For a while, now, Edward slept at Wellsworth Sheds with Philip, the Diesel Boxcab. He felt proud of his choice, as the sheds were right at the start of his Branchline. Philip, however, was a decent friend to be next to. He may have bothered him or done things he shouldn't every now and then, but Edward knew that he was still young and brushed it off. If anything, Philip reminded him of Thomas in his early days.
Edward didn't feel bad with the thought that he wasn't sleeping near his friends. He knew they were friends no matter what. He even saw them during his goods trips.
Although, Edward was now beginning to feel something very weird… empty. He hadn't realized it until now, but it just wasn't the same without his friends by his side.
Just then, he heard a loud thud, snapping him out of his thoughts.
"What was that?!" he jumped.
"Oops, sorry." Philip chuckled. The little diesel had backed up a little too hard into the wall of the shed.
"No, Philip, you're all right," assured Edward.
"What do you mean?" the little diesel boxcab asked.
Edward opened his mouth to speak, but couldn't find the words. Instead, he just let out a sad sigh.
"Oh," Philip said, looking away. He thought it best to leave Edward alone.
After some time, the two engines fell asleep.
~~~The next morning, Sir Topham Hatt drove up to the shed in his car.
"Good morning, you two," he greeted.
The engines opened their eyes.
"Philip, you're just the engine I need!" declared Sir Topham Hatt, "There hasn't been a lot of work done in the yards, so I'd like you to head down there and handle it."
"Of course, Sir!" Philip hooted, "I won't let you down!"
The little diesel was about to take off, when he was stopped.
"Hold on a moment," the top hat-wearing railway controller instructed, "I wasn't finished, since you're still young, Philip, I thought it a good idea to have Edward help you by giving some pointers."
Edward beamed, being in the yards once more would make him feel right at home!
"Thank you, Sir!" he tooted.
"Of course, Edward, anytime." Sir Topham Hatt chuckled, "Now, carry on then, we've got a lot of work ahead of us!"
Then he drove off.
~~~Upon arriving at the yard, Edward looked around. Every which way, his friends were hustling and bustling. Gordon waited at the platform for the express, Thomas was puffing off with Annie and Clarabel, James raced in with his usual call of "Here's James!", and the list went on.
Just then, Philip interrupted his thoughts.
"Edward?"
"Huh, what?"
"Could you show me one of your tricks?"
Edward smiled, "Say no more, I've got just the thing."
With that, Edward led Philip to a set of trucks waiting to be shunted.
"I've noticed how you always bump the trucks no matter what," he began, "But the thing is, that's what enables their troublesomeness. Shunt them slowly, and bump them with the instinct of them waiting to cause nonsense."
"I've never thought of that," the boxcab said, "Thanks Edward!"
The little diesel boxcab hurried off, but Edward quickly stopped him.
"What's the rush?" he asked.
"Oh," chuckled Philip, "I just wanted to show everyone how fast I am."
Edward rolled up alongside his friend, "Being really useful doesn't mean making yourself the center of attention," then, he lowered his voice, "If only James would learn that."
"I heard that!" called the bright red engine in the distance.
Edward continued, "All that matters is getting the job done, no matter what."
Philip thought for a second, then widened his smile.
"You're right, Edward, I'm going to be really useful!"
Edward chuckled, as he kept in mind that the boxcab still had a lot to learn.
Slowly, the little boxcab shunted the trucks, one-by-one, before bumping them out of the blue.
"Ow!" the trucks groaned.
"Philip-!" Edward called, but before he continued, he caught a glimpse of Emily puffing off with empty flatbeds. Edward couldn't help but whistle at his friend. Emily tooted back, "Hello, Edward." she called.
"Hello, Emily," Edward dreamily said.
Just then, a familiar voice boomed.
"Edward!"
The blue engine jumped, turning to see Sir Topham Hatt.
"Oh, s-sir, hello."
"I thought I made it clear that you were to accompany Philip," he sternly said.
"Sorry, Sir," apologized Edward, "But I wasn't paying attention."
"Maybe you don't have an actual job," the railway controller inquired, "Then I'll give you one! You are to collect support beams for the building site from Brendam Docks."
"But, Sir," protested Edward, "What about Philip?"
"Tons of engines pass through here," the top-hat-wearing man responded, "I can make arrangements for someone to stand in for you."
Edward gave in, "Oh, all right."
~~~Soon, Edward was out and about, on his way to the docks.
Even so, he couldn't help but think about the fact that he barely had time to talk with any of his friends.
Soon, he arrived at the docks, where Carly began unloading the supplies from the cargo ship.
Edward was still looking glum. Porter noticed this and addressed it.
"What's wrong, Edward?" he asked.
"You haven't said a thing, today."
Edward didn't say a word, he didn't want to be late… the only problem is that he was so worried about being late, that he didn't act until Salty blew his horn.
"Hurry up, matey!" the dockyard diesel honked, "You'll be late!"
Edward quickly snapped out, "Yes, yes, off I go!"
The blue engine raced out of the docks, going as fast as he could to the building site.
~~~Back at Knapford Station, Sir Topham Hatt was in his office when the telephone rang.
"Oh, bother that telephone." he groaned.
Picking it up, he spoke into it.
"Hello?"
"I see,"
"I see…"
~~~Edward returned to the yard, where Sir Topham Hatt angrily waited.
"This is so unlike you, Edward," he confronted, "You're usually one of my most responsible engines, but today, you have caused confusion and delay."
"I'm sorry, Sir," apologized Edward, "But I just can't focus on my jobs."
The top-hat wearing railway controller firmly stared at his engine, "Because of that, you are to stay in your shed until you can!"
Edward gasped.
~~~For the rest of the day, Edward sat alone in his shed. All he could think about his friends, and everything he'd done with them: Helping Gordon up the hill, assisting Henry with the express, saving Trevor from scrap, and the list went on.
That evening, Philip returned to the shed.
"Hello, Edward!" he cheerily tooted.
Edward didn't say a word.
"Edward?"
The blue engine still didn't respond. Not long after, he let out a sniffle, letting Philip know that something was wrong.
"Edward?…"
Philip watched as a tear fell from the corner of Edward's eye, rolled down his face, and landed on his front plate.
"Oh, Edward, don't cry," comforted Philip, "I'm sure Sir Topham Hatt will let you out soon."
Edward sighed, "It's not that Philip,"
"Then what is it?" the little diesel boxcab asked.
Edward took a deep breath, "I just miss my home, Tidmouth Sheds, and my friends."
Philip spoke up, "I know how that feels."
Edward's eyes widened, "You do?"
"Yeah, back when Sir Topham Hatt bought me, I was afraid to leave home. I always act cheery and playful to try not to think about it, but no matter what, it's a part of me."
"Oh, Philip, I'm so sorry." Edward said.
"That was… until I met you."
Edward gasped.
"Me?"
"I know we've had our differences back during your first stay, but after seeing everything you do, I didn't feel so alone. You're wise and kind, you help engines in need, you know how to deal with trucks, because of all that, I knew you'd be a perfect engine to look up to!"
Edward smiled, and Philip smiled back.
Just then, an idea flew into the little diesel boxcab's exhausts.
"I think I know something that can help both of us,"
~~~Philip got up bright and early the next morning, and met Sir Topham Hatt at Knapford.
"Philip, what are you doing so early?" he asked.
"There's something I want to tell you, Sir."
"Make it quick, please."
Philip began.
"The reason Edward wasn't focusing was because he missed his home and his friends. In addition to that, Edward was trying to help me with handling the trucks, which definitely made for all the better for my work around here. I realized that in order to benefit both of us, maybe we could find a shed to stay near here."
Sir Topham Hatt put his hand up to his chin, "Actually, Philip, there is a shed that you and Edward can stay at!"
Philip's smile widened.
~~~With that, Sir Topham Hatt moved both Edward and Philip to Knapford Sheds, allowing Edward to be close to his friends, and Philip to be close to his work.
A few days later, Edward was greeted by none other than his friend, Thomas.
"Hello, Edward." he smiled.
"Hello, Thomas."
"Watch this!"
Philip slowly shunted some trucks forward, one into the other.
Fortunately for Philip, a truck began to softly snicker, before instantly being bumped.
"Ow, hey!" the truck growled.
After arranging the trucks, Philip raced back to meet with his friends.
"You see that? I learned from the best!"
Edward blushed. Thomas laughed, shortly before being joined in by his friends.