel rods from the pressure plate.
"I'm going to remove your wheel rods on this side. I don't know if it will hurt you or not, so tell me to stop if it discomforts you." I warned. Lady understood.
Gently at first, I began to pry her rods from their rusted position. They didn't move at all, so I went back to the truck, and grabbed a can of rust loosening compound. I poured it over all of the rusted joints, hoping that this would help release the rusted parts.
I let compound soak in for about ten minutes, then attempted to move them again. They still showed much restraint, but they gave this time.
"Feeling alright?" I asked.
"I feel nothing." Lady said. I assumed she couldn't even feel what I was doing at all, so I gave the rods a big yank, and they instantly gave way. The entire rod assembly came off, and I stumbled backwards onto my butt at the sudden lack of restraint.
Then, I heard something.
Laughter.
Lady was laughing.
At me, but still. It was a lovely sound. I stood up, and looked at her. She was smiling, laughing like she hadn't seen anything funny in years.
Oh. She probably hadn't. Now I felt bad.
"Alright, alright. Laugh at the guy whose trying to help." I said, walking over to her. Lady tried to stop laughing, and succeeded for a moment. But the second she looked at me, the lost it all over again.
I smiled at her amusement, and finally, she wore herself out, and stopped.
"Oh, oh dear. I apologize Anon. That wasn't very nice. Are you alright?" she asked, catching her breath. I waved her off.
"Don't feel bad Lady. That's the first time I've ever seen you genuinely happy, even if it was only for a moment. It made me happy. You have a beautiful laugh." I said. Lady blushed.
"I had forgotten what it felt like to laugh. The closest thing I've had to laughter in years was an occasional smile when I would remember something mildly funny. Oh, that felt good." she said, smiling at me.
I noticed that Lady's mood seemed to have improved. Laughing was always a way to cheer someone up.
"I got all of the rods off on that side. I think I can use some of the spares I found as replacements, and I can forge some new ones at the Steam Works." I said. Lady's smile slowly disappeared.
"Why do you want to help me so badly, Anon? I just met you yesterday, and even then, you were willing help me." she said. I gave her a compassionate smile.
"There are many reasons. I don't like the idea of someone dying when they don't have to, and I think an engine that was as magical and beautiful as you once were should be magical and beautiful again. I also always try and help my friends." I said. Lady looked at me for a silent minute.
"You would actually consider me a friend, even though I constantly tried to push you away, and tried to stop you from helping me?" she asked quietly. I nodded.
"I know you don't mean all of it, Lady. I can't imagine what being alone for so long does to you, but you surely must have gotten used to it. I think you're just not used to being around someone, so you try to push them away so you don't hurt them." I said. I wasn't quite prepared for what Lady did next.
Burst into tears.
"It's been so long since I've had a friend, or even someone to talk to! You don't know what it's like, being alone here for years! You start to see things that aren't there, and hear things that don't exist! I assumed you've been an illusion this whole time! It's happened before! I talked to someone I thought was real for a month once before I realized it was in my mind!" she sobbed. I was taken aback by her outburst, but quickly went to her side to comfort her.
"Shh, I assure you Lady, I am very real, and I really am trying to help you. I want to get you out of here." I whispered to her. Lady looked at me with wet eyes, and whimpered.
"I never thought I'd be found. I had given up, and just told myself I would just go insane, but my magic wouldn't let me. I've been forced to live every day, and every night, fully aware of what was going on, bored out of my boiler. The time I first saw you, I just assumed you weren't really there, so I tried to convince you to leave. Even when you came back the second time, I still thought you weren't real. But now, I could feel you working on me. I know you are real now." she said. I leaned against Lady's buffer, but then it broke off, and I fell onto my back. Lady sighed sadly.
"I really am to far gone to be repaired, aren't I?" she asked. I quickly got up.
"No! Stop talking like that. Mark my words Lady, I WILL fix you, and I won't stop until I do. The parts may not be new, but they will work. I know it." I said. Lady looked at me with such emotion in her eyes, I took a step back.
"Right... uh, I better get the connecting rods off of your other side. I have work today, but I think I can get them removed before I have to go." I said.
Half an hour later, the other rod assembly was off, and it was time for me to go.
"I have to go to work now, Lady. But don't worry, I'll come back tonight. My house is only a short walk from here, and you're the only one I have out here to talk to." I said. Lady smiled.
"I am eager for your return, my friend." she said. I dumped the rest of the spare parts I had in the bed of my truck onto the ground, then got in. Lady winced as the loud rumble of the truck's engine ripped through the air. I stuck my head out the window.
"I'll see you tonight, Lady!" I called. Lady just smiled.
I put the truck into gear, and slowly crawled out of the forest back to my house.
. . .
Once I arrived at the Steam Works, I was in a much better mood than the previous day. My co-workers greeted me, and I cheerfully greeted them back. I went to my station, which, ironically as it may be, was a parts forging station. I took molten metal, and shaped them into the parts needed. It was a hot and dangerous job, but it was also one of the most important jobs. And I was always careful.
It was a slow day today, so it gave me time to forge a few small parts that Lady would need. Some wheel rods that weren't in the spare pile, and the connecting nuts as well. At one point while I was wiping my brow, I heard a familiar chuffing sound. One that I knew all to well. I decided to play with my friend, and pretend I didn't hear her, but I maneuvered myself to be standing on a track she could fit on.
As I hammered another special order part into shape, the chuffing got louder, and I felt something nudge my leg gently. I smiled, and turned around.
"Hello Millie." I greeted my best friend. Millie giggled.
"Aw, I thought I had you that time!" she said, smiling.
Millie was a small French narrow gauge tank engine that was in charge of Ulfstead Castle. She was owned by Sir Robert Norramby, the Earl of Sodor. Despite his title, he was a very nice guy, and preferred to be treated as anyone else. When it wasn't busy, he often let Millie come and visit me.
I set down my tools, and took a seat. Thankfully, it was slow enough that I wouldn't get into trouble for taking a break.
"What brings you by today, Millie? Slow day at the Castle?" I asked. Millie rolled her eyes.
"Ugh, you have no idea. Between Steven and I, and the amount of actual things to do, there is almost nothing. So Sir Robert let me come down here. I need to be oiled and cleaned anyway, and I was hoping... you would do it." she said, looking down at the ground blushing. I wiped my hands and smiled.
"I'd be happy to Millie. Gives me a nice change of pace." I said, standing up and walking over to another small set of tracks. Millie reversed, and switched onto the same track. She pulled up to the buffers, and stopped. I took a large can of oil from the shelf, and knelt down by Millie's wheels.
"Just your rods levers, and bearings today?" I asked.
"Yes please." Millie replied. I carefully oiled all of her wheel joints, and axles. Then I went inside her cab, and oiled all her levers and gauges. Once I hopped out, Millie rolled back and forth, smiling happily.
"That feels so much better! Now I just need a wash, and I'll be a brand new engine!" she said. I chuckled. Millie wasn't one to usually be unhappy. She was always energetic, eager, and happy to have work to do.
I pulled the hose from it's reel, and turned on the water.
"Ready Millie?" I asked. Millie closed her eyes.
"Ready!" she confirmed. I opened the hose, and water streamed out onto Millie's body. All the dust, dirt, and grim that had built up turned dark and muddied, so I switched on the soap.
Once Millie was covered boiler to wheels in soapy water, I took a towel, and gently dried her face so she could open her eyes again.
"You can open your eyes now." I said. Millie opened her eyes and blinked a few times, then smiled. I went to work with the scrubbing brush, making sure to get her entire body and frame, and all the hard to reach places as well. While I was scrubbing, I decided to get Millie's opinion on my situation with Lady.
"What would you do if you found something, or someone who just wanted to die, but you were sure you could help them, but you weren't sure if they really wanted your help or not?" I asked. Millie's eyes widened at the serious question.
"Wow. Um..." she thought for a moment. "A life is a life, and it's always important to save lives. Usually I would say to respect others wishes, but a life is the most important thing in the world." she said, looking at me with curiosity. "Why?"
I sighed, and dropped my brush.
"I need you to keep what I'm going to tell you a secret. Seriously. Don't. Tell. Anyone." I said firmly. Millie agreed, she wouldn't tell a soul.
"I found an engine abandoned in the woods by my house." I started. Millie's eyes widened.
"Really? Do you know who it is?" she asked in a hushed tone. I nodded.
"I do, but I don't think they'd like me to tell anyone. But she's a very special engine." I replied.
"She?" Millie repeated, a very brief look of pained shock going across her small face. I nodded again.
"She's been there for nearly twenty years, Millie. She needs so much work, it will take me weeks at least. I can't tell anyone, because she doesn't really want to be fixed. At least that's what she told me at first, but now I'm not sure if she does or not. I'd like to help her, but if she really doesn't want me to, I just don't know if I should." I explained. Millie still looked a little hurt, for some reason.
"I don't know for sure Anon. That's something you really need to talk over with her. What did you say she looked like again?" she asked, scowling a little. I thought for a moment.
"Well now, she's very rusty and falling apart, but I'm hoping to restore her to her original beauty. She was once the most beautiful and elegant engine on the island, and I know she can be again." I said.
Now Millie looked downright unhappy, which wasn't normal for her. I was going to ask her what was wrong, but she started backing up.
"Yeah, uh, thanks for the wash, Anon. I... I have to go now. You'll have to tell me more about your friend... some other time." she said, quickly reversing out of the Steam Works. I stood there, completely oblivious to what had just happened.
Was it something I had said?
. . .
The rest of the day at the Steam Works was steady paced, and I was happy when quitting time finally came. After I clocked out, I walked outside to find a large silver Mallard steam engine with one coach sitting in the siding. A well dressed man with gray hair, and a gray beard was standing in front of him. Once the man saw me, he quickly ran over.
"Sir. Sir! Are you Anon, Millie's friend?" he asked. I looked around.
"Yeah?" I hesitantly answered. The man breathed a sigh of relief.
"Would you please come with me to Ulfstead Castle. There is something wrong with her, and she won't tell me what. She got back to the castle in tears, and has refused to come out of her shed. I don't know what happened, but something between when she left and when she came back certainly did!" he explained.
I finally put two and two together.
"Wait... are you Sir Robert Norramby, the Earl of Sodor?" I asked. The man laughed.
"Yes, my good sir, I am. But please, just call me Robert." he requested. I nodded, and glanced at my watch.
"I guess I can go for a while. I've got someone back home who will be expecting me, but I'm sure once I explain, they'll understand." I said. I followed Robert onto the single coach. He sat, and I sat across from him. A small side wall mounted table was in between the two of us. As the train lurched forward, Robert spoke.
"Can you tell me what Millie was like when she arrived to see you today? I know the two of you are the best of friends." he said.
"She seemed perfectly fine when she arrived. She bumped into me, but that's just how she says hello. She asked to be oiled, and for a wash, which I happily did for her. Then I asked her a serious question, and she got all unhappy, and left before I could ask what was wrong." I said.
Sir Robert thought.
"May I ask what the question was?" he asked. I sighed.
For Millie's sake, I'd have to tell him.
"Okay, but you can't tell anyone. It will only be you, Millie, and myself who know." you said. Sir Robert nodded. "I've found an abandoned engine in the woods by my home. She's been there for twenty years, and I'm the first one to find her. I had asked Millie what she thought I should do, because I'm getting mixed signals from the engine as to whether she wants to be fixed or not. I told Millie that she was once the most beautiful and elegant engine on Sodor, and I'm trying to restore her to her former glory." I finished. Sir Robert looked fascinated. He was silent for a few minutes, his hands folded on the table.
"Now it's my turn to tell you something that somebody doesn't want you to know." he said, a serious look on his face. I leaned forward.
"You and Millie have been friends for a long time, do you know that?" he asked. I nodded.
"Of course. She was the first engine I ever met here." I said. Sir Robert nodded.
"And are you aware that she likes you Anon?" he asked. I shrugged.
"I mean, don't friends have to like each other to be friends?" I asked. Sir Robert folded his hands, and leaned his forehead against them.
"No no, my dear lad! I mean... are you aware that she likes you? A lot?" he asked. I wasn't sure what he was getting at.
"Well, yeah? That's probably why we're best friends." I replied. Sir Robert groaned.
"My dear fellow, you don't get out enough. What I'm trying to say is..." he paused, making sure nobody else was around.
"Millie loves you." he whispered.
I...she...what?
Millie loved me?
I leaned back in my seat, a look of shock on my face. I worked my jaw, trying to form words.
"Are... are you sure?" I whispered back. Sir Robert nodded. Suddenly, I groaned loudly.
Such a oblivious fool I had been!
"That explains soooo much." I said.
"What do you mean?" Sir Robert asked. I sighed.
"Millie always comes to see me if she has a day off. She always wants her maintenance done by me, and she always talked kind of bashfully around me, and her cheeks always had a light red hue to them! Dear lord, how could I not have seen it!?" I cursed myself loudly.
Sir Robert chuckled.
"Don't blame yourself to hard, lad. It's not often an engine falls for a person, but it has happened before." he said, looking out the window.
I followed his gaze, watching the scenery fly past as I saw Ulfstead Castle in the distance. I had been friends with Millie for five years, and never once suspected that she felt towards me that strongly.
"What am I supposed to do?" I asked absent mindedly. Sir Robert chuckled.
"That's up to you my friend. If you find that you return Millie's feelings, I don't mind. From as much as she's talked about you, which would be almost daily, I believe you're a man of good quality." he said.
The train slowed as it pulled into the station at Ulfstead Castle. The Earl and I stepped out, and I looked around. I had visited several times, usually seeing Millie and Steven out and about, busy with work.
"Where is everyone?" I asked. The Earl sighed.
"We are closed today for some small interior repairs, and there isn't much for any of my engines to do. Steven has probably gone for a slow drive in the country, and Millie has confined herself to her shed. I hope you and her will mend things, I hate seeing her so down." he said. I nodded, and started walking in the direction of Millie's shed. She had showed it to me several times, always commenting that it would be fun if I spent the night with her.
Her intentions made much more sense now.
I finally saw the small building, and the door was almost fully closed. I peeked in through the small gap that was open, and both myself and Millie were startled as we met each others gaze. Millie jerked backwards a bit, releasing a cloud of steam.
"A-Anon?! What are you doing here?" she asked, calming back down. I quietly stepped inside, and closed the shed door behind me.
"The Earl came to see me and requested that I see you. Says you've been down ever since you got back." I said, pulling a small bucket over for me to sit on. Once I had done so, I waited for Millie to speak.
"Oh. I-It's nothing, Anon. I'm just... feeling a little under the weather." she said, blushing. Whether I had known Millie's feelings towards me or not, I would have known that was a lie. I reached out and placed a hand on Millie's buffer, making her wince.
"I know what's going on, Millie. The Earl told me." I whispered. Millie's eyes shot open, and she looked at me with an immense blush on her face. She started to puff forwards, wanting to escape, but I stopped her by blocking her way.
"Why didn't you tell me?" I asked softly, meeting her gaze. She looked down at the ground sadly.
"Because... Because I knew you'd think I was silly. After all, I know you don't think of me as more than a friend. You'd probably be creeped out by it, and not want to see me again. I would rather keep my feelings to myself, and be able to see you, than tell you, and never see you again." she said, beginning to cry.
Christ, what was it with me making the sweetest engine's cry?
I went over to Millie, and sat on her bumper, reaching one arm up to the top of her boiler, and the other around the bottom of her face. It was about the closest thing to a hug I could offer her. Millie's quiet sobs filled the shed, and I could only massage her boiler, hoping it would calm her down.
"It's okay Millie. Shhhh. It doesn't bother me at all." I said comfortingly. Millie looked at me with teary eyes.
"It doesn't?" she asked, sniffling. I leaned my head against her.
"Of course not. Nobody can help what they feel. It's not your fault." I said. Millie sniffed again, and I wiped her face with my sleeve, removing her tears. Millie sighed contently.
"I love it when you do that. It's the closest thing I can ever have to physical contact with you." she said. I smiled.
The two of us sat together for at least fifteen minutes in silence, giving me time to think. What was Millie to me? She was certainly a friend, but the thought of loving an engine was a new idea. It was certainly possible, just different.
"I don't know Millie. I love you as a friend, but... I don't know about more than that." I finally said. Millie sighed sadly.
"I knew you wouldn't like me back like that." she said quietly. I couldn't stand to see her so sad. I had to do something.
"What if we were to try, though?" I asked. Millie looked at me, her wet eyes shining brightly.
"Try? What do you mean?" she asked. I shrugged.
"What if we were to go on a few dates? Go visit the beach, the lighthouse, or whatever? Something we both enjoy? Maybe if we did that a few times, and got to know each other even better, I'd know for sure what I feel towards you." I suggested.
Millie was so happy, she blew her whistle, making me cover my ears.
"Oh Anon, I'd love that!" she said, beginning to cry again.
"Why are you crying again? You'll have my sleeve soaked by the time you're finished." I said. Millie laughed.
"I'm just so happy, Anon! I never thought anything would happen between us!" she said, looking at me with a happy tear streaked face.
Millie certainly was cute. I wiped her face again, and chuckled.
"Don't cry, Mil. I'd never stop being friends with you, regardless of anything you could do or feel." I said, standing up. Millie rolled forward slowly as I opened the door to her shed. Once she was outside, she took a breath.
"I feel so much better. Thank you so much Anon." she said sweetly. I gave her a pat.
"Anytime. I hate seeing any engine, especially you, so down. I like seeing you happy." I said. Millie blushed again.
"So... when can we go out on a date?" she asked timidly. I smirked. She certainly was eager.
"I don't know yet. I don't work tomorrow, but I would like to make some more progress on the stranded engine. She's still waiting for me now." I said stupidly. Millie's face fell, but this time, I knew why.
"Millie, she poses no threat whatsoever to you. I only just met her, and I have known you for much longer." I said. Millie looked at me.
"But... the way you spoke about her earlier. Elegant, beautiful, special. I'm none of those things. I'm small, weak, and there's nothing special about me at all." she said, sulking. I turned to stand face to face with Millie. Being the tall man I was, about 6'5, my face was just barely higher than Millie's. She was a smaller engine after all.
"She may have once been all that, and she may be again, but she's not you Millie. You are very hard working, always good natured, cute, and clever. I like those things about you. Looks aren't everything." I said. Millie was surprised.
"You really think all that about me?" she asked. I nodded.
"And more. Much more. You're the one in charge of Ulfstead Castle, you're always determined to be really useful, and you don't let your size hold you back. You love people, and you care for everyone. That's what makes you you Millie. Not looks alone, but what's inside." I said, pointing at her.
Millie was silent for a few moments, as if she didn't know how to respond to my honesty. Then, she looked at me shyly.
"Can... Can I kiss you?" she asked quietly. I must admit the question hit me hard, but wasn't completely unexpected. After all, I had just deeply complimented a girl who liked me very much.
"If you'd like." I finally said, making Millie blush. I knelt down, and leaned forward, and Millie crept closer to me. I had planned on having her kiss my cheek or something. Since her face was smaller than most engines, it was only slightly larger than mine.
But Millie went right for my lips.
The moment my lips made contact with hers, an explosion of emotions hit me. Surprise, fright, lust, and utter joy. She quickly let go, just making it a quick peck, but the emotions I felt lingered.
Millie was blushing madly.
"I'm sorry. I shouldn't have done that." she said, feeling ashamed. I caught my breath.
"No... No, you most certainly should have." I breathed. Millie looked at me in surprise.
"But I thought..." I raised a hand to stop her.
"I know Millie. I know what I said before... but..." I regained my composure and stood. "What I felt when we kissed was far to much for me not to have an idea of what I feel towards you." I said. Millie looked excited.
"I think deep inside me, unknown until just now, I've had feelings for you as well. Not as strong as yours mind you, but they are there." I admitted. Millie looked like she might explode.
"Really?!" she exclaimed. I nodded.
"I'll come back tomorrow at some point, and we can have a little chat. For now, I really have to get home." I said. Millie didn't seem to care at all.
"Okay! See you tomorrow!" she said, blowing her whistle as I walked away.
As I made my way back to the castle station, I had some serious thinking to do. I now had two engines who needed my attention.
How would I ever manage?
