Chapter Eight: Making New Friends

Three weeks had flown quickly like a breeze on the Island of Sodor, and James started to get to know Cara better, like how she was getting to know him better. Their friendship was thriving well as they enjoyed each other's company, learnt from each other, and even had some good laughs.

James appreciated the young girl's kindness and talents, and even though he was fully aware she was blind, he was still learning that she was more than capable. James was always amazed whenever Cara showed him something that he thought blind people couldn't do, such as she presented a delicious lemon cake she baked with the help of her mother or she showed him how to play the flute.

Cara, on the other hand, started to open up more with her confidence, even though she wasn't as confident or bold as James. She loved how James was willing to learn and listen as she knew he must be very curious about her condition. She knew too well that James was trying to understand, and just knowing he didn't judge her, ridiculed her, or neglect her made her feel like she was accepted for who she was.

When the two were together, there was no bullying, no judgments, no hate, no lies, and no pushing. It was just James and Cara having good times together as any best friends would, and they both felt accepted and welcomed. This was the kind of friendship that Cara always wanted, and she never expected to get it from an engine, but she much preferred a real friend to be alone and sad.

During their talking time, James would share his stories about his friend, and his friends noticed that he was more focused on the friendship than on himself. It surprised many, but Edward and Thomas took a big note of it and thought this was wonderful; and they all know too well that James was capable of empathy and he truly cares about others deeply. James does show a great demonstration of loyalty, and he wouldn't tolerate anyone that picked on his friends.

The sun was dying slowly on Gordon's Hill as the sea waves became much more gentle at Brendam Docks. James just came back from Cara's house as he made it to the turntable and waited for it to move so that he could reverse back to his berth at Tidmouth Sheds. Once the turntable was set for him, James reversed back as he greeted everyone, "Good evening, everyone!"

"Hello, James!", some responded while giving him a welcoming smile.

"How was your day?", Thomas asked his splendid red engine with a beaming smile.

"Splendid!", James exclaimed, "You wouldn't believe what I just learned!"

This intrigued the engines, "Oh, do share.", said Nia with such curiosity.

"Well, Cara showed me a lemon cake, and she mainly did it on her own!", James replied, "Isn't it great?"

Edward noted that James gets excited over small things, which he finds surprising, yet he appreciates it as James usually prefers big news. Still, since the friendship with Cara, James slowly took notice of small things and enjoyed it, "That's amazing to hear.", Edward responded with a warm smile.

James told his day about Cara, from her presenting him with a lemon cake to talking about how she learned a new song. Just hearing his stories made the engines curious, especially Rebecca. They kept hearing stories about Cara, but they never met her besides Thomas. After James finished his story, Rebecca quickly asked, "James? Will we ever meet your friend?"

James was surprised about that question, "Oh? Well, I'm not sure as she's slowly warming up. She's quite shy.", he explained.

"I'm sure she would be glad to make new friends.", Emily pointed out, "They always say. Having more friends means being more merrier."

Emily was right, but James wondered if Cara would be okay with that as he didn't want to overwhelm her, "Well, I'll ask her about it, and next week, if she says yes, you can all meet her."

"Really?", Percy asked with sick excitement.

James blinked his eyes as a nod, "Yes."

The engines started to talk about Cara as James thought to himself, "Will she be okay with that? I don't want her to feel overwhelmed, and I hope no one picks on her."

As James thought to himself, Gordon snapped his thinking bubble as he yawned, "I think we should get our eyes shut for rest. I have to pull the express tomorrow."

"You with the express.", Thomas grinned as he chuckled.

"I think he's right. We can chat more tomorrow when it's not busy.", Edward explained as he yawned himself, "Goodnight, everyone."

"Goodnight!", all but James chimed as one by one, they allowed their weary eyes to close shut.

James looked at the sleeping engines as he sighed to himself, "I hope Cara would be okay with this."

Sunday came, and James decided to make a plan. He would ask Cara if she would like to meet the engines and ask her mother's permission to see his friends in the afternoon. Sure enough, he did his plan, and to his surprise, Cara was more than eager to meet the engines as she never thought she might make more friends here. What's more, Rayne, Cara's mother, accepted the idea and she thought it would be great. With that, James told the engines the exciting news, and they couldn't wait to meet her.

A week had gone by, and Cara woke up from her sleep and got ready for the day. She waited by the window with Stella by her side to see when James would show up. Not long after, Stella alerted Cara with an exciting bark as James arrived right in front of the cottage. Cara squealed as she rushed to James. Once she was outside, she greeted him, "Good morning, James!"

"Morning, Cara!", James replied as he tooted his whistle, "Are you ready for a new adventure?"

Cara giggled as she nodded her head vigorously. Her mother came outside as she bid her daughter farewell and a safe journey. Cara hugged her and bid her a farewell as well. Once that was done, Cara hopped inside the cab as James grinned. He tooted his whistle as he figured out some places to go before presenting her to his friends in the afternoon.

The Fat Controller allowed him to have a day off as James proved him to be really useful, and he didn't complain about the jobs he received, which impressed his boss. With that, James went on his way to his first destination in mind, "Where are we going first?", Cara asked curiously as she popped her head out.

"You'll see.", James beamed as he puffed his pistons wildly.

With James going full speed ahead, Cara screamed at first in fear until she began to laugh and giggle, "Faster! Faster!", she egged him.

"Now, James! We aren't going too fast.", Carter the Fireman explained to his engine.

James frowned for a moment until he understood. He didn't want to put a child in danger, so he went as fast yet steadily as possible so Cara could both have the time of her life and be safe. It worked well as Cara squealed in joy as James chuckled. Seeing Cara happy made him happy as he remembered taking Cara down Gordon's Hill with such speed, and she was at first afraid until she had so much fun.

The waves crashed at the edge of the rocks, and seagulls flew around and screeched loudly at Brendam Docks. Today it wasn't as busy as there were only a few loads of trucks to be delivered, and only Salty, Porter, Diesel, Paxton, and the cranes were there. As James puffed to the docks, he whistled proudly, "Here's James!"

"Arrr! James? What are you doing here, matey?", Salty asked with a raised eyebrow in confusion.

"Yeah! Bet you're showing off again!", Diesel snorted.

James frowned at Diesel as he knew this diesel causes nothing but trouble, but he maintained his temper as he sheepishly explained, "W-well. I brought a friend."

"A friend?", Porter questioned, "Really?"

"Yes.", James replied as he looked back and whispered, "It's okay. You can come out."

Cara shyly smiled as she felt nervous. She popped her tiny head out as she waved shyly, "H-hello.", she stuttered.

"A girl?", Cranky gasped in surprise.

"Hahahaha! James got a small friend!", Diesel teased as he laughed nastily.

James glared at Diesel until Paxton stepped in, "Diesel. Stop teasing. I don't think she would like that.", he frowned.

This made James' narrow eyes loosen as Cara slowly smiled warmly. She appreciated Paxton's words. There, she gained some confidence and hopped off James' cab as she introduced herself shyly, "H-hello. My name is C-Cara."

When she fully presented herself, all the engines noticed her milky blue eyes, "What's wrong with your eyes?", Diesel asked with a raised eyebrow.

"I think she's blind.", Porter replied.

Diesel gulped as he felt ashamed of his behaviour for teasing James with a friend who's blind, "Oh… I'm sorry to hear that.", he apologised heartily with a frown of shame.

Cara only smiled, "N-no. Don't be. I'm blind and happy."

James smiled at Cara warmly as Cara began to know the engines and the cranes. When Cara got to know them, she enjoyed their positive vibe as she felt accepted despite receiving some questions about her condition. James tried to tell the engines and the cranes not to pity Cara as she's more than capable.

Cara enjoyed the pirate nature in Salty as he would tell her a short story about "The Seven Seas", she loved Porter's polite manners, and she appreciated Paxton's kindness and his jolly nature. She kindly forgave Diesel's rude behaviour. She loved the cranes' company, especially Cranky, as he was a big softy secretly.

After a while of chatting, Salty explained, "Arrr! As much as we would like to chat, we got work to do! It's nice to meet you, Cara matey!"

Cara understood, and she enjoyed Salty's warm vibe as he spoke like a pirate, "I understand! It's nice meeting you all! Goodbye!", she waved as she hopped into James' cab.

"Goodbye, Cara.", Salty, Porter, Paxton, Diesel, Cranky, Carly, and Big Mickey.

With that, James tooted his whistle and went on his way to his next destination, "They are so nice!", Cara commented.

