Chapter 2: Finding A Way
Well, there's nothing much to say from the previous chapter. As I said before, Grouchy and James still miss each other very much. But at the Smurf village in the medieval times, things were getting very difficult for Grouchy. And now, Papa needs to find a way to fix this. What will he do you all asked? Well, let's puff and smurf to find out!
At the Island of Sodor in 1968...
Next day, the Engines at Tidmouth Sheds were waiting for the Fat Controller to get their job assignments.
James was still feeling sad. He did sleep well, but during that night, he was dreaming and thinking all about Grouchy. And when the #5 engine woke up, he was still thinking all about the once-grumpy Smurf, and how much that he really misses him.
And it looks like that James was not thinking about getting an important job, and he was not thinking on being a really useful Engine.
The other Engines were worried about James.
/Emily\: "Oh, dear."
/Henry\: "He's still not happy."
/Percy\: "And he never will be."
/Gordon\: "Well, he should puff himself together about today."
/Edward\: "I guess I was wrong when I said that it's up to James for making choices about Grouchy."
/Thomas\: "And with that sad mood still, he won't be able to do his work."
And the Engines agreed with Thomas.
James overheard Thomas and he agreed with him too. He didn't feel like doing a job at all.
"/Sound of a car approaching\" But just then, the Fat Controller arrived. "/Car stops\" And he was looking very stern.
The Engines could see that. But James wasn't paying attention.
/The Fat Controller\: "Today is another busy day, and I expect you all to do a very well done job."
/The six Engines minus James\: "Yes, we will, Sir."
/The Fat Controller\: "And James, remember what I said yesterday."
But James didn't listen. He was still feeling sad.
The Fat controller was cross.
/The Fat Controller\: "JAMES!"
/James\: "YIKES!"
/The Fat Controller\: "James, I'll repeat this once more; remember what I said yesterday, and I don't want you to be late again!"
/James\: "Y-y-y-yes Sir."
The Fat Controller looked one last time at James with a serious look on his face. Then he got into his little blue car, and he drove away. "/Sound of a car leaving\"
James felt scared.
The other Engines were even more worried about James.
/Thomas\: "James, the Fat Controller really mean it."
/Emily\: "He wants you to do your job very seriously."
/Edward\: "And I think that it's time for you to move on."
But James didn't want to move on. He wanted to keep his memories about Grouchy forever.
/James\: "I don't want to move on! I still want to think about Grouchy as long as I like!"
/Percy\: "But not during your work."
/James\: "Yes, even during my work! So I want you all to stop worrying about me and leave me be!"
And with a huff, James puffed away.
/Gordon\: "He's going to make the Fat Controller cross again."
/Henry\: "Indeed he will."
Thomas, Edward, and Emily sighed. "/Engines sighing\"
/Edward\: "Oh, James."
That morning, James was still feeling sad, and all he could think of was missing Grouchy. But today, he'll be doing his mixed-traffic work, meaning he has more jobs to do through out the day.
James has three jobs. The first one he's doing was taking tar tanker trucks from Tidmouth to Abbey. But as he got started, the same thing was happening again. James was day-dreaming and thinking all about Grouchy. And he was going slower than ever. And another thing happened, James arrived late to his destination.
When the Fat Controller heard this, he was very disappointed.
/The Fat Controller\: "Oh, James!"
Next, James' second mixed-traffic job is pulling a special train from Maron to Great Waterton. And again, he was doing the same thing and went very slow than ever. And again, James arrived late to his destination.
And when the Fat Controller heard this, he was even more disappointed.
/The Fat Controller\: "JAMES!"
And lastly, James' third and final job is doing a passenger run from Sodor Airport to Knapford. And for the third time, James was day-dreaming and thinking all about Grouchy. And he went slower as a snail. And for the third time, James arrived late to his destination. The passengers complained about the service.
And when the Fat Controller heard this, he was very cross!
/The Fat Controller\: "NOT AGAIN!"
James was in trouble, big time.
That afternoon, James was sent to Knapford Station to see the Fat Controller.
And right now, things were not looking well.
