Thomas the hero
based on "Thomas and the breakdown train" by Rev. W. Awdry
The next morning, Thomas woke up bright and cheerful. He was looking forward to today.
THOMAS: Hopefully something new might happen today…
He got dressed, went downstairs and had breakfast. When he was done, he said goodbye to his father, picked up his backpack and went outside. He arrived at preschool on his bicycle and went through the school day with his classmates.
After preschool, Thomas was having a rest outside the entrance of Knapford preschool, when he saw a student as tall as Edward go on his bicycle and ride along the path. His name was James. He wasn't as big as Henry or Gordon, but he was still pretty strong. Thomas decided to ride with James. He had nothing better to do after all.
THOMAS: Hey, wait up, James!
JAMES: Oh, Thomas! What are you doing here?
THOMAS: You want to have a race to the level crossing?
JAMES: No thank you. I can't go very fast.
THOMAS: Why?
JAMES: Because my bicycle has wooden brakes.
THOMAS: Wooden brakes?
Thomas looked down, and sure enough, James' brakes were made of wood, instead of metal.
THOMAS: Oh, too bad. In that case, I'll see you later, James!
JAMES: Same to you.
Thomas slowed down while James rode on ahead of him. After a few minutes, he sighed to himself.
THOMAS: I guess nothing interesting will happen today…
But then, he heard someone calling.
"HELP! HELP!"
THOMAS: That sounds like James! He must be in trouble!
Thomas pedalled hard and raced along the path. And when he reached the bottom of Gordon's hill, he gasped.
THOMAS: Oh no… the troublesome trucks!
It turns out the troublesome trucks had spilled water and leaves on the path going down the other side of the hill, and James fell for the same trick just like Thomas did.
Now James was frightened. He knew he couldn't apply his brakes when he was going this fast, but if he didn't slow down, he might lose control. So James applied his brakes carefully when he reached the bottom of the hill, but then, after a few seconds, smoke started billowing out from the brakes. And then, they eventually caught fire.
JAMES: HELP! SOMEBODY HELP!
Thomas raced up Gordon's hill as fast as he could. He couldn't give up now. Not when someone else was in trouble.
THOMAS: Bother those troublesome trucks and their tricks! I hope poor James isn't hurt!
James' brakes were still on fire and James was frightened. Then up ahead, there was a fence in front of a field. By now, James was so paralyzed that he couldn't control his bicycle and steer away from it. He raced off the path and ran straight into the fence!
The bicycle crashed against it and finally stopped, but James got thrown off it! He flew several feet in the air, skidded on the ground, gathering mud and grass with him, and finally came to a stop.
Thomas had raced down the hill and he saw the bicycle on fire, and James in the field, lying on his side, with bits of dirt and grass all over him, and looking weak.
THOMAS: James! Don't worry! I'll go and get help!
James watched as Thomas pedalled as fast as he could to the nearest phone box. A cow who was in the field looked curiously at James and began sniffing him.
JAMES: Ohhh, my body…
Thomas called for the fire department and an ambulance. Then he raced back to the field and got off his bicycle. He carefully climbed over the fence and took care not to get to close to James' bicycle, where the fire was beginning to grow bigger and spread farther. He ran over to James and helped him up to his feet.
THOMAS: Hold on, James. You'll be alright. Just stay with me.
JAMES: …I will… thank you, Thomas…
Thomas managed to help James over the fence, just as the firefighters arrived with their hoses at the ready. They put out the fire in no time.
THOMAS: Thank you!
Then the ambulance arrived. James' parents and Thomas' father came out of it.
MRS. HUGHES: James! Are you ok, honey? Are you hurt?
JAMES: …I'm fine, mom, dad… just a little… shook up… Thomas saved me…
MR. HUGHES: Thank you, Thomas. We're really grateful you saved our son.
MR. BILLINTON: That's my boy!
Thomas beamed and hugged his father once more, while James reunited with his parents and got carried in the ambulance.
MR. BILLINTON: Oh, we should get going as well, Thomas.
THOMAS: What? Is something wrong?
MR. BILLINTON: It's your mother.
Thomas suddenly became worried.
THOMAS: Mom?! Is she alright?!
MR. BILLINTON: She's fine, Thomas. Let's get inside so we can visit her at the hospital.
And so James' family and Thomas and his father were in the ambulance on their way to the hospital. When they arrived, James was sent to recover in one of the hospital rooms, while Mr. Billinton and his son went to another room with his wife in it. When they came in, there she was. In her bed, looking calm and peaceful.
THOMAS: Mom! Are you ok? Did something bad happen to you?!
MRS. BILLINTON: Hello, Thomas, it's nice to see you again after so long…
THOMAS: Mom… what's going on…?
Thomas' mother smiled brightly and then revealed two babies all wrapped in blankets in her arms. Thomas gaped and froze. He stood completely still, too amazed to speak.
MRS. BILLINTON: Say hello to your little sisters, Thomas. Annie, and Clarabel.
Thomas slowly moved forward. Annie and Clarabel were asleep, but as he approached them, they began to wake up. When they saw their older brother, they smiled at him and Thomas' eyes began to fill with tears of joy.
THOMAS: …hello Annie… hello Clarabel… I'm Thomas, and I'm going to be your older brother…
He couldn't speak anymore, as he burst into tears, and he was so overjoyed at the same time. He gave his mother a big hug, and then leaned closer to his younger twin sisters once more. They already loved Thomas when they first saw him, and he loved them back the same way.
MR. BILLINTON: Hello again, Gloria.
MRS. BILLINTON: I missed you too, Chris.
Thomas' family spent the next half hour reuniting with each other, telling each other the events that have happened and how happy they are going to be when Thomas' mother returns after a few days with Thomas' younger twin sisters. At last, it was time for Thomas to return home with his father. Thomas gave his mother and his sisters a farewell and left the hospital with him.
When Thomas arrived home, his father told him some important news.
MR. BILLINTON: Son, I realized this house won't be big enough for the 5 of us once your mother returns home.
THOMAS: What are you saying, dad?
MR. BILLINTON: I am saying… we will be moving, Thomas.
THOMAS: What?
MR. BILLINTON: Your driver and firemen friends have called me and told me that their engine will earn its very own branch line, and it gave me the perfect idea to move to Ffarquhar.
THOMAS: Wow…
MR. BILLINTON: And on top of that, you can help them out with passenger runs along the branch line, Thomas. Wouldn't that be great?
THOMAS: ...Yes! Oh man, this is the best day ever!
Thomas' father laughed and then made phone calls to prepare for their family moving.
THOMAS: I got to tell my friends tomorrow, they'll never believe it!
The next day, when Thomas arrived at Knapford preschool, all the other students gave him 3 cheers. They had all heard about Thomas' heroism for saving James and were now congratulating him warmly all day. Even Gordon was impressed.
THOMAS: Where is James?
EDWARD: Oh, he is here, Thomas.
Thomas turned around, and was amazed at what he saw. James originally had longer blonde hair, and he wore mostly black and grey clothing the last time Thomas saw him. Now, there he was, with a new haircut that made him look more handsome, and he was wearing a splendid red T-Shirt. James had returned with a few plasters. He hadn't suffered too much, but he needed to be careful until his wounds were fully healed.
JAMES: What do you think, Thomas?
THOMAS: …Wow… you do look marvellous, James!
JAMES: I know, right? And, I have received a new bicycle with proper brakes instead. No more fire accidents for me! I feel like a whole new person now! And it's all thanks to you, Thomas.
THOMAS: Don't mention it, James.
GORDON: How is your mother, Thomas?
THOMAS: She is alright, thank goodness. But I have big news…
HENRY: What big news?
THOMAS: …she gave birth. Now I have twin sisters for younger siblings!
Everyone was fascinated by this news and congratulated Thomas.
EDWARD: You'll be a wonderful role model and big brother to them, Thomas.
THOMAS: Thank you, Edward. Not only that, but also, my family will be moving to a bigger house up at Ffarquhar!
HENRY: That's great, Thomas! You'll be living at a branch line, now!
THOMAS: Yes I will! And the tank engine will be in charge of it and pull passengers through it!
GORDON: But, who will shunt the coaches for the bigger engines?
JAMES: I don't know, Gordon. Maybe you should help them fetch their own coaches.
Everyone laughed, but Gordon was not amused. As for Thomas, he was as happy as ever. He has gone through a lot of exciting events with mishaps along the way, but this isn't the end for Thomas. His life of many adventures on Sodor is just beginning…