Seasons Of Giving!

Part III: All Alone On Christmas

Moral: no one should be alone on Christmas/never be too afraid to ask

Beresford is a rolling gantry crane who works at the Mainland Canal. He works hard day every day and night, helping to unload cargo from fishing boats that come in and out of the canal. However, Beresford is also very lonely from having no one to talk to, because engines will rush in and out with their own jobs to do and have no time for a chat.

Beresford watched as Gator made his way from the direction of the Mainland Junction, and Sidney rolled through the other way in that direction with a train bound for Sodor. He sighed and turned around, waiting for the next ship to arrive.

One winter morning, Beresford was looking sadly out to sea, as the men waved out to the cargo boat leaving the canal.

Beresford sighed.

"I wonder if I'll ever find a friend I can talk to," he wondered to himself.

Just then, he heard a loud honk and looked around to see Frankie roll by with a long train of party decorations.

"Oh, hello there!" he called out. "What's your name?"

But unfortunately, Frankie didn't take any notice of Beresford as she made it on her way.

"Maybe I should be a little more insistent next time," he thought to himself, then sighed sadly as he turned back around and waited for the next ship to arrive.

Frankie arrived back at the SteelWorks with her long train of decorations from Sodor.

"Yoo-hoo!" she called out. "I'm back!"

She sang out the last word loud and long as the three experimental engines all stopped what they were doing and quickly made their way over to her.

"Oh, boyo!" Lexi called out. "Frankie's back!"

They all stopped right before her, and marveled at what was inside her trucks.

"Wow!" Theo gasped. "What's inside those trucks?"

"And that big pointy thing up on that flatbed?" Lexi wondered.

Merlin laughed.

"Why, a tree, of course."

"What are these for?!" Theo called out excitedly.

"It's a gift from the Fat Controller," Frankie explained. "A shipment of party decorations specially for us." The experimental engines all widened their eyes with excitement as Frankie continued. "I don't know what they're for, but the engines on Sodor say that it has something to do with…"

"CHRISTMAS!" the three engines shouted out altogether.

"Yes," Frankie sighed, rolling her eyes. "That."

"It's the most lovely time of the year," Merlin admitted, as Hurricane rolled up alongside to join in the commotion. "We've had parties all the time over in our own Goods Yard."

"Christmas," Lexi thought. "The one time of the year where we can actually feel good about ourselves."

"Especially when we don't otherwise," Theo meekly added.

"Hmm…" Hurricane thought. "What exactly is Christmas?"

"Oh, oh," Merlin called. "I'd be more than happy to explain."

"Not so fast, Merlin!" Frankie sternly cut off. "There's a lot of work to do around the SteamWorks first, so it's best we all get it out of the way first before we think of any party. Now, all of you, get back to work!"

The three engines slowly went back about their work as Frankie sighed and inched closer into the SteelWorks. Hurricane could see she was stressed out.

"Are you...okay, Frankie?" he asked.

Frankie sighed heavily.

"Those silly engines! All steamed up about Christmas, whatever it is. Don't they understand that there's work to get done?"

"I'm sure they do, Frankie. But they must also be excited about this occasion for whatever reason. Maybe we should be too."

Frankie left the decorations in a siding just outside the SteelWorks and took a deep breath.

"I don't think we should celebrate anything until we're all done with our work," she told Hurricane, and rolled away.

Hurricane sighed with dismay.

"There is a lot of work to do around the SteelWorks," he thought to himself.

The engines at the SteelWorks kept themselves very busy all morning long, moving trucks from one ladle slag to the next. However, one engine who struggled finding a job to do was Theo.

"Hey, Lexi!" the traction engine called out, as he watched her finish emptying one ladle slag. "May I take those trucks away for you?"

"Thanks, Theo!" the Cab-Forrward engine called back. "But Merlin already has both of these covered to take away!"

"Oh," Theo thought, frowning a bit. "Okay."

Merlin backed up to the front of the train and pulled it away, as Lexi waited for the ladles to fill up again.

As Theo rolled over to the other side of the SteelWorks to see that Frankie already had the other set of ladle slags covered with trucks ready for Hurricane to take away.

"Theo!" Frankie shouted. "What have you been doing all morning?! Find some work and make yourself useful!"

"Y-y-yes, Frankie," Theo stammered nervously, and slowly made his way back about the SteelWorks.

Hurricane smiled at Theo as he made his way out of the building through the yard to drop off the trucks.

Theo could see a current set of ladle slags needed to be filled up again, and then watched as Frankie and Lexi had the other set of ladle slags emptied, ready for Hurricane and Merlin to take away with trucks full of slag.

"Oh, dear," he sighed, parking himself in a siding. "It doesn't look like the other engines need my help. If only I could make myself useful."

"Ah, Theo!" the foreman called out, startling him. "You're not doing anything at the moment. I wonder if you could fulfill a job."

"A job? For me, sir?"

"Yes, Theo. There's a load of steel pipes that needs to be delivered to Brendam Docks over on Sodor. Do you think you can do it?"

Theo wasn't sure, but he did want to make himself useful.

"Eh...sure," he responded, smiling meekly.

"Excellent," the foreman replied. "The flatbeds are waiting in a siding just outside the SteelWorks."