The Fat Controller wasn't happy at all. He shook his head from left to right in a disappointed mode.
James felt terrible. But deep down inside his boiler, he was still sad.
At last, the Fat Controller began to speak.
/The Fat Controller\: "James, I just don't know what to say."
James didn't say anything. He was still feeling sad.
/The Fat Controller\: "/SIGH\ I told you yesterday that I want you to do your jobs seriously, but you didn't. I also told you that I don't want you to think about your special Smurf friend, but you did. And now look what has happened. You had caused confusion and delay not one, not two, but three times. Very disappointing."
James rolled his eyes downward in sadness.
/The Fat Controller\: "James, what am I ever going to do with you? You're not being a really useful Engine. Maybe I should sent you away for good."
James was shocked.
/James\: "NO, DON'T! ANYTHING BUT THAT!"
/The Fat Controller\: "I think I have no other choice."
/James\: "NO, PLEASE, SIR! I WANT TO STAY HERE, WITH MY FRIENDS, IN THE ISLAND OF SODOR! THIS IS MY HOME!"
The Fat Controller could tell that James would be very scare if he leaves the island.
/James\: "I know I wasn't being a really useful Engine, and I'm sorry for being late three times. But I still can't help it, Sir. I can't stop thinking about my special Smurf friend. I really miss him, a lot."
/The Fat Controller\: "James, you already told me that yesterday, and you know the answer to that also."
James did indeed know the answer.
/James\: "So please, Sir. I don't want to be sent away. And I am a really useful Engine, but it's just that I'm too sad to work. Maybe I should take a month off, so I can let my sad feelings go and let me think about my Smurf friend for a little bit longer. That is, if it's alright with you?"
After hearing that, the Fat controller began to ponder. He wasn't sure that James should take a month off. But he could see that the mid-size red tender engine was indeed looking very sad and wasn't in a good condition to work. And he could also see that James wouldn't stop thinking about his Smurf friend and wanted to let his sad feelings go.
But at long last, after having a long ponder, the Fat Controller made his decision and spoke to James seriously but kindly.
/The Fat Controller\: "Alright James, I won't sent you away, and I'll give you some time off, but not for a month."
/James\: "Then for how long, Sir?"
/The Fat Controller\: "Two weeks."
/James\: "Alright, fair enough."
/The Fat Controller\: "I'll have Mr. Conductor to check on you during those days. And when your two weeks are up, you better put yourself together. And I'll have Neville to do all your work as well. Do I make myself perfectly clear?"
/James\: "Yes Sir."
/The Fat Controller\: "Alright, that is all."
The Fat Controller turned away and went back towards his office.
And James puffed sadly away to Tidmouth Sheds.
At the sheds, James was indeed all alone. But he was glad to be alone, because no one was there to tell him that he should move on. And just like before, James didn't want to move on, and he wanted to keep his memories about Grouchy forever. And James wished one thing that he wanted, and that is seeing Grouchy again. But he knows that will never happen, and he grew more sadder than ever.
/James\: "Oh dear, I think I'll never be the same Engine again. Oh Grouchy, I miss you severely. And I wish that we could see each other again. But alas, it's not going to happen. There's no way to it. And I have only two weeks to let my sad feelings go. Oh dear, oh dear, oh dear."
So all James could do was simply go on thinking and day-dreaming about Grouchy through out the day, as the sun still shines in the clear blue sky.
Back at the medieval times in 1508...
Next day, the Smurfs were doing their usual duties.
Grouchy decided to stay in his house. He was still feeling sad. He did sleep well, but during that night, he was dreaming and thinking all about James. And when the mix-emotional Smurf woke up, he was still thinking all about the mid-size red tender engine, and how much that he really misses him.
The other Smurfs were worried about Grouchy.
/Smurfette\: "Poor Grouchy. He doesn't want to smurf outside today."
Indeed, Grouchy didn't want to come out of his house.
/Hefty\: "And there's nothing we can smurf to cheer him up."
/Vanity\: "And not even Baby Smurf."
/Baby Smurf\: "/Cooing sadly\"
/Brainy\: "Well, Papa Smurf is in his house smurfing of a way to smurf this."
