Chapter Fifteen: Hear The Beauty

As days went by, James made slow progress with his therapy. Although he still rushed at times to get to the place he needed to be, he was doing much better than he was before. He learnt different stuff such as following voices, shunting trucks or coaches gently, and hearing the surroundings.

Dr. Clarity was very proud of James as she knew that James still had a long way to go, but he was slowly getting there. On day seven, James was at Knapford Yards, waiting for his therapy to commence. Edward and Nia were there to help James this time. Once Dr. Clarity arrived in her shiny white car, she hopped and gave an enthusiastic smile, "Good morning, you all."

"Good morning, Clarity!", they all chimed.

"Now, today, we are going to test your shunting trucks ability and following voices.", Dr. Clarity explained

With that, she instructed Edward to stand to James' left side while Nia was positioned at the end of the buffer. Once everything was arranged and settled, Dr. Clarity ordered, "Alright, James. The trucks are in front of you, and I want you to give them to Edward so he can make a delivery."

Now, this was a simulation test as the trucks were empty, but James understood it was a test. There, he slowly approached the four trucks as he wanted to shunt them as gently as possible. On day three, he accidentally shunted it too hard and caused the trucks to be tipped to the sides.

He didn't want to repeat that mistake as he slowly approached the trucks until he heard a clunk noise. Once he knew he touched the trucks, he slowly puffed his position as Ryder, his driver, encouraged him while patting his cab, "Steady, boy. Steady."

James took a deep breath as he waited to hear Edward's voice, "I'm here for the trucks, James!", Edward called out.

When James heard his voice, he slowly made his way to the left side as he gently shunted the trucks in front of him, "I got this. I got this.", James tried to think as positively as he could.

To his luck, he heard a clunking noise right in front of him as Dr. Clarity clapped her hands, "Well done, James! Well done!"

James felt very proud, "I did it! I did it!"

"Yes, you did, James!", Carter, James' fireman, replied as he patted his cab like he was petting a dog.

"Alright, let's try to test your hearing ability again.", Dr. Clarity smiled as she looked at the orange tank engine.

Nia understood her queue as she spoke, "James! Over here!"

James heard her voice and, once again, tried to go as slowly as he could. This one was more challenging than shunting trucks, he admitted to himself, but he knew he must not give up. With that, he waited for Nia to call again, and when she did, he went right, "You can do it!", Dr. Clarity encouraged James.

Once James went to his right, he felt a buffer and asked nervously, "Is that you, Nia?"

"Yes, it is!", Nia whistled happily as James sighed in relief.

With that, they all praised James as James began to feel proud of himself. He felt like today was his best day as he didn't make any mistakes until six days ago. There, he began to cry in joy, "I didn't make a mistake!"

James rarely cried in joy, but for this event, it was worth crying in happiness for as he succeeded. Once everyone praised him, Dr. Clarity spoke kindly to James as she approached the red engine, "I think you might be ready to be useful again by shunting trucks or coaches for now."

This made James both happy and upset, "Will I get to pull coaches yet?"

Dr. Clarity shook her head with a smile, "You're not quite ready for that part, but at least you can help and be really useful."

"So, I got more therapy lessons?", James asked curiously.

"Yes, and that's when I'll teach you how to pull coaches or trucks without seeing.", Dr. Clarity explained.

With that, she concluded today's session as she bid James and the other engines goodbye as she went on her way to tell the results to The Fat Controller. Once she was gone, James couldn't help but wonder, "I wonder when I can pull coaches again."

"Be patient, James.", Edward reminded him, "You'll get to it when you're ready. Things do take time."

"Who knows, you might gain your eyesight tomorrow.", Nia grinned as James chuckled.

After James chuckled, he then began to sigh, "Or… I might never gain my eyesight."

There, James began to lament as Edward and Nia looked at each other. They knew that James wasn't perfectly okay about being temporarily blind, yet they knew that he was doing better than on day one. As James sighed to himself sadly, Edward and Nia then remembered something, "James, aren't you supposed to have a day with Cara?", Nia asked.

James gasped and remembered, "You're right! I remember! Though… I need help.", he spoke sheepishly.

"Don't worry, I can help.", Nia assured her friend as he coupled behind James, "Are you ready?"

"Ready as I'll ever be." James replied with a small smile as Nia and James went on their way to Cara's cottage.

Once James and Nia were out of sight, Edward thought to himself, "Cara really helps James the way he thinks and understands better. Perhaps she can help with his therapy if she's available."

With that, Edward's idea sparked as he wasted no time visiting The Fat Controller and Dr. Clarity before she left, and he needed to get back to Brendam Docks, "I got to tell them my idea."

At Cara's cottage, Cara was greeted by two engines; she greeted them right away. She asked how James' day was, and he explained his day had gone well. She also asked how Nia's day was, and she said she felt great. With that, Rayne came by and greeted the two engines. She found out that James was blind and needed some help.

She was equally as concerned about James as Cara as she hoped he would get better. There, she told James to take care and to look after her daughter. James understood as Rayne gave her daughter a curfew at three in the afternoon. With that, Nia pushed James gently as Cara hopped into James' cab and went on their way to Henry's Forest.

Back at Knapford Station, Edward waited patiently for The Fat Controller and Dr. Clarity to come out. Once they did, they were surprised to see him, "Good morning, Edward. What are you doing here? Aren't you supposed to be at Brendam Docks?", The Fat Controller asked.

"Forgive me, Sir, but I thought of an idea for you, Clarity.", Edward explained.

"Oh, please tell.", Dr. Clarity smiled at the polite blue tender engine.

There, Edward began to explain a girl named Cara, who was born blind and is James' friend. He then explained that since James has a better connection to the blind girl, perhaps she can help him with his therapy and, hopefully, help James feel more confident and safe around the stressful environment.

Both Dr. Clarity and The Fat Controller thought about the idea before agreeing that it was a good idea. Edward was glad to help as he hoped that with Cara in the therapy, James would do better than before and maybe, hopefully, understand what it's like to be truly blind.

Meanwhile, at Henry's Forest, Nia left James and Cara to be as she had to help Thomas at Ffarquhar Station. She promised James to be back in no time so Cara could come home safely and on time. As the two were alone, James stared into space as Cara wondered why James was quiet all of a sudden?

"James?", Cara asked, "Why are you quiet all of a sudden?"

It turns out that James was hearing something, "I can hear the birds singing.", he replied.

"I can hear it as well. It's beautiful, huh?", Cara commented with a big smile.

"Yeah, beautiful.", James as he sighed.

As James was allowed to listen to the birds, Cara then had an idea. James can learn about beauty by listening to things, "Hey, James. You don't need your eyes to see. You can use your ears."

This got James confused, "Really? How so?"

There, Cara began to instruct James, "Now, close your eyes."

James raised his eyebrow before he closed his eyes and let out a sigh, "Now, focus on your breathing. Is it quick or slow?", Cara asked.

As Cara smiled, James focused on his slow and deep breaths as he replied, "It's slow."

"Great. Now, start to hear your surroundings carefully.", Cara instructed James like she was a meditation teacher.

There, James began to hear as carefully as he could. He first listened to the birds singing, "I can still hear the birds singing."

"Anything else?", Cara asked.

With that, James began to think while focusing on his breath. What else could he hear? Before he could say anything, he listened to the leaves being blown by a gentle breeze, "I can hear… the trees being blown by the wind. It sounds so calm and soothing."

Cara grinned, "Good. Now, I want you to focus on the breeze. Where's the breeze going, and can you feel it?"

James began to focus on the breeze as he felt a gentle wind blow on his face as he sighed, "It's going left, and it hit my face gently. It's cold but nice."

"Nice. Now, let's find something else to hear. What else can you hear?", Cara asked curiously.

There, James' mind began to wonder, "Why is this so pretty? Having to hear things but not see them? It's… wonderful."

With James' mind wandering, Cara then reminded James, "It's okay if your mind wanders. Just try to focus on the breath before continuing to hear things."

James obeyed as he focused on his slow and deep breaths before he began to hear something else, "I hear rustling from the tree branches and… some squeaking noises."

"Do you know what that noise might be?", Cara questioned.

"Sounded like… wait… it sounded like squirrels playing around.", James grinned.

"Excellent, and I bet the squirrels are playing tag. Do you agree?", Cara giggled.

James chuckled, "I bet so. I bet they are chasing each other over an acorn!"

The two laughed hard before Cara smiled, "See, you don't need your eyes to see. You can hear everything, and noises do have their beauty."

James now realised what she was trying to show him, and he understood, "I-I get it. The noises make their music. Like your guitar."

Cara couldn't help but giggle, "It does, and good thing I brought my guitar. Care to hear a beautiful song?"

"Yes, please. I love hearing the guitar being strummed and you singing.", James replied.

Cara giggled again before she began to strum her guitar and sang a song.

"You've got a friend in me.

You've got a friend in me.

When the road looks rough ahead.

And you're miles and miles.

From your nice warm bed.

You just remember what your old pal said.

Boy, you've got a friend in me.

Yeah, you've got a friend in me.

You've got a friend in me.

You've got a friend in me.

You got troubles, I've got 'em too.

There isn't anything I wouldn't do for you.

We stick together and see it through.

'Cause you've got a friend in me.

You've got a friend in me."

There, James sighed contently as he closed his eyes again. This time, he was not only focusing on Cara's singing and the strumming of the guitar; he was focusing on the noises that surrounded him. As he listened, he appreciated the music and the noises more, "Why is it so beautiful? Just hearing the noises and the music makes me smile? So, that's how Cara sees beauty and gets through life? Such an amazing friend she is."