"I'll be there right away," Theo said, and rolled slowly away to collect the flatbeds.

As Theo made his way along the track away from the SteelWorks, he found the load he was hauling to be very heavy.

"Oh…, dear," he groaned, pulling the heavy train behind him. "I don't...know if I'll make it in time." Then he panted and sighed. "But I can...try."

And he continued on his way in the direction towards the canal.

"Phew!" he sighed, as he reached the sight of the canal. "This is one heavy train. Better yet, it's nice to be out and about for a change, and see the sights of the mainland beyond the SteelWorks…"

"Who goes there?!"

All of a sudden, a crate dropped down on Theo's line and startled the little traction engine, as he looked up and saw Beresford looking at him right away in the eye.

"Hello there," the crane greeted. "You seem like a nice little fellow. What is your name?"

"Eh, I'm Theo," the traction politely replied, giggling nervously. "I'm a traction engine who works at the SteelWorks, and I've come all this way to deliver a load of steel pipes bound for Sodor."

"Sodor? Oh, I think I've met a cheeky little tank engine whose from there."

"Thomas?" Theo guessed. "Yes. I know him. He's a dear friend of mine and…"

"Thomas! Yes, quite a curious young chap much like yourself. My name's Beresford by the way." There was a short silence, both Theo and Beresford giving each other a weird look before the crane spoke again. "So will you be on Sodor long then?"

"Just to drop off the crates," Theo responded, slightly nervous. "Erm, it was very nice meeting you, Beresford, but I do have a train to deliver. Please, will you move this crate out of the way?"

"Out of the way?! But we only just met, Theo. I have a bit of time before my next ship comes. Wouldn't you rather get acquainted first?"

"Fine," Theo sighed, rolling his eyes a little.

"So," Beresford continued. "You work over at the SteelWorks, eh?"

"Yes, I do," Theo quickly replied.

"And what kind of work is it you actually do there?"

"My friends and I fill up tracks of slag from the ladle slags and take them to be melted down into steel. After that, the steel is loaded onto flatbeds to take away to Bridlington."

"Bridlington," Beresford thought. "Do you go there often then?"

"No, not really. Frankie and Hurricane make most of the deliveries there, but the other engines were busy today, so I was spared to take this train to Sodor. Eh, Beresford, can I please go now…?"

"Hmm…" Beresford wondered, cutting him off. "How often do you take trains out then?"

"I've usually pulled trains together with Lexi or Merlin," Theo admitted, than grew rather anxious as he continued. "This is, em, the first train I've ever pulled on my own." He muttered the last few words rather quickly, before they both heard a ship coming into port.

"Come on, Beresford!" one workmen shouted.

"Ship's coming in!" another called.

Beresford slowly pulled the crate up from the tracks

"Bye, Beresford! Gotta run!" Theo quickly blurted out, rushing away from the canal as soon as his track was cleared.

"Wait! Theo!" Beresford called, then sighed sadly.

"Not even so much as a chance to say goodbye," he moped aloud, as the barge pulled up beside him, and he quickly turned around to lower the crate inside it.

"Phew!" Theo sighed, as he quickly made his way through the Mainland Junction. "That was awkward."

He heard the sound of other engines passing through the junction, and was suddenly started by Henry's whistle as he saw the big green engine on his track up ahead.

"Oh, no!" he cried, and shut his eyes, as Henry switched tracks and passed him, hurrying on his way.

"Oh," Theo thought, opening his eyes and sighing with relief.

He whistled happily to Donald and Douglas, who whistled right back at him as they passed through with a long, heavy goods train, and then to Stanley and Spencer as they passed through with a goods train and a passenger train respectively.

"Must get to Sodor. Must get to Sodor," he said to himself, as he hurried over the Mainland Viaduct.

At long last, Theo did make it in sight of Sodor, as he approached the Vicarstown Bridge, and onward towards the Island.

Theo whistled hello to Hiro, who whistled right back at him, as they both made their way across the bridge.

At Brendam Docks, engines and cranes and workmen were already in good spirits as they loaded and unloaded decorations from nearby ships. When Theo arrived, he was very relieved to have made it there and looked around with joy with all the decorations being put up all around.

"Wow!" he marveled, as he stopped at the platform where the men could unload his flatbeds. "I wonder what all this is about."

"We're getting ready for Christmas!" Porter pointed out as he passed him.

"Christmas," Theo remember, than slightly giggled. "Oh, right."

He waited as the men unloaded his flatbeds, when Thomas arrived to pick up some decorations.

"Hello, Theo!" he whistled.

Theo gasped and looked over in surprise.

"Thomas!" he called out excitedly. "My old friend! It's so good to see you!"

"It's good to see you too, Theo," Thomas laughed. "So how's work going over at the SteelWorks?"

"Em, it has its moments," Theo admitted. "But I do enjoy it, and there's plenty of work to be done to keep us all busy."

"That's good to hear. So what brings you about Sodor then?"

"Just dropping off some steel pipes. I will say, though, that I had an awkward encounter with this crane over at the Canal. I don't remember his name, but he claims to have met you."

"Hmm…" Thomas wondered, then he remembered and laughed. "Oh, you mean Beresford."

"Yes," Theo replied meekly, remembering. "Him."