/Handy\: "And he better smurf of something fast, or Grouchy will lose his grouchiness and be sad forever."
And the other Smurfs agreed with Handy. Even Grouchy, who overheard him.
Just then, Nanny stepped in.
/Nanny\: "Come on, you whipper-smurfers. Let's smurf Grouchy to his business."
The Smurfs did as Nanny told them and they walked away from Grouchy's house.
At his house, Papa was indeed thinking of a way to fix the situation. Grandpa was inside helping him.
/Papa\: "/SIGH\"
/Grandpa\: "Well Papa, smurf of something yet?"
/Papa\: "Oh Grandpa, there's nothing smurfing in my mind. And I already smurf to Grouchy and the others that there be no more time-traveling."
/Grandpa\: "Well, are you gonna smurf that rule a little bit?"
/Papa\: "I don't know. Should we go time-traveling again, or should I put myself and my Smurfs at risk again. Oh, the unsmurfy."
/Grandpa\: "Well, ever since we returned home, you smurf the time crystals to Father Time."
/Papa\: "Yes, I know."
Then Papa had a thought. And he made up his mind.
/Papa\: "I think I should go smurf Father Time, and I hope he'll find a way."
/Grandpa\: "Alright then, it's settled."
Papa exited out of his house. And Grandpa watched as the leader Smurf walked away.
The other Smurfs could see Papa leaving the village.
/Hefty\: "Papa Smurf, where you smurfing?"
/Papa\: "I'm smurfing to smurf Father Time."
/Handy\: "How long will you be gone?"
/Papa\: "I won't be gone for long. I'll be back as soon as I smurf."
/Smurfette\: "Oh Papa Smurf, I hope you'll find a way to make Grouchy feel better. I just don't want to smurf him be sad forever. And all of this is making me want to cry. /Crying\ Oh, boo-hoo, boo-hoo."
/Papa\: "Don't cry, Smurfette. I'm sure that me and Father Time will smurf a way."
/Brainy\: "And that's what I was about to smurf, Papa Smurf. You always smurf a way of fixing things. And remember, Father Time is indeed the controller of time, he'll have something that Papa Smurf would ask for. And furthermore, if we ever go time-traveling again, we should be cautious and take further..."
One of the Smurfs tossed Brainy out of the village. "/BONK!\"
/Brainy\: "...I was just being helpful."
Papa then exited out of the village and he was on his way to Father Time's cave.
/Snappy\: "Where's Papa Smurf smurfing?"
/Painter\: "He'z smurfing to smurf Father Time."
/Nat\: "For what?"
/Tracker\: "For smurfing a way to smurf Grouchy not sad anymore."
/Slouchy\: "Well, I hope a miracle will happen."
/Sassette\: "Then everything will go back to normal."
And all the other Smurfs agreed.
Grouchy overheard their conversation and he too hoped that a miracle will happen.
/Grouchy\: "/Speaking softly\ Oh Papa Smurf, I hope you find a way soon."
And Grouchy went on feeling sad at his house.
At long last, Papa arrived at Father Time's cave. It took ten minutes to get there.
/Papa\: "Well, here goes nothing."
Papa knocked on the door. "/Sound of knocking\"
/Papa\: "/Shouting\ Father Time, are you home? It's me, Papa Smurf!"
The door opened and Father Time came out.
/Father Time\: "Well hello, Papa Smurf. Please, come in."
Papa entered Father Time's cave. And he jumped onto the table to face the controller of time.
/Father Time\: "So, what brings you here to see me?"
/Papa\: "You see Father Time, one of my little Smurfs miss a very special friend from the 20th century, and he was so sad that he miss his special friend so much."
/Father Time\: "Who is the sad Smurf?"
/Papa\: "Grouchy."
/Father Time\: "The grumpy one? Now that's new. And who is his special friend?"
/Papa\: "His name is James, he's a contraption called a steam engine, or locomotive, and he lives in the Island of Sodor. And it's been two years since we smurf there."
