Chapter Nine: Broken Heirloom

As Spring passed by, Summer rolled around, which meant it was busier for the engines and more fun for the children. Sometimes James would collect Cara and the students to and from school, while other days, it was Thomas as Thomas was already fixed and ready to go. James wanted to spend time with Cara as much as possible, but due to holidaymakers, it was too difficult to meet the promises.

Cara understood that James still has to run a railway, but knowing he's in a hectic situation means being lonely as she enjoyed James' company, and they had so much fun together. Cara missed James' whistle and proud announcement every weekend as it now only happens when things aren't so crazy with holidaymakers. She missed Stella barking happily as she darted out and licked James' face.

She remembered very well that after five weeks of hanging out, Cara decided to introduce her German Shepherd cross Labrador Shepherd to James. James was hesitant at first since he usually has bad experiences with dogs. Still, the moment Stella expresses trust and affection to the red engine, James' boiler warms up as he grows fond of the friendly yet very protective canine.

Stella was a protective yet loyal dog, especially to Cara, as the dog was fully aware of her condition and would do anything to protect her and make her happy. James had witnessed Stella's protective nature when one time, Cara was playing ball with Stella while James watched in the forest when suddenly some rustling from the bushes was heard, and Stella growled ferociously. Thankfully it was just some rabbits as she barked at them.

Cara knew Stella missed James as well, and her mother knew Cara was upset. Luckily, Cara remembered she made some new friends, so whenever James was too busy, she would hang out with any available engines like Thomas, Percy, or Emily. She enjoyed the engines' company, and they got along great. Even Diesel grew fond of the small child. However, Cara's bond with James was the strongest as they were best friends.

The sun was rising at Knapford Station as Cara, and her mother rushed to the platform, "Remember, sweetheart, be a good girl.", Rayne spoke to her daughter.

"I will.", Cara smiled as Rayne kissed her daughter's forehead.

"I'll see you after school! Take care!", Rayne waved at her daughter as she left to get ready for work.

Cara waved back before she waited for one of the engines to arrive. It was her final day of school until Summer Holiday had arrived. She was so eager about it as she studied hard and well, and she couldn't wait to spend time with James whenever he was available. This also meant that within a month, her birthday would be here.

As Cara waited patiently, she made sure her acoustic guitar was secretly packed as she smiled, "Good.", she spoke to herself.

Ever since she started her friendship with James, she rarely felt sad or alone, and she began to become more eager about school as she began to try and focus on her studies rather than how people thought of her. Although she was still bullied, it wasn't as frequent, and she felt like she could get a break. Unfortunately, despite gaining a friend, she lost another. Hannah. Hannah was backstabbing her with other girls by calling her "weird" or "stupid".

It did upset the poor girl, but luckily, her mother and her best friend comforted her and explained that true friends would never talk behind your back and will always be truthful and compassionate. Those wise words were true, and she knew that James was honest and caring, despite James still getting cocky at times.

Just then, she heard a familiar whistle, "Here's Thomas!", the blue tank engine smirked.

"Thomas!", Cara exclaimed as she navigated her way with her white cane to the tank engine.

The cheeky blue engine chuckled heartily as he smiled, "How are you, Cara?"

"So excited!", she replied, "It's my last day of school, and next month will be my birthday!"

"Ooo! That sounds like lots of fun!", Thomas chirped before he explained, "I bet James can't wait to hear that when he picks you up from school!"

When Thomas mentioned James was coming to pick her up, Cara squealed in joy, "Oh yes! I bet he will!"

Just then, all the students dashed to Annie and Clarabel as they hopped into one of the coaches with the guard blowing his whistle, "Well, it's time to go, Cara! Are you ready?"

Cara nodded her head vigorously as she made her way to the coach as the porter shut the door. There, Thomas tooted his whistle cheerfully as he puffed his pistons to Dryaw School. As this occurred, Cara sat down on the chair and smiled, "I can't wait for school to be finished, and I can't wait to see James again!"

Hours flew by quickly, and it was lunchtime. Cara had finished her subject at the Library with her librarian and teacher, Mr. Tale. She was so excited as she had one more subject until it was officially over until the holiday was finished. So, she happily walked to the bench outside near the playground as she ate her chicken sandwich and drank her freshwater. Once she finished her lunch, she decided the best way to spend time at lunch was to play her grandmother's acoustic guitar, which was an heirloom to her mother and then to her.

She always took great care of it, and she loved her guitar so much. As she unzipped her acoustic guitar case and retrieved it, she heard unsettling footsteps approaching her as her gut feeling was kicking in. "Oh no.", she spoke to herself as she felt sick to the stomach, for her sense of happiness had suddenly vanished.

"Wow! I like your guitar!", exclaimed a familiar nasty voice.

Cara felt nervous, "R-really?", she stuttered.

"Hah! Only when it's in the museum!", laughed another boy.

Cara felt hurt as she wanted them to leave, "Trent, Darren. Why are you doing this? I thought you stopped?"

"Because it's fun!", Trent smirked.

Cara frowned as she didn't like where this was going. Usually, she would have no power to stop them, and even if she begged for mercy, she would continue to get harassed. However, as the boys began to chant "Zero Eyes", she then remembered something.

FLASHBACK BEGINS

Cara was chilling in Henry's Forest with James as she gently strummed the guitar and looked miserable. James took immediate notice, "Cara? What's wrong?"

"N-nothing.", Cara paused for a moment before she sighed, "I've been bullied… again."

James frowned as he felt sorry for Cara, and he wished he could puff in with full of steam to scare the bullies off, yet he remembered that it would not be the wisest thing to do, "Did they?", he asked in concern.

"Mhm.", Cara nodded as a single tear escaped her eye and landed on the acoustic guitar.

James didn't like seeing Cara upset as he thought hard to try and cheer her up, "I wish I were brave enough to tell them off.", she sighed.

The red engine understood until he had a bright idea to help his friend, "Cara. You know. You have the power to stand up for yourself."

Cara sniffed away her tears as she asked while cuddling her knees, "How?"

"By telling them to stop with such confidence and tell them what they are doing is wrong.", James replied.

"Really? Would that work?", Cara asked curiously as she wiped her last year away.

"James blinked as a nod, "Yes, and remember. You're braver than you think."

FLASHBACK ENDS

"You're braver than you think.", James' voice echoed in Cara's mind as she gasped.

As Trent and Darren were still chanting, Cara frowned as she got up and spoke with such boldness, "Quit bullying!"

Trent and Darren's laughter immediately silenced as they looked at Cara with wide eyes and mouths dropped in shock. However, Trent's shocked face turned into a glare as he slowly walked toward her, "What did you say, Zero Eyes?"

"Leave me alone!", Cara responded as she mustered up her courage, "What you're doing is wrong!"

This infuriated the bully, "How dare you!", he growled, "Trying to stand up for yourself like that! You're nothing but a worthless piece of trash! You can't do anything, let alone play the guitar!"

Cara felt almost defeated before she narrowed her eyes and glared back, "I-I'm not worthless! In fact, I'm just as capable as you are, and I can play the guitar!"

Trent fumed in anger before he smirked as he had a bad idea, "You're right. I'm so sorry.", he acted remorsefully.

Cara listened to his tone of voice and could tell it wasn't sincere, "Are you?", she questioned the bully.

"Of course…", Trent replied until he snatched her grandmother's acoustic guitar, "Zero Eyes!"

With that, he lifted the guitar into the air as Cara gasped, "Trent! Please don't!"

"Too late!", Trent smirked as he smote the guitar, and it broke in half.

Cara gasped again in horror as she cried and begged, "Trent! Stop!"

Trent didn't listen as he proceeded to destroy the heirloom before he spat on it, "That will teach you to stand up against me.", Trent growled before he walked away with satisfaction, "Come on, Darren."

As Darren was about to follow Trent, he looked at Cara as she collapsed to the ground and started to sob hard. Darren couldn't help but feel sorry for her as even though he was a bully, he thought what Trent did was too far. He asked himself if he should comfort and apologised to Cara or walk away, "Come on, Darren!", Trent called again as Darren decided to choose a cowardly path and walked away.

Once the bullies left the scene, Cara's day was ruined as she felt with her hands to collect the broken and the remaining pieces of the guitar as she gripped it tightly and sobbed, "Why? Why?"

"Here's James!", James announced proudly as all the students rushed to him.

Once the students finished admiring him, James waited for Cara to appear, but to his shock, he couldn't spot her, "Where is she?", he asked himself as Thomas did tell him that she was there.

What James didn't know was that Cara was blending in the crowd as she carried her now light acoustic guitar case miserably. She felt too depressed to talk to James, and she didn't want him to see her like this. Once Cara got into the coach, she went to the end of the seat at the back of the coach alone as she hugged her knees and sobbed.

James felt hurt, "Is she sick or something?", James asked himself before he whispered to Ryder and Carter, "Have you seen her? I'm worried about Cara."

"I'm afraid not.", Ryder shook his head sadly.

"Me neither." Carter added, "But I'm sure you'll get to see her at Knapford. I promise."

"I sure hope so. This is not like Cara at all.", James sighed sadly.

"Don't worry, boy. She will be alright.", Ryder tried to assure the red engine by patting him gently, "Come on! Let's go!"

James smiled for a moment before he frowned in concern. There, he tooted his whistle and went on his way to Knapford Station, "I sure hope Cara is okay. And if she's not, I need to know what's wrong so I can help her."

At Knapford Station, all the students screamed in joy as they rushed to their friends or their parents as school was officially over for them. As James waited for a sign of Cara, he spotted Cara being the last one to exit from the coach slowly and miserably. James gasped in joy before noticing her sad expression, "Hey, Cara!"

Cara jolted up before she slowly turned her head to where the voice was coming from with a surprised yet upset look. James could tell something was wrong, "Cara? What happened?"

There, Cara approached James with a big frown before she collapsed in front of him, crying hard. James gasped as he tried to console, "Aww. Shh. There, there. It's alright. I'm here to help. Please tell me what's happened."

Cara sniffed as she opened the acoustic guitar to present the aftermath to James. James gasped in horror, "You're guitar! What happened?"

James waited as Cara sniffed, "Trent did it."

"What?", James gasped again in horror.

"I stood up for myself, but he got mad at me and destroyed my grandmother's guitar! It was an heirloom!", Cara cried as she sobbed.

As she sobbed, Ryder and Carter rushed to comfort her, but Cara asked if she could go on James. They understood her request as Ryder led the way to the running plate. Cara sat next to James' face and sobbed, "I regret standing up for myself… you told me it was the right thing to do."

James knew it wasn't his fault as he saw many stop bullying after someone stands up for themselves, but hearing how Trent went too far made his boiler rumble in anger. He thought he taught Trent a good lesson, but realising how bad he was made him angry. However, he tried not to focus too much on the bully as he needed to comfort and support Cara.

"Cara. You did the right thing, but it's just... it's just…", James paused before he sighed, "He's probably the challenging bully to face."

Cara sniffed as she remembered it felt good to stand up for herself as he took a deep breath, "James. You know how I'm braver than I think?", she asked.

James hummed, "Well, why did I feel scared yet brave at the same time?", she finished her question.

"Well…", James thought before responding with wise words, "Percy once told me that being brave is to face something scary, and you keep going rather than having no fear."

This made Cara surprised as she wiped her tears before smiling, "I guess Percy is right. I felt those two emotions at the same time."

With that, Cara hugged James as she let out her remaining tears. James soothed her. He was glad he could comfort her. Usually he wasn't good at comforting, but knowing Cara stood up for herself shows that she was more than capable of not just her condition, but of being brave and strong. As Cara sobbed, James sighed as he thought to himself, "I swear, if I saw Trent again, I'll make sure his nightmare is real! What he did was wrong! But… Cara… she's gone through enough… I hope I can help her."

Just then, Cara's mother called out, "Cara! Sweetheart! Where are you?"

Cara gasped as she said, "I-I have to go, but thank you for helping me."

With that, she hugged James before she collected her case and rushed to her mother. As James watched Cara leave with her mother, an idea flew into his funnel, "Fizzling firebox! Thomas mentioned her birthday is coming soon! I got an idea!"