Mrs. Kindly

It was a busy month on the North Western Railway. The engines were working very hard and were getting heavy loads. Annie and Clarabel were packed full of people and parcels, Collette and Danielle were feeling a little cramped. Thomas was having very hard work.

Thomas: Come on, come on.

Annie: We're doing our best!

Clarabel: We feel so full!

Scamp: Well brace yourself. We're about to go up a hill.

Thomas: Can I do it, can I do it.

Thomas was feeling anxious, but he soon saw a handkerchief waving from a cottage window. He felt better at once.

Thomas: Yes I can, yes I can!

He pulled his hardest and he soon made it to the top and was coming to station and stopped and rest.

Scamp: Well done, Thomas! You girls okay?

Danielle: We're find, I'm getting used to months like this by now.

Thomas: Who was that person what waved a handkerchief by the window?

Thomas's Driver: That was Mrs. Kindly, who waved at you Twilight. My parents used to visit her once a month, she's a very nice lady, but she's very sick and has to stay in bed all day.

Thomas: Poor lady.

Scamp: All alone in that little cottage over there? I can't image what that must feel like.

Thomas's Fireman: She's not really alone. She has a husband as well, and he keeps her company.

Thomas: Still, I feel sorry for her.

As the days went by, the engines loads were getting heavier and heavier. Thomas and Toby didn't mind the hard work. Every day, they would pass by Mrs. Kindly's cottage and whistle to her as they went by. But soon, it began to rain. It rain for days and days. Scamp didn't like, nor did Thomas or his driver.

Thomas's Driver: Come on Scamp, I know you don't like getting your fur wet, but you'll be nice and warm in Thomas's cab. Come on Thomas, we have work to do. Mrs. Kindly won't wave today.

But whether she waved or not, they would always whistle to her, as they pass by her cottage.

The guard blew his whistle and Thomas set off along the line. Soon they could see Mrs. Kindly's Cottage.

Thomas whistled and Scamp barked, but Scamp notice something on the window and started barking some more. The driver put on the breaks and looked at the window.

Thomas' Driver: Come look at this.

The fireman looked; it seems to them, that there was something that looked like a red flag hanging out of the window.

Thomas' Fireman: Mrs. Kindly needs help, a expect.

Thomas came to a stop near the cottage.

Collette: What's going on?

Scamp: It's Mrs. Kindly. She's waving some kind of red flag from her window.

Danielle: Is she okay?

Thomas' Driver: We don't know. Is there a doctor on the train?

Doctor: I'm a doctor!

Thomas' driver told the fireman to walk towards the station and tell him what happened, while the Doctor and Scamp went in to the cottage.

Collette: I hope it's nothing serious.

Danielle: But don't you find it strange. If she's sick, why would she open her window on a day like this?

While they were thinking, the fireman came back from the corner.

Thomas' Driver: We'll go back down to the station, so Thomas could get a good start.

Thomas' Fireman: We shan't get up the hill from here.

Collette: What do you mean?

Thomas' Fireman: Come and see for yourself.

Meanwhile, Scamp and the doctor were with Mrs. Kindly. Scamp was very worried.

Doctor: Are you sure you're feeling well?

Mrs. Kindly: As sure as be.

Just then the driver came into the room.

Mrs. Kindly: Silly me to faint, I knew that one of you would see the red dressing gown, are you all safe?

Thomas' Driver: Yes we are. There was a landslide at the cutting doctor. Mrs. Kindly saw it and she tried to stop us. She saved our lives!

Scamp was happy and gave her a few licks.

Mrs. Kindly (giggling): You're quite welcome!

Thomas' Driver calmed Scamp down, they said their thanks, and tiptop out from the room.

It took a long time for the workmen to clear the line, but by the time they've did, the engines and dogs went back to Mrs. Kindly's cottage to thank her. First came Toby, with Trusty, then Thomas with Scamp, Annie and Clarabel, with Collette and Danielle, and finally and happy to come along too, was Henrietta with Scamp's other sister, Annette. The Fat Controller was there and lots of other people wanted to thank Mrs. Kindly too.

As they reached her cottage Thomas and Toby whistled to say hello, and the Fat Controller and the other passengers climbed to the cottage. Thomas and Toby wished they could go inside too.

Mr. Kindly greeted them at the door and the Fat Controller, Thomas' driver and fireman, Scamp, and the guard went upstairs. While the others stood out in the sunshine. The driver give her a new dressing gown to replace the one spoiled by the rain. The guard brought her some grapes. Scamp gave her a bone form his backyard. The fireman gave her some woolly slippers, and promised to bring some coal as a present from Thomas.

Mrs. Kindly loved her gifts.

Mrs. Kindly: You are all very good to me.

Then the Fat Controller came up to her and showed her some tickets.

The Fat Controller: The passengers and I, hope you will accept these tickets for the south coast Mrs. Kindly, and get really well in the sunshine. We cannot thank you enough for preventing that accident. I hope we have not tired you, good-bye, and happy Christmas.

Then, going quietly downstairs, they joined the group outside the window and they sang some lovely songs to her, before returning to the train.

Mrs. Kindly is now down at the south coast getting better each day, she sends a letter to The Fat Controller and her friends once a month. The engines and pets miss greatly, but they'll be happy to know when she'll be coming back and they can give her a big welcome home party.