/Father Time\: "Steam engine? Locomotive? Never heard such a contraption. And this Island of Sodor, does it exist right now?"
/Papa\: "No, one of James' friends told me that the island hasn't been discovered till the early 1800's."
/Father Time\: "The early 1800's? But that's a few centuries ahead!"
/Papa\: "Yes, I know."
/Father Time\: "Well Papa Smurf, ever since you and the other Smurfs returned back here, you give me the time crystals and you made a rule that you don't want to time-travel again."
/Papa\: "I know that also. But... /SIGH\ I think I'll smurf that rule a little. So, is there a way to return to the Island of Sodor?"
Father Time pondered. Then he had a solution.
/Father Time\: "Well, there is one way that you can return to the Island of Sodor. But I have to get things well in order. So why don't you come tomorrow and bring your Smurfs that went time-traveling with you, and I'm sure that everything will be alright and ready."
Papa was delighted.
/Papa\: "Oh thank you, Father Time. And I can't wait to smurf Grouchy the smurfy news."
So Papa said goodbye to Father Time, and he set off back to the village.
When Papa returned to the village, he gathered all the Smurfs(except Grouchy) to the village center, with the help from Harmony blowing his trumpet.
/Papa\: "My little Smurfs, Father Time has found a way for us to return to the Island of Sodor."
/Smurfs minus Grouchy\: "Yay!"
/Greedy\: "That's smurfy news!"
/Dreamy\: "Oh, I can't wait to meet Thomas!"
/Willing\: "I can't wait to meet Edward!"
/Tracker\: "And Henry!"
/Tuffy\: "And Gordon!"
/Harmony\: "And Percy!"
/Farmer\: "And Toby!"
/Vanity\: "Oh, it'll be smurfy to see James again!"
/Smurfette\: "And Emily too!"
/Jokey\: "When are we leaving, Papa Smurf?"
/Papa\: "Tomorrow. But, I only want the Smurfs that went time-traveling with me and Grandpa."
/Brainy\: "Which is me, Baby Smurf, Smurfette, Sassette, Snappy, Clumsy, Greedy, Grouchy, Handy, Hefty, Jokey, Lazy, Vanity, Painter, Wild, and Smoogle. Isn't that right, Papa Smurf?"
/Papa\: "Uh, right, Brainy. But Baby Smurf and Smoogle will be staying here."
/Hefty\: "I wonder Grouchy smurf all of this?"
/Snappy\: "We'll go smurf him."
The Smurflings walked towards to Grouchy's house, and they got to the door.
/Nat\: "/Shouting\ Grouchy! Did you smurf what Papa Smurf was smurfing?"
/Sassette\: "/Shouting\ In case you haven't smurf, Pappy Smurf said that Father Time has found a way for us to go to the Island of Sodor again!"
But there was no answer.
/Slouchy\: "/Shouting\ Grouchy? Is everything smurfy?"
Just then, the door slowly opened. And Grouchy slowly came in sight wearing a smile and his usual scowling in his eyes.
/Nat\: "Well, I guess you smurf."
/Sassette\: "Isn't this exciting?"
/Grouchy\: "SHHHH!"
Grouchy made a hand signal, telling the Smurflings to come in but quietly.
/Grouchy\: "/Speaking softly\ I'm very happy that Papa Smurf and Father Time had found a way. I can't wait to smurf James again, and it's been a long time since I last smurf him."
/Snappy\: "We know just how you smurf. And I can't wait to smurf Thomas again."
/Sassette\: "And Emily too."
/Slouchy\: "You and Snappy are lucky that you both get to go to the Island of Sodor, Sassette."
/Nat\: "Yeah, and I was smurfing forward on meeting Henry."
/Slouchy\: "And Toby."
/Snappy\: "Don't worry, you will."
/Sassette\: "Once we get to the Island of Sodor, maybe we might smurf Thomas and his friends to our time period. That is, if we could."
/Grouchy\: "Well I'm sure that we'll find out once we smurf there."
/Snappy & Sassette\: "Yeah."
/Nat\: "Grouchy, now that you smurf the smurfy news, can you please come outside?"