"They are, except Diesel mostly, but they are very friendly.", James explained as he was glad to make Cara happy.

Hours went by, and Cara met most of the engines throughout the island. She met the narrow gauge engines at The Blue Mountain, she met some diesels like Philip and BoCo, and she met other steam engines like Toby, The Scottish Twins, Duck, Oliver, and Rosie. Every engine she met they were nothing but kind and understanding to her, despite receiving many pities, but with her and James' explanation, they understood her better than the teachers and students at school.

However, there was one more place she was ready to visit. Tidmouth Sheds. That's where all the eight engines were waiting for her. At Tidmouth Sheds, Percy huffed and puffed with his cheeks as red as James' paintwork as he got to the turntable, "Did I miss seeing Cara?", he asked anxiously.

"No, you haven't.", Henry replied.

"She will come shortly.", Thomas assured Percy.

Before anyone could talk, they heard a familiar whistle as many grinned widely in such excitement, "Here's James!", James announced, "And I brought my friend here!"

There, James got himself into the turntable as he made a huge smile. James was clearly having a good day, but the question was, would Cara come out to see them, or would she hide, as James did mention that she was painfully shy at times?

All the engines waited patiently until they all spotted the brown hair girl popping her head out shyly as she waved with her hands sheepishly, "H-hello. I'm Cara."

"Hello, Cara.", Edward greeted her first, "It's very nice to meet you. My name is Edward."

Cara looked at where the voice was coming from as she gave the blue tender engine a warm smile, "Nice to meet you.", she politely spoke.

"It's very nice to meet you too.", Edward replied warmly.

"We heard so much about you!", Rebecca exclaimed, "James thinks you're amazing!"

Cara blushed in a delicate shade of pink from receiving such a nice compliment, "T-thank you, Miss."

"Please, call me Rebecca!", Rebecca smiled cheerfully.

Cara smiled at the yellow tender engine as one by one, and the engines introduced themselves with a welcoming and warm vibe. This made Cara feel safe right away as she happily hopped off the cab and approached the engines. The engines loved her kindness and her polite attitude. Although James reminded them that she doesn't need pity, some of the curious engines, like Percy, asked her some questions about her condition.

This didn't upset Cara as she knew Percy meant well, as she explained. During the afternoon, Cara heard all sorts of stories from each of the engines. Some of them were hilarious, while others were something to be proud of. Cara loved James' friends as she thought they were very friendly and caring. She noticed how they talked to each other was almost like a way a family would talk.

During their talk, Gordon huffed, "Hmph! I'm the best as I pull the express, and I never make mistakes!"

The engines looked at each other as a few rolled their eyes or a few tried not to laugh. However, Cara innocently pointed out Gordon's flaw of being boastful, "Gordon, just because you pull the express, doesn't mean it makes you the best. Everyone is amazing in their own ways."

Gordon was amazed by Cara's wisdom as Cara gave him a hug on the cheek when she sat on Gordon's running plate. Gordon blushed as a few engines as Thomas chuckled, but the big blue engine ignored the laugh and gave Cara a gentle smile, "I suppose you're right, Cara."

Cara enjoyed Thomas' cheeky personality, she admired Edward's wisdom, she liked Henry's kindness, she helped Gordon's flaws, she enjoyed Percy's company, she loved Emily's personality, she appreciated Nia's resourcefulness, and she adored Rebecca's optimism.

During this time, James asked Cara if she could play the engines a song. Cara was on Thomas' running plate, and she nodded in agreement. There, she presented her grandmother's acoustic guitar as she began strumming the guitar gently, creating beautiful music. She strummed and sang and hummed as the engines were amazed by her talents. For someone who's blind could play the instrument with ease.

By the time the sun was setting, it was time for Cara to go as she bid farewell to her new friends. The engines bid her farewell back as Cara hopped inside James' cab and went on their way back to Cara's home. As they left, Edward thought to himself with a gentle smile, "You have learnt a lot, James. You have."

As James went on their way, Thomas commented, "I think we can all agree as Cara is amazing."

"I agree, Little Thomas.", Gordon hummed.

"Cara is Cara!", Rebecca smiled as the engines smiled at the long-gone James and Cara.

"Now that's true.", Percy spoke, "I'm glad James made a friend with Cara."