A/N Thomas, in my Thomasverse is E2 105.
One day, Erica was going down the line and heard an unfamiliar noise. She saw Thomas on a siding and decided to ask her "brother" what it was.
"Hello, Thomas", she said "What's the strange noise?'
He told his "little sister", "It's a diesel from the Mainland temporarily here, Driver told me. He said that means just here for a while."
The Mainland diesel came closer and Erica stayed behind Thomas to let the other engine go by. However, when the visitor got there, he said cruel things to Thomas.
"Well, 105", said the diesel, referring to Thomas's build number. "you should be scrapped, just like your siblings. I know you're one of those E2s and you're the only one left. You steamies are useless engines, just a bunch of worthless old kettles." and then went to say other horrid things about "steamies".
Thomas was very hurt by the bully diesel. He put his sad face on and began to cry. His face was soon covered in tears as he sniffled. Soon, his driver and his "sister" as well knew how sad he was and they made their moves.
Thomas's driver climbed out of the cab and walked to his engine's face. "There, there", he said, drying Thomas's tears with a cloth. "Don't believe anything he said about you being scrapyard worthy and the like. You're a Really Useful Engine still. I know how much it hurt your feelings."
While Thomas was being comforted by his driver, his "sister" was moving around to press buffers with her "brother". When she was able to do that, she did so with a sympathetic smile on her face and said, "Thomas, don't listen to that big bully. Like I heard your driver say, what he said about you being worthless and all isn't a bit true."
Thomas's eyes welled up again.
"It's okay, little Thomas", his driver said as he continued to wipe the tears away. "Just let it all out."
After a while, Thomas finished his crying and smiled at his comforters. "Thank you", he said, black eyes twinkling. "For comforting me as I cried. I've learned there's no better way to get the emotion out than to cry with comfort."
Erica said, "I'm someone you can rely on. When I find you sad, I always do what I can to help you. I remember the first time I ever cried. Another engine was mean to me and I felt so bad. I didn't know why my eyes were wet and I didn't like the sensation. I asked my engineer*, who said "You're crying" and then took a handkerchief out to wipe all my tears. They try to say "Sticks and stones may break your bones, but words will never hurt". We have frames, not bones and I believe words hurt more than sticks and stones, because the former hurt my iron heart so many times back home, but the latter only hurt the body."
And they went on with their day.
Erica was steaming mad as she went back to Knapford Yards. I was coming back here from moving some cars, she thought as she got doing her next job. And I find him letting that visiting diesel go by, but that engine makes him sob his eyes out. I hate bullies because they remind me of when I met my first engineer at the factory. Right before I met him was the first time some engine bullied me. He didn't mind my tears, though, seemingly, just took his hanky, rubbed my face to wipe the tears away and dried my eyes as he gave me comforting words, too. Because I've known bullies, I get angry when others are bullied. I also feel bad for my friends, like Thomas just before, when someone's mean to them.
Thomas had a drink and was otherwise readied for his next train. I know my "sister" has a big heart, he thought. My siblings will make me sad, perhaps even to the point of crying and sobbing, as long as I live. It really hurts when someone's mean to me, but I can just cry without holding back with the ones I love there to comfort me or at least one of them. I couldn't even speak from that diesel's meanness, due to my sobs and sniffles. I feel better now, from letting myself go. He was coupled to his train and set off to Knapford.
Erica heard her "brother" whistle as he passed Knapford Yards and gave her happy whistle in reply. Thomas heard his "sister" and smiled, imagining her cheeky smile. Erica remembered his sad whistle sound when he sobbed bitterly over that mean engine earlier and was glad for his much happier whistle now. After finishing all her jobs that day, Erica was told she was a Really Useful Engine, which triggered happy whistling from her.
After Thomas finished his jobs, he and his "little sister" got up to some mischief and then talked about the benefits of having a crew.
Thomas said, "Having a driver and fireman means you've got help. They help us fulfill our functions and be Really Useful Engines. They give advice when you need it and comfort when you're unhappy. I quite like comfort because I like to feel better. Just because I'm not afraid to cry and do so without holding back when with any of those I love doesn't mean I don't need to be comforted. Like when I cried for the first time, someone was mean to me on the Mainland and my first driver explained about crying and comforted me. I'm quite a happy engine, but I've shed a great many tears in my life. When I got back here from the Steelworks, when my siblings were scrapped and when you were in a coma were the times I cried the most. Especially my siblings, because I still sob when reminded of them. I wailed and cried my heart out for days when it happened.". He was sad talking about his siblings, so his driver caressed the side of his cab. The tank engine said, "Just a show of the benefits of having a crew when you're sad. My driver at the time's usually been the one to comfort, in terms of humans, but my fireman at the time comforted me after my siblings died some of the time and so did my friend Janie.".
Erica replied, "I'm not afraid of emotions, but it feels so good to have someone wipe the tears from my eyes. I'm a fairly happy little engine myself, but like you, I've been a waterfall because I feel deeply, too. Emotions happen in life. I can't control my emotions, so I can't hold back tears as a rule. But I can have my crew comfort me when they're around or any friends who are there. Like my driver comforting me or my fireman drying my eyes some when my oldest brother died. Driver even wipes my eyes when I'm in tears from being naughty. And I agree they help us be Really Useful Engines, which I feel so good to be called one, like I was today."
They finished their chat and went to their sheds for the night.
A/N Erica, as a US-built engine, may use her homeland's words when describing her past.