Lee's Thomas the Tank Engine & Friends

Stories

Making Mr Deacon Smile

It was early one morning when Felicity the post van and Tom Tipper were out on duty. It was raining lightly but it was nothing too bad to dampen their good spirits. Felicity always smiled on duty and was happy to be working with Tom. However, every morning there was always something that put a dampener on the morning's duties. There was a lonely old house towards the end of Felicity and Tom's route that housed a man who was never ever nice and kind. Come rain or shine he was always in a bad mood. His name was Mr Deacon and he always seemed unhappy. This morning was no different.
"Mr Deacon…" beamed Tom as he handed him his post for the day. "Hope everything's in order."
"I'm fine. Just leave me…" grumbled Mr Deacon before he slammed the door firmly shut. It was that sudden it caught Tom off guard. As he made his way back to Felicity, he just shook his head in despair.
"It would be nice if he said thankyou atleast once…" Tom said to himself.
"What's the matter with him?" asked Felicity.
"No one knows…" answered Tom as he sat back in the driver's seat. "As long as I've been a postman, he's always been like it. The house has only recently gone into disrepair though."
"Is it just him in the house though?" Felicity then pondered.
"No-one's sure." replied Tom. "Mr Deacon is an enigma to the rest of Sodor."
"An enigma?" wondered Felicity.
"A puzzle…." answered Tom. "He's a puzzle no-one can work out…." he added as they set off to complete their round. As they left, both could see a figure looking out from one of the houses windows. It was Mr Deacon just staring out at no-one in particular. It unsettled Felicity greatly and really did end her good mood altogether.

When the pair returned to the post depot some time later, Clarissa the post carriage, Felicity's great friend, could see they weren't in the greatest of moods.
"What's the matter?" she asked kindly as Tom parked Felicity into place.
"Oh, you know…." said Felicity in exasperation.
"Mr Deacon?" smiled Clarissa already knowing it was the answer. Felicity just smiled in agreement. "It's best if you and Tom don't let him get to you at all. He's gotten the better of many vans and people over the years, so there's no point in allowing you two to be added to that list."
"But what is the matter with him though?" asked Felicity. "He looks like a sweet old man really but he's far from it." Just then Oliver reversed in with some empty post carriages to finish off his through the night shift. He could see Felicity wasn't in a great mood at all.
"Oh, Mr Deacon's been at his old tricks again then?" he smiled. "Don't worry. He's got to the best of us. Me included."
"Felicity was wondering what exactly is up with him." Clarissa then pointed out. "Do you know Oliver?"
"There are stories all about him and why he's like he is, but no-one is sure. All I know is that he lives on his own and that's that."
"Being on your own isn't going to help is it?" Felicity then said. "He's lonely, that's what it is!" she then smiled.
"Lonely?" said Clarissa. "This is the man that shuns people wanting to talk to him remember, how can he be lonely?"
"I don't know…" came the reply. "But I think it's the only way to solve it." Felicity then smiled. Oliver and Clarissa looked at each other unsure of what to think but Felicity's wide smile sent them in agreement. "When he's not alone with the right company, he'll smile….I'm sure of it." Felicity then added.

Days passed and for now Felicity was adamant that Mr Deacon's problems were all down to him being lonely but after each day passed with Tom having the door shut in his face again, she began to doubt herself.
"He won't ever smile will he?" she then wondered.
"It's not likely…" agreed Tom as he sat back in the driver's seat once more. When they returned to the depot, the manager was around just checking on everything.
"Anything the matter you two?" he asked cheerily not expecting a problem.
"No…." said Tom.
"There is though…" said Felicity. "It's Mr Deacon. He just puts everyone on edge and makes me feel really uncomfortable. Do you know what's the matter with him?"
"He's on his own as far as I'm aware…" said the manager. "Has been for some time since his wife passed away. His son lives on the Mainland, so it's just him."
"It's a fair enough reason then I suppose…" said Tom. "He's hurting from the loneliness." This then gave Felicity an idea.
"So, if we invited his son back to the Island, do you think he'd be happy?" Felicity then wondered. Tom thought it might be a good idea too and spoke to the manager about it.
"I'll see what I can do. I spoke to his son quite a lot. He was a nice chap." the manager then smiled as he went off to his office. Felicity couldn't hide her excitement and beamed a wide smile. Clarissa has heard everything and was smiling just as wide.
"You might be onto a winner here then!" she grinned.

A few days later and the plan was in action. Mr Deacon's son had come to the Island out of his own generosity and was happy to help.
"I've tried to get in contact with father endlessly since I moved…" said the son, "but I just don't get a response. Letters and phone calls get no reply at all. I know he's still alive but I thought he was just ignoring me."
"I don't think that's the case…" Felicity then smiled. "Seeing you in the flesh will bring his smile back I'm sure."
"If I'd have known how bad it had got, I would have come back much sooner." the son then said.
"It's not your fault…" Tom then said as he and the son got into Felicity. "So, let's just go and make your dad happy." he added as they zoomed off. Clarissa watched on with a wide smile on her face. She was certain the plan would work but still had a little doubt somewhere at the back of her mind. The same feeling was true for Tom, Felicity and Mr Deacon's son. They were all unsure if it would work but they were going ahead with it. Soon, they arrived outside of the house. It had gone into such a bad state of repair since Mr Deacon's son had last seen it.
"Oh dad…" he sighed.
"Come on…." cajoled Tom to the son as the pair of them walked up to Mr Deacon's front door. Tom would knock first acting as if he was delivering a parcel and that would then be the moment to let the son take over the situation. After a brief knock at the door, it slowly creaked open and there peered Mr Deacon. His old withered face and big block glasses showed his age instantly before his scowl turned the situation back to its normal ways.
"Yes?" called Mr Deacon hoarsely.
"I've got a parcel for you Mr Deacon…" said Tom cheerily.
"I'm not expecting one. Go away…." he huffed before he began to slowly close the door. Mr Deacon's son was just out of view and couldn't believe this was his dad. He had to stop it now before the moment would be gone.
"Dad…" he then called out. Mr Deacon froze in shock.
"Reg?" he then called out as he looked round the door. Tom stepped aside and let the pair of them get reacquainted with one another. "It is you…." Mr Deacon then added.
"Dad…" said the son once more before the pair of them hugged. Felicity and Tom just smiled and to both their surprise they saw Mr Deacon smile widely.
"Are you back here permanently?" Mr Deacon asked.
"Not forever dad, but enough to get the house in order again. How could you let it get this bad?" Reg then said to his dad.
"I've struggled to cope since your mother passed on. I've made sure it's just me around…"
"It's been 15 years dad. This isn't right. I've only come because these lovely folks called and asked me to. Why haven't you been responding to my phone calls or letters? I was worried for you." Reg then asked with clear concern on his face.
"I don't know. I just wanted to be on my own in a way but I know that was wrong. I'm sorry, Reg." he then apologised. Tom was just about to make his way back to Felicity before Mr Deacon collared him back. "Thankyou…" he said. "Thanks for this."
"No problem, sir…..it was Felicity's idea anyway." Tom then pointed out. Mr Deacon just smiled at waved towards Felicity. She felt happy and proud with herself. Persistence had seemingly paid off.

From now on when passing by Mr Deacon's house, Tom and Felicity don't have to worry at all. Mr Deacon is friendly to all and with his son coming to visit more regularly, the house is beginning to look so much better. He is never without a smile now and for all involved with the postal service, it is nice to see Mr Deacon looking happy. Deep down he was a nice man and has since become great friends with many of them. He's a keen painter in his spare time too and has even painted a picture of Tom and Felicity as a thank you. It stands up proudly in the postal depot and keeps everyone happy, just like Reg had made his father happy. Smiles are around on Sodor from now on…