Lexi took Duke's train to Lakeside Station, and was greeted with a bustling community, and the beautiful lake next to the line. The platform was all aglow with colour, as people scuttled around like beetles, preparing to catch their trains for travelling up or down the line.

"Hm, this is pretty nice," She thought to herself, looking around her, feeling curious as to what the shops, and the people, were like. "I need to look around." She then remembered her mission and went to look for Mr. Clarke, the stationmaster, and find out what she was needed to do.

…

"You got me here for flower arranging?"

"Now, don't argue," Said Mr. Clarke sternly, in a way that reminded Lexi of Skarloey. Realizing it to be a bad idea to cross him, she meekly apologized. "I didn't mean to sound rude, sir."

"Well, I suppose you've yet to know what we need volunteers for- it's not just about polishing engines and cleaning coaches. Besides, you might enjoy it."

Lexi doubted it, but wisely kept this to herself. Working with engines was far more appealing- especially since she had met a good amount by now- but her mother had been a firm believer of variety being the spice of life, so Lexi decided to just stick it out, and see what it was like.

"So, what flowers am I planting, Mr. Clarke?" She asked curiously.

"Well, the planters here," he gestured to two rectangular planters, "will be planted with Welsh poppies." He picked up a hanging basket resting at his feet. "And these will contain red begonias. The baskets are ready for putting peat soil in, they just need soil and the begonia plants."

"Where might I find them?"

"I've got them, I'll fetch them in a minute. Here's the seeds for the Welsh poppies."

…

Once Mr. Clarke surrendered his precious begonia plants to her, Lexi began work on the hanging baskets. She dutifully filled four hanging baskets with peat soil, before planting the begonias themselves. Then, she carefully planted the Welsh poppies in their planters, aware that if she made a mistake, she could unintentionally ruin the stationmaster's vision.

It turned out he was actually a very kind man, if a bit guarded over his plants and flowers (almost like a dragon with its treasures) and he did enjoy a witty quip or two, so Lexi found working a bit more bearable, if not more enjoyable. As it turned out, gardening wasn't her thing, but she nonetheless persevered, and listened politely as he gave her tips on how to grow excellent strawberries, how to maintain tulips, and the best way to prune roses whilst she worked.

He even boasted of his wife Henrietta's homemade jams and chutneys, which she made using some of his grown produce; the key ingredients included fruit such as rhubarb, strawberries, raspberries, blackcurrant, tomatoes, to name some.

"Have you ever tried rose petal jam?" He asked her, which surprised her.

"No, I can't say I have," she answered, baffled.

"My wife got the idea from reading 'The Lost Flowers of Alice Hart'." He admitted. "She told me one of the characters made rose jam, and she became inspired to try it herself."

"Can't go wrong with literary inspirations." Lexi commented.

"Do you read?"

"Mostly plays," Lexi replied. "Drama is one of my best subjects at school, so I just read plays, mostly. Loved The Importance of Being Earnest."

"I don't read myself," Mr. Clarke replied, "though I do enjoy reading memoirs of railway men."

"Have you always worked here, Mr. Clarke?"

Mr. Clarke replied he hadn't, that he had worked as first a postman, then he would help with money in the post office, which helped him get a job at a bank for a time, before he got laid off. He had since found work with the Skarloey Railway as the stationmaster at Lakeside.

"It can get a bit tiresome when the same people complain for no reason, other than to stir up a fuss, but I enjoy the job for the most part," he told her. "The engines are a delight, and most people I encounter are very kind and cheerful, so I have little complaint being here."

"And the scenery is nice, too," Lexi remarked.

"Indeed. You must travel here at night, it's absolutely beautiful then, in my opinion." Mr. Clarke told her, a smile on his lips. "Seeing the lights twinkle on the water, seeing the stars sparkle like diamonds…"

Lexi could picture the scene, and it did indeed sound wonderful. She wondered if one of the engines would take her here again at night. She made a note to ask them later- one of them would help her, surely?

"I'll come back," she assured.

….

Once Lexi had finished with the poppies, she was given some paint and overalls, with the request that she paint the benches and the ticket office door. She felt a little better about this, as she occasionally helped the stage crew paint backdrops, and she, along with her little brothers, Nathaniel, and Jack, had helped her granddad paint their house on the Mainland last year. (Punishment after Jack almost burned the kitchen down by accident and the trio all attempted to hide it, in vain. But it wasn't so bad, in the end, as their grandad got them fish and chips for their efforts).

Once done, and the appropriate signage was laid out, Lexi helped at Neptune Refreshments for two hours, washing dishes in the café. It had been hot, busy work, and Lexi missed the leisurely chat she had with the kindly Mr. Clarke, but the bustle of the tearooms reminded her of her dress rehearsals and of going on stage, so she didn't mind too much.

…

Needless to say, by the time she got a train back to Crovan's Gate, she was so exhausted she collapsed into a chair and dozed off almost immediately.