He then went on to rant, "I asked him like twice to move his crate out of the way, but he wouldn't until his next barge arrived. He almost made late with my own delivery."

Thomas laughed.

"I'm sure he didn't intend to make you late, Theo. I had a similar experience when I first met him. Beresford's just rather lonely, you see, with no one much else to talk to, but he's rather nice once you get to know him."

"Oh, dear," Theo thought, rather ashamed. "I must have misjudged him then by running off on him like that. Maybe I'll give him another chance with getting to know each other."

Once the steel pipes were unloaded, Theo was ready to make his way back over to the Mainland.

"Bye, Thomas!" he whistled. "Nice seeing you!"

"Bye, Theo!" the tank engine called back, as he backed his empty trucks down in place for Cranky to load them.

"Okay," Theo thought to himself as he quickly exited the Docks. "I'm pretty sure Beresford appreciate it if I gave him another chance to be my friend. So maybe I could just do that and see how it goes."

Once he arrived back at the canal, he saw Beresford watching the current barge leave the dock, and stopped just before the crane.

Theo cleared his throat so as to get Beresford's attention, slightly nervous.

"Hello again, Beresford," he called out.

Beresford turned around with surprise.

"Oh, Theo. You came back."

"Yep! Just delivered my steel pipes to Sodor and now I'm on my way back over to the SteelWorks."

"Oh, well, um…" Beresford thought, then he sighed sadly. "I'm sorry I trapped you earlier, Theo. It wasn't very nice of me, especially since I was just getting to know you. You see…,"

"Say no more, Beresford. Thomas explained everything. I understand how lonely you can get when engines rush in and out without talking to you. I would very much like to be your friend."

"I would like that too, Theo," Beresford smiled, then sighed. "But yes, it does get awful lonely here at the Canal, and I don't get to see engines too often who like to stop and have a chat. So where are you on your way to then?"

"Back to the SteelWorks. Hopefully the lads and I can have all our work done on time so that Frankie can let us have a Christmas party. She brought all these decorations over from Sodor, you see, but she told us that we may only have a party when all our work is done."

Beresford looked down at his new friend, sighing sadly.

"At least you have parties now over where you come from and friends you can spend your time with. Here at the Canal, we never have parties. When Christmas comes, the workmen all go home to their families and I'm here all alone. I don't necessarily have anyone else to spend the holiday season with."

"Oh, no," Theo gasped with shock. "Beresford, that's, eh...that's terrible."

The horn sounded out for the next barge to come in, and Beresford let out a sigh.

"Okay, my new friend. My next shipment is here for me to unload. Go back to the SteelWorks and enjoy your time with your friends while you still can.

"But...what about you, Beresford?" Theo wondered, a sad expression on his face.

"Don't you worry about me, Theo!" Beresford snapped, as the barge pulled up beside him. "I'll be fine."

He then turned around to unload the shipment, as Theo sighed and made his way back towards the SteelWorks.

On the way back to the SteelWorks, Theo thought of how he could cheer Beresford up.

"All alone during Christmastime," he thought to himself. "It's not right for anyone to be sad and alone during this time of year. If only I could make a way to make Beresford feel appreciated." He thought a little harder as he approached the SteelWorks up ahead in the distance.

Then, an idea flew into Theo's funnel.

"I know!" he decided. "Instead of having a party at the SteelWorks, maybe we can have it over the canal." Theo had made his decision. "Oh, yes. Just wait till the lads hear about this."

He made his way into the SteelWorks quickly and steadily, but when he got there, he found that Frankie was waiting for him.

"Theo!" she demanded. "Where on earth have you been? There's been lots of slag work that needed to be done, and in your absence, Hurricane and I had to help out with it when we could have easily been making deliveries."

"Sorry, Frankie, but I was making a delivery myself."

"Oh," Frankie wondered, raising an eyebrow. "Were you now?"

"Yes. I delivered a load of steel pipes to the Island of Sodor."

"Why didn't you wait for either of us to that job?!" she asked in an authoritative manner. "You know you can't just pull than your own weight like that, Theo! You're only a traction engine!""

"I know, Frankie, but the foreman asked me if I could do it. I didn't want to let anybody down."

"Huh!" Frankie thought. "Is that right? Well from now on, leave all the heavy, long distance work to either me or Hurricane. We're usually the ones who make deliveries."

"I'm sorry," Theo replied sheepishly, than had athought. "Say, Frankie. I do have something I'd like to talk to you about."

"Talk later!" Frankie demanded. "It's high time you make up for the lack of progress you made today, little traction engine. Now get to work!"

Then she honked and rolled away.

"B-b-but…" Theo stammered, then he sighed sadly and shunted some trucks up to a nearby ladle slag.

Theo was disappointed that he didn't get to tell Frankie about Beresford. Lexi could see that he looked upset.

"Is...everything alright, Theo?" she asked, as she stopped by the ladle slag he was tending to.

Theo sighed and backed down from his ladle trucks, deciding to confide in his friend.

"Truth be told, Lexi, I'm quite anxious. I just met this new crane at the Canal, you see, on the way to drop off some steel pipes at the Docks on Sodor. He's a really lonely crane with nobody to talk to, and I really want to help him see past that. Perhaps we could have a party over at the Canal rather than here. It'd be a surprise party for Beresford."