Grouchy thought for a moment. And then he made his decision.
/Grouchy\: "Alright, I'll come outside."
And Grouchy and the Smurflings happily walked out of the now-not-so-bad-tempered Smurf's house.
But Grouchy put on his scowling face so the other Smurfs won't see him being too happy.
/Tuffy\: "Oh, look who finally smurf out of his house."
Grouchy paid no attention.
/Hefty\: "You better smurf on what your smurfing, Tuffy. Or I'll do the same thing like I did to Brainy."
/Tuffy\: "/GULP\"
/Papa\: "Well, I'm glad to smurf you out of your house, Grouchy."
/Grouchy\: "I HATE being alone in my house!"
/Sassette\: "And that also means that Grouchy can't wait to smurf James again."
/Grandpa\: "Well, we have a big day tomorrow, so for the Smurfs that Brainy said earlier, you all should go to your houses and start packing and getting things ready."
/Papa\: "And for the Smurfs that are staying here, Nanny will be in charge, and tomorrow you all should get things prepared for Thomas and his friends. We might bring them to our time period."
/Handy\: "And Willing, you get the smurfiest job of all. You're in charge of smurfing my jobs, and I want you to build a roundhouse for the Engines."
/Willing\: "Smurfy, I'd be honored to do your jobs, Handy, and you can smurf on me. But, what's a roundhouse?"
/Handy\: "Thomas told me, that a roundhouse is a building used by railways for servicing locomotives, and they're traditionally located surrounding or adjacent to turntables."
/Willing\: "Ok, but I don't know what a roundhouse looks like."
/Handy\: "Don't worry, Architect will design it."
/Architect\: "That's right. But Handy, is a roundhouse a house that is round and like our houses?"
/Handy\: "No, Thomas told me that it's like a shed and they're half-circled. And it's more than one shed."
/Willing\: "Well, how many do you want me to build?"
/Architect\: "And design?"
/Handy\: "Well, Thomas has a lot of friends. But the ones we met first and get to know are him, Edward, Henry, Gordon, James, Percy, Toby, and Emily. So I want you two to design and build eight sheds."
/Willing\: "Ok Handy."
/Architect\: "Alright, I'll go start designing right away."
/Willing\: "And I gonna start on working out. I gonna need all the strength and willingness to do that job."
/Handy\: "And Architect, Willing, don't forget to draw and build the turntable!"
/Architect & Willing\: "Ok!"
/Handy\: "And with the 16 of us leaving, everysmurf are going to need some help."
Handy turned to Tracker.
/Handy\: "Tracker, can you please go to King Gerard's castle and smurf up Clockwork Smurf and Clockwork Smurfette?"
/Tracker\: "Of course, Handy, and that's a smurfy idea."
Tracker went towards to Feathers the crane.
Feathers was in her nest on top of a tower when Tracker arrived.
/Tracker\: "/Shouting\ Feathers, can you please smurf me to King Gerard's castle? We're smurfing to smurf up the Clockworks!"
/Feathers\: "SQUAWK!"
Feathers flew slowly down. And Tracker jumped aboard Feathers.
And then, by spreading her wings, Feathers flew up to the sky, and she, with Tracker aboard, headed towards to King Gerard's castle.
/Lazy\: "/YAWN\ Why do I have to go? Can I just stay here?"
/Hefty\: "Oh no, Lazy. You're one of the Smurfs that met Thomas and his friends. So you're going, and I'll make sure of that."
/Lazy\: "Oh, bother and smurf."
/Papa\: "Alright then, that's the end of this announcement. You all may go now."
So the Smurfs that are going to the Island of Sodor went to their homes to start packing, while the rest went on to their usual business through out the day.
And by a half hour later, Feathers and Tracker returned and brought the Clockworks to the village.
And when nighttime came, all 105 Smurfs were fast asleep. Grouchy was having the happiest sleep of all. He was dreaming on how will James react when he sees Grouchy again, and how much time that the two special friends will spend together in both the Island of Sodor and in the medieval times. And so on, the former negative Smurf went on dreaming about James, as the moon glowed brightly in the nighttime sