Purple Hearts Miniatures

Chapter 3: Colour (Tickled Pink)

"Oh, this is so embarrassing! I can't let anyone else see me before I get to Maithwaite; I don't want them to laugh at my pink paint."

James was on his way towards Maithwaite to pick up Bridget Hatt and her friends to take them to a birthday party since Emily had broken down, and so far, this had been the worst day of his life. He had to leave the Steamworks before his repaint could be finished, leaving him still painted in his pink undercoat, and he had received teasing from both Emily and Diesel as they happened to see him. Now he was continuing his way towards the station and he was keeping a look out for a shortcut to ensure he wouldn't be late and that no one else would happen to spot him on his way. As he turned his glance to the tracks in front of him, a bright smile crossed his face when he saw that he was coming towards a tunnel.

"I know! I'll take a shortcut through this tunnel. Then I'll be sure to make it to Maithwaite on time." Without a moment to spare, James puffed through the tunnel with a confident smile that things were surely going his way now, but as he came out through the other side, he heard the sound of a familiar high-pitched whistle and he stopped dead in his tracks before letting out a gasp of shock. "It's Thomas!"

Sure enough, coming around the corner and approaching the tunnel from the track to the left was Thomas in the middle of a delivery to the coal mines. James felt an expression of worry cross his face; having Emily and Diesel laugh at him was bad enough, but Thomas? That would surely make this the worst day he had ever had. "I can't let Thomas see me. He'll be sure to laugh at my silly pink paint. I have to hide, quick!" Without a moment to spare, James slowly backed up into the tunnel, hoping to avoid being spotted by his cobalt blue star.

With Thomas, he was approaching the tunnel, but then an expression of surprise crossed his face as he happened to see something already inside the tunnel and he stopped in his tracks. "Huh? Someone's already in there. But who could that be?" As he had a closer look, he could spot the familiar shape of James's face along with the steam coming out of his funnel and he showed a smile of amusement. "James? Is that you? What are you doing in there?"

As he hid inside the tunnel, James showed an expression of alarm upon realising that Thomas had recognised him almost instantly. 'Oh no… at this rate, he'll be sure to see me in my pink paint! I can't let that happen.' With this, he proceeded to reverse further into the tunnel so he was covered completely in the darkness, something that Thomas was quick to notice as he slowly approached the tunnel's entrance, an expression of concern showing on his face as he did so.

"What's wrong, James? Why are you hiding in there? Bridget Hatt and the rest of the children will be waiting for you." He received no answer as James seemed to remain there, looking unwilling to come out. Thomas turned his glance down to think about what he should do, since it was clear to him that there was something James didn't want him to know about. After a few seconds, Thomas looked back up before showing a comforting smile as he spoke again. "If there's something wrong, James, you know I'm here to help. So… why don't you come out and tell me what the problem is?"

From inside the tunnel, James turned his glance up to look outside to see the gentle smile Thomas was showing him, along with the gentle tone in his voice as he was speaking, and he let out a quiet sigh; he knew that he had no chance of being able to hide from Thomas. But he had to be sure that Thomas wasn't going to laugh at him. "You won't laugh when you see me after I come out, will you?"

Thomas stared in surprise before giving his reply in a reassuring tone. "Don't worry, James. I won't laugh at you. I promise."

That seemed to be the answer James needed; whenever Thomas made a promise, he always made sure he'd keep it. He quietly took a deep breath before slowly coming out of the tunnel, revealing his pink paint for Thomas to see. There was silence for a few moments as Thomas seemed to stare in stunned silence, apparently struggling to let what he was seeing sink in. Taking notice of his silence, James let out a quiet sigh. "I know… It looks very silly, doesn't it?"

Thomas was at a loss of words from what he was seeing: his shining ruby was painted in a bright pink that was very much like Rosie's. This was what James was so worried about him seeing? And on top of that, he had been afraid that he would laugh at him? Once he was able to let the sight before him sink in, Thomas turned his glance up to James with an expression of puzzlement. "I don't understand. Why didn't you want me to see you?"

James felt an expression of dismay cross his face since he knew the exact reason for that and he lowered his glance as he gave his answer. "I was worried that if you saw me like this, you'd laugh at me for being pink. The other engines I had run into today all made of fun of me and I was scared you'd do the same. Now I feel even more silly than I already did."

Thomas was silent for a few moments before he showed a bright smile. "James… what made you think I'd laugh at you?" James turned his glance back up in surprise upon hearing this, and he was met with an even bigger surprise as Thomas continued. "I'll be honest, seeing you like this is a bit of a surprise. But I bet Bridget and the children will be in for a big surprise when you get to Maithwaite. I'm sure they'll be really excited to see you."

James blinked rapidly in amazement at what he was hearing. "Y-you think so?"

"Of course! And even though the other engines were teasing you for your colour, you're still doing everything you can to make sure you get to Maithwaite on time. That's something you should be proud of. And if I'm being honest…" Thomas proceeded to feel his cheeks turn a vibrant red just like the trademark colour of the number five engine in front of him. "I think that colour looks really cute on you." James felt a shy smile cross his face at this comment before Thomas continued. "I know you're worried about being teased, but it doesn't matter what colour you are. What does matter is that you work hard like you always do."

James was silent for a few moments to let Thomas's words sink in and it didn't take long for him to show a smile of confidence, the embarrassment he had been feeling during the day fading almost instantly. "You're right, Thomas! I shouldn't have to hide or feel embarrassed by the colour of my paint. It may make me look silly, but that doesn't matter. What does matter is getting to Maithwaite on time. Bridget and the other children are waiting for me, and I won't let them down!"

Without a moment to spare, James began to make his way down the track to continue his way towards Maithwaite, with Thomas watching with a smile of delight as James passed by him. "That's great, James! Let me know how it went when you get back!"

"I will! Thank you!"

Once James disappeared around the corner, Thomas began to continue his way to the coal mine, heading through the tunnel as he did so. "I had a feeling I'd be able to get through to him." Thomas then turned his glance in the direction James left in, feeling his smile grow. "I hope I'll get to see him like that again at the end of the day."

Even if he didn't, there was one thing Thomas knew for certain: James looked so adorable in both red and pink!