Lexi thought for a moment.

"It...does sound like a great idea, Theo. But I really think you should ask Frankie and Hurricane first and see if they approve."

"No!" Theo gasped, taking Lexi by surprise, then he sighed and calmed down. "I mean, I'm worried that Frankie won't approve. She is in charge after all, and doesn't like it when something doesn't go her way."

"Understandable," Lexi thought, grasping a better understanding of Theo's point. "But perhaps Hurricane might understand..."

"I'm not sure!" Theo blurted out frantically, startling Lexi. "Please, Lexi. I beg of you. Help me out here. At least until Frankie is in a better mood."

"Oh, alright, alright. Settle down now, Theo," she sighed reluctantly. "I'll help you out."

"Thank you, Lexi," Theo sighed. "You are a great friend. I promise I'll work extra hard to keep up around here."

"No problem, boyo! But you do have to promise me that you'll speak to Frankie and Hurricane at some point."

"I will, perhaps at the end of the afternoon after they come back from Bridlington."

The two friends returned returned to work without another word said, though Theo still kept the thought in mind of sneaking the Christmas decorations over to the canal.

Theo and Merlin worked together to empty a set of ladle slags, and had a line of slag trucks ready for Lexi to take away and be melted down.

"Thanks, guys!" the Cab-Forward engine called out, and quickly made her way outside through the back of the SteelWorks.

"So, Theo," Merlin asked enthusiastically. "Lexi told me all about that surprise party of yours. Do you have a plan set in mind?"

"Hmm…" Theo thought. "Well, I was thinking of making a delivery of party decorations over to the canal, now that Hurricane and Frankie will be on their way to Bridlington as soon as the slag is melted down."

"You make that delivery, Theo," Merlin told him. "Lexi and I will take care of the rest here."

"Thanks! I'll be back to work as soon as I return from the Canal."

"Any time!" Merlin called out, letting off a cloud of white steam, as he rolled up to pull the next ladle slag, and proceeded to pull it.

Theo found the Christmas tree on a flatbed in a siding outside the SteelWorks, covered with tarpaulin.

"Perfect!" he said to himself, and backed down on the flatbed.

Beresford was just sorting out crates at the canal for the next barge to come, when Theo arrived.

"Hello, Beresford!" the traction engine greeted.

Beresford noticed something long and pointy on Theo's flatbed.

"Hello again, Theo!" the crane greeted back. "Say, whatever is that on your flatbed?"

"Just a load I have to deliver to the Junction," Theo told him.

"Oh. Well, what is it doing here then?"

"Eh…, I was going to deliver it, but by the time I left the SteelWorks, I remembered I had some work to do and decided I'd leave the flatbed here to save time and deliver it later.

"But this load," Beresford thought, "what if it takes up space?"

"Oh, I don't think it will," Theo assured him, moving the flatbed under Beresford's hoist. "I promise, I'll be back for it as soon as I can."

Then he quickly raced away.

"Theo? Wait, Theo! Come back!" the crane called after him, then sighed and groaned as he heard the next barge in.

"If only I could...understand."

When Theo returned to the SteelWorks, Lexi and Merlin had just finished with a current set of ladle slags.

"Thanks, guys! I can take those slag trucks to be melted down if you'd like."

"That'd be great, Theo!" Merlin replied, as the traction engine backed up to the trucks. "I must warn you though to keep on the lookout. Hurricane and Frankie returned from Bridlington sooner than expected."

"Don't worry," Theo assured them. "I will."

"Eh, Theo," Lexi suggested, as the traction engine made his way out of the SteelWorks. "Do ya think maybe it'd be time to…?"

But Theo made it out through the outside yard before he could hear Lexi.

"Never mind," she sighed, as she and Merlin moved on to the next set of ladle slags.

Hurricane was just being hitched up to another set of steel flatbeds when Theo rushed in to drop off the slag trucks.

"Phew!" he panted. "All done."

"Cool your pistons there, Theo?" Hurricane laughed. "What's the hurry?"

"Sorry, Hurricane. I'm only trying to work as hard as possible. I did miss out on a lot this morning after all…"

Before Theo could finish, Frankie rushed in and came to an abrupt halt beside them.

"The tree!" she cried. "It's gone!"

"Tree?" Hurricane wondered. "What tree?"

"That...Christmas tree I picked from Brendam Docks this morning!" Frankie continued, Theo looking nervous as Lexi and Merlin stopped to witness the commotion. "It was long and pointy, and covered with tarpaulin!"

Frankie turned her eyes towards the three experimental engines, a suspicious look on her face.

"You all know everything about Christmas," she expressed calmly. "Would either of you care to tell me where it is?"

"Nope!" Merlin muttered.

"Nope!" Lexi replied. "No, siree bob!"

She then looked at Theo with concern, who just gulped nervously.

"Oh, eh, I didn't see any tree," he replied, giggling nervously.

"Me neither," Hurricane added, then admitted, "I've moved many flatbeds around the outside yard this morning, but I don't think I saw anything that looked like a Christmas tree."

The engines all watched as Frankie struggled to regain her composure, but then she took a deep breath and managed to remain calm.

"Did you say you moved many...flatbeds around this morning, Hurricane?"

"Um, yes. But none of them matched the description you're trying to entail, Frankie. They were either empty or loaded with steel pipes."

"How can you be so sure?!" she snapped.

"Because I've moved around all of them!" Hurricane assured her, rather nervous.

"Well, like it or not," Frankie told him firmly. "You will find me that tree, and put it right back where it came from."

"B-but...i-it could be anywhere, Frankie!"

"Search your hardest! And don't stop searching until you find it!" she snapped, before turning her eyes towards the other three engines. "And as for you lot, I suggest you get back to work immediately!"

"Whoops! Sorry!" Merlin mumbled, racing away in a cloud of white steam.

"Scram, boyos!" Lexi called, as she rushed away.

Theo sighed as he was uncoupled from the slag trucks and made his way back up the slope and inside the SteelWorks.

"This is all my fault," he confided to Merlin and Lexi. "All I wanted was to do something nice for Beresford, and all I did was get poor Hurricane in trouble."

"Well, that's why you should have spoken to them about it, Theo," Lexi kindly assured him. "Not that I'm trying to tell you I told you so. Just saying that you should have done so before taking that tree away."

"Lexi's right, Theo," Merlin added. "You think now would be the right time to let our higher ranking commissioners in on your plan?"

Theo sighed.

"Alright," he decided. "I'll wait for them to come back so I can talk with them about it."

Lexi let out a sigh of relief as the three engines went back about their work.

At the Canal, Vince the Diesel from over at Bridlington Goods Yard was picking up supplies from Beresford's current barge delivery.

"Say, Beresford," the diesel wondered. "Whatever is that long and pointy flatbed doing under your hoist?"

Beresford sighed, not wanting to get his new friend in trouble.

"It was there since this morning," he replied. "I don't know how it got there in the first place."

"Well, I have direct orders from the canal workmen to get it out of here," Vince told him. "How do you not know how it got there?"

Beresford sighed heavily, trying to keep his composure.

"Engines rush in and out all throughout the day," he responded sheepishly. "I don't always have a record of what they deliver and drop off and when they do so. I'm only a crane after all."

"Alright, alright, take it easy," Vince assured him, as he backed up to the flatbed. "There'll be more space for this flatbed in Bridlington Goods Yard, so tell whoever comes back looking for it to report there on the double."

Then he honked and rolled away, Beresford sighing sadly as he watched the loaded barge head out.

"Why do I have to be the messenger?" he moaned.

Back at the SteelWorks, Theo was trying his very best to keep up the momentum with all the hard work. But the feeling of guilt over Hurricane getting in trouble was making it very difficult for him to stay on task.

"Ugh! Ugh!" he groaned, tugging his hardest against the ladle slag. "Must...keep...going. Woah!"

Theo jumped back in surprise as the ladle slag tipped slightly over to one side, then turned against the other side and poured slag down evenly into a stream. Drips of slag splash suddenly over the other side, startling Frankie as she came in that direction.

"Ah!' she screamed, and shut her eyes tight, whimpering before she slowly opening them up again.

"Huh?" she wondered, then saw Theo whimpering in the siding nearby.

"Theo!" she snapped. "Be careful, will you?"

"Sorry, Frankie. Won't happen again."

Frankie raced slowly away, looking Theo right in the eye, before racing forward and out of the SteelWorks. Theo sighed, as Lexi and Merlin raced over to check up on him, looking over at each other with concern.

"Is...everything okay, Theo?" Lexi asked.

"I just can't take this anymore," he decided, expressing a rather serious look on his face. "I've got to get that tree back and confess to what I have done."

"What?" Lexi and Merlin gasped together, eyebrows widened.

"Gotta run, fellas! I'll be back!" Theo said quickly, and raced towards the entrance of the SteelWorks.

"Wait, Theo!" Lexi shouted.

"Come back!" Merlin called.

But he was already gone. Merlin sighed and looked sadly over at Lexi.

"Come on, Lex," he told her. "Let's get all the work done we can before we land ourselves in trouble as well."

"It's a little late for that, boyo," Lexi sighed sadly, as they set back to work.

Theo had made it towards the Canal as fast as he could. When he came in sight of the Canal, he noticed the flatbed missing from under Beresford's hoist.

"Hmm," he thought, as he ventured quickly. "That's strange. I thought I left it right there. I wonder if it's been moved around or…"

"Stop right there!" Beresford shouted, picking Theo up with his hook.

Theo whimpered, as Beresford glared down at him.

"Where on earth have you been, you silly traction engine" Beresford demanded. "Last time you came here, you left a long and pointy flatbed under my hoist and promised you'd come back for it, though you never did."

"I'm very sorry, Beresford. I didn't mean to cause any confusion. I'll explain later, but first I need to know where that flatbed went."

"Oh," Beresford wondered. "I see what's going on here. You want to play games with ol' Beresford now, do ye? Do you engines have anything else to do besides rushing in and out all time's long?"

"Beresford, please!" Theo begged. "I need to know! It's urgent!"

"Oh, alright, alright," Beresford sighed. "Some diesel from over at Bridlington by the name of Vince came and took it over to Bridlington since it was taking up space."

"Bridlington?!" Theo gasped, then groaned. "That's miles from here. Even farther than the SteelWorks."

"Okay," Beresford demanded, as he heard the next barge come in, then slowly lowered Theo to the ground. "Now that I've told you, tell me: why have you left that flatbed here in the first place when you said it needed to go to the Junction?"

"Sorry, Beresford. I'll explain later but first, I need to fetch that flatbed," Theo quickly replied, before quickly racing away.

"Wait a moment!" Beresford shouted, lifting a crate up and swinging it quickly over to catch up with Theo and block him, but was too late as he dropped the crate just after Theo escaped.

"Theo, wait!" he called. "Come back, please! THEOOOOO!"

Theo quickly set for the Goods Yard.

"I must find that tree before Frankie or Hurricane do," he panted to himself. "I must!"

Hurricane was at Bridlington Goods Yard, dropping off a load of steel pipes.

"Say, Ulli," he asked. "Have any of you happened to see a flatbed with a Christmas tree on it?"

"A Christmas tree?" the diesel wondered.

"Well, a flatbed with a long and pointy shape," Hurricane elaborated. "We're missing one at the SteelWorks, you see."

"Mmm, I'm not sure we have," Ulli replied, then shouted at the other diesel nearby. "Hey, Vito! Have you happened to see a long and pointy flatbed since this morning?"

"No, Ulli," Vito replied confusedly. "I don't think I have."

"Oh, boy," Ulli groaned, then looked back towards Hurricane. "Sorry, big storm. Don't know what to tell ya."

"Oh, dear," Hurricane sighed. "I don't think we'll ever find it now."

"I know," Vito called, as he stopped just beside them. "Have you tried checking the Canal? That's where Vince is headed right now."

Before Hurricane could respond, they all heard a loud honk, and Vince rolled into view.

"Hey guys!" he called. "I found this long and pointy flatbed at the Canal. I was told to move it since it was taking up space. Do you guys have any idea who it belongs to?"

Hurricane raised an eyebrow at him with confusion.

"Frankie!" Hurricane whistled, as he raced into the SteelWorks. "Look what I found over at the Goods Yard!"

Lexi and Merlin gasped in surprise, as Frankie raced over in sight of Hurricane.

"You found it, Hurricane! Excellent!" she cried, then had a thought. "So...what was it doing there then?"

"Oh, I don't know. It wasn't originally there."

"What do you mean?" Frankie asked confusedly, raising an eyebrow.

"Vince found it over at the Canal," Hurricane explained, startling Lexi and Merlin as they stopped to listen to the conversation.

"The Canal…" Frankie wondered. "Hmm…"

"It's weird," Hurricane thought. "But the question is…"

"What would it be doing there?" Frankie finished.

There was a long silence, Lexi and Merlin shaking as Frankie and Hurricane thought even harder.

"I say," Hurricane wondered with curiosity. "Where's Theo?"

"Good question," Frankie replied, reversing down beside Lexi and Merlin and looking at them in particular.

Merlin gulped and Lexi just sighed sadly.

Theo soon reached Bridlington, whistling loudly as he rolled in at an uncontrollable speed.

"Woah, woah, woah," Ulli called out. "Slow down there, little fella."

Theo came to an abrupt stop, then quickly his breath before shifting his eyes over to Ulli and Vito, who looked right at him with confusion.

"Sorry," Theo sighed. "I'm just looking for a long and pointy flatbed, and was told that it was delivered here. Have either of you seen it?"

"A long and pointy flatbed?" Vince called, as he stopped nearby. "Hey, I've seen one. It was sitting 'round at the Canal earlier, and I was asked to take it here."

"That's it! That's the one!" Theo shouted excitedly.

"But Hurricane already came and took it back to the SteelWorks," Ulli added.

"Oh no!" Theo gasped, taking all three diesels by surprise.

Then he sighed and took a deep breath.

"I realize what I did wrong," he admitted. "Now I must report back to the SteelWorks and confess to Hurricane and Frankie."

He raced quickly away from Bridlington, leaving the diesels in confusion.

"I wonder what that fellow's all steamed up about," Vito wondered.

"Search me," Ulli replied. "Something about a long and pointy flatbed."

Theo raced back over to the SteelWorks as fast as he could. Once he got there, Hurricane was waiting at the entrance.

"There you are, Theo," he said, standing right before him on his line and looking rather serious.

"Hurricane!" Theo trembled. "I-I-I…"

"Say no more, Theo. Frankie would like to see you inside the SteelWorks immediately."

"I guessed that," Theo sighed sadly, and slowly followed Hurricane into the SteelWorks.

Once they got inside, Lexi and Merlin sat nervously nearby. Theo gasped.

"Guys...!"

"Shush, Theo!" Frankie snapped, rolling slowly up before him.

"Frankie," Theo gulped.

"Just what have you been playing at moving that tree all over the Mainland all afternoon?!" she demanded.

"You have caused considerable confusion by doing so, Theo," Hurricane rationally added.

"I know," Theo sighed. "I'm so sorry, Hurricane. I never meant to get you into any trouble, nor Lexi and Merlin. I'm sorry you both got caught up in my plan."

"What plan?" Hurricane wondered, Frankie listening on suspiciously.

"To have a Christmas party over the Canal. It would've been a surprise party for Beresford. The poor crane is lonely and has no one else to spend the holiday season with. That's why I thought of this plan, but I wasn't sure if you guys would approve."

"Not approve?" Hurricane wondered, raising an eyebrow with surprise. "I think it sounds like…"

"A ridiculous idea!" Frankie abruptly finished. "You, little traction engine, have behaved insubordinately by causing all the trouble you have! You have lots to make up for here in the SteelWorks!"

Lexi and Merlin rolled slowly forward.

"If you're gonna punish Theo, you might as well punish us too!" Lexi told Frankie firmly.

"We were in on the plan and covered for his absence the whole time through," Merlin added.

"Alright then," Frankie decided, regaining her composure but maintaining a serious expression on her face. "If you all would put it, then there's no point in either of you thinking of any party until any party until every last truckload of slag is melted down into steel."

"Now, just a minute, Frankie," Hurricane told her. "Let's be rational about all this."

"Rational?! About what, Hurricane? Having troops that go against our orders, and gallivant aimlessly when there's work to get done."

"I just covered the last train of steel that needed to be delivered today," Hurricane reminded her. "These three engines worked their boilers off all year long, and the work needed to get done for tomorrow morning's delivery is almost finished thanks to them."

"What are you getting at, Hurricane?" Frankie wondered, maintaining a sour expression on her face as the three experimental engines listened on with surprise. "We could easily also have a party here, so there was no point anyway in Theo…"

"The same can be set for that poor crane who has no one to spend the holiday season with," Hurricane continued. "Therefore, I highly suggest we go ahead with the arrangements for Theo's surprise party plan." Frankie listened on, her sour expression softening a little. "Think about it, Frankie. Does anybody deserve to be all alone on Christmas?"

Frankie thought for a moment, a tear rolling slowly down her eye.

"No," she sniffled. "Not at all."

She sighed and dried away her, before taking a heavy breath.

"Alright," she asked. "So what's the plan then?"

"I'll take the decorations over to the Canal," Theo decided. "Then I'll come back and make up for all the work I've missed out on so that we can have the steel pipes ready for tomorrow morning's delivery."

"Excellent, Theo!" Hurricane praised.

"I'll be your banker engine, Theo!" Lexi offered. "That way, we can be at the Canal and back here in double time.

"Thanks, Lexi," Theo smiled. "I'd truly appreciate that."

Outside the SteelWorks, Merlin smiled as he watched Theo being hitched to both the tree flatbeds and the party decorations, as Lexi buffered up from behind.

"Come on, Theo! Let's get to the Canal on the double!"

"I'll handle all the slag trucks till you guys get back," Merlin promised.

"Thanks, Merlin!" they both called out, as they made their way out of the SteelWorks with the heavy train.

On the way to the Canal, Theo thought hard about what he wanted to say to Lexi.

"Eh, thanks for helping me out, Lexi. I'm sorry I got you in everybody else in trouble. I never would have done so if I had just listened to you."

"That's alright, Theo. I'm glad ye finally had the courage to speak up to Frankie and Hurricane about the idea, so much as to get their approval. Now we can all be really useful and have a party at the same time."

Theo smiled, as they made their way onward towards the Canal.

Once they arrived at the Canal, Beresford had just finished loading his last barge for the afternoon, when he saw the entire train of party decorations.

"I say," he gasped, as Theo and Lexi backed in beside him. "Theo, what are all these trucks doing at my canal? And why did you bring back that flatbed?"

"They're all for you, boyo!" Lexi enthusiastically revealed.

"For me?!"

"Yes, Beresford," Theo chuckled. "My friends and I have decided that we'd have our Christmas party over here at the Canal and share the holiday fun with you. Thought it'd be a nice surprise considering that you don't have anyone to spend Christmas with."

Beresford smiled.

"I'm more than grateful, Theo. But you didn't have to go through all dat trouble wit' the flatbed just for ol' Beresford. What motivated you after all I've done by blocking your way and lifting you up with my hook?"

"The fact that you're a well-meaning crane who works hard and just wants to make friends, but never gets the chance due to engines rushing in and out all the time," Theo admitted. "You deserve a wonderful Christmas just as much as anyone else."

Beresford smiled and went a slight blush of red, as Lexi cleared her throat to grab their attention.

"Eh, I hate to break up the sentimentality, you guys, but Theo, we should be getting back now."

"Oh, right," Theo giggled. "Sorry, Beresford. But we have some work to get done at the SteelWorks before the party starts. Do you think the men will have the Canal ready by this evening?"

"Sure!" one workmen called.

"No worries!" another called. "This was our last barge for the day. We'll get right on it."

"Thank you!" Theo called, as he and Lexi made their way slowly out of the Canal. "Come along, Lexi!"

"Right at ya, Theo!" the Cab-Forward engine called, racing after him.

Theo and Lexi returned to the SteelWorks as fast as they could, and worked their hardest to have all the ladle slags emptied for Merlin to take away to be melted down into steel.

Theo and Lexi both tugged hard at the ladle slags as they tipped over, and the slag poured slowly down and flowed into a stream across the ground. As soon as Merlin's trucks were filled up, the stealth engine took them away, and Theo brought a train of empty trucks over to the next set of ladle slags, which Frankie and Hurricane soon had emptied out. Once Theo's trucks were filled with slag, he took them away to melted down into steel.

"Theo seems to be working his hardest to make up for lost time," Hurricane admitted.

"Yes," Frankie put in, somewhat confused. "He does."

By sunset, all the ladle slags were well and truly emptied, and two trains of steel pipes were ready to go for a trip to Bridlington the following morning.

"Come along, guys!" Theo called out, Lexi and Merlin in tow. "We have a party to get to!"

"You go on ahead!" Hurricane called back, as he and Frankie set off on the track next to them. "We'll notify the lads over in Bridlington!"

Theo smiled, as he, Lexi and Merlin made their way along towards the Canal.

That night, all the engines from the SteelWorks and over at Bridlington had come over to celebrate the party at the Canal. It was dark and quiet at first, but nevertheless, Beresford could never have felt happier to have their company.

"This really means a lot," he admitted. "I never expected so many engines to show that they care until Theo did."

"It's our pleasure," Frankie told the crane, then shifted her eyes over towards Theo.

"I'm sorry, Theo. I didn't understand the true spirit of Christmas until now. I hope you all can forgive."

The experimental engines smiled at their leader, as Hurricane rolled slowly forward.

"Let the party begin!" he declared.

All of a sudden, the lights turned on like magic and the Canal was shining with lights and decorations all around.

The three Bridlington diesels looked over at the Christmas tree, standing tall in the center of the canal.

"Say, Vince," Ulli thought. "Isn't that that long and pointy object that all the big fuss was about?"

"Musta been, Ulli. That's what it looked like when I picked it up from here earlier."

"Who woulda thought we'd come across something else with a shape like that?" Vito wondered.

"Wow!" Theo gasped, as he looked all around, then turned to Lexi and Merlin. "Have you guys ever seen anything like this?"

"Not necessarily," Lexi admitted.

"You must admit, though," Merlin added. "It is a sight to be seen."

Theo smiled, before rolling slowly up towards Beresford, who had a wreath hanging over his front and lights decorated all over.

"How do you feel, Beresford?" he asked.

Beresford smiled.

"This is the best Christmas a crane could ever ask for, Theo. I must say, I owe you one."

"Oh," Theo chuckled slightly. "Well, erm, how does it feel spending the holiday season with friends like us then? Is this something that you expected?"

"Hmm…" Beresford wondered, then jokingly remarked, "well…, I guess it's something I'll have get used to."

The two good friends shared a laugh.

"Merry Christmas, Beresford!" Theo greeted.

"Merry Christmas to you too, Theo! Nothing makes me happier than spend Christmas with friends like you!"

"Merry Christmas to one and all!" Merlin called out, letting off a cloud of white steam.

Well, here's a start to the festive bunch of my winter stories. Halfway through Set 2 that started with Duncan Takes Back, and this was genuinely the longest story I've written since the Christmas stories from the previous set, so it could necessarily work as a two-parter if televised. The story itself was fun to write, and the characters were fun to work with. It was a nice opportunity for Theo and Beresford to share the spotlight, with the rest of the SteelWorks crew being given supporting roles. The Mainland Diesels were also fun to incorporate: Vince is named after Matt Schulze's character from Fast and Furious, Dominic Toretto's childhood friend, and Vito is named after the Don Corleone character from The Godfather, played by Marlon Brando in the original and a younger version by Robert DeNiro in Part II. I basically took the concept of Mavis' Christmas Surprise and made it so it'd focus more on the plot of Theo planning Beresford's surprise party, because looking back, I had the latter story overplagued with villains including Diesel 10 trying to thwart Paxton's attempts in a story that should have really been more about Paxton making Mavis happy. Here, Hurricane and Frankie have smaller roles, as Theo is worried about them disapproving of his plans. I feel like I've brought out more of Frankie's JBS persona here than I did in The Way To Get Things Done, and Hurricane acted as her conscience upon learning of Theo's idea and understanding how hard the experimental engines have worked to enjoy themselves over the holiday season. I'm really glad to have written the JBS characters again, and this pretty much wraps their arc for my second set. I hope this brings out some holiday spirit as Christmas comes close. The next one will be an adaptation, so it oughta be shorter and quicker to get through with a little less meat to it. Till then stay tuned for…

Percy And The Christmas Tree (based on 1986 Christopher Awdry annual of the same name) - it's Christmas Eve, and Percy is late with the holiday mail due to heavy drifts of snow, so Elizabeth bluntly calls him out for it. However, when Elizabeth breaks down delivering trees to Tidmouth market, Percy comes to her rescue and delivers the trees on time.

Millie Plays It Safe - a firework display is to be set up at Ulfstead Castle for New Year's Eve, though Millie thinks the spot Samson has chosen is unsafe and looks around the castlegrounds for a safer spot.

And coming in 2020…

The Power Of Words - Big Mickey has a hard time communicating with other engines, though when Cranky's arm needs repair, Big Mickey must manage in his place and overcome his problem.

Turn 'Em Into Roads - George is tasked with guiding Philip and the workmen in laying some tarmac down for a level crossing on Edward's Branch Line, though when he feels BoCo is intentionally avoiding him, he schemes to get revenge on the Metropolitan Vickers diesel by causing trouble for both him and Philip.

The Good Side Of George - Rebecca encounters George on probation and makes an attempt to be friendly towards him, despite George being somewhat unfriendly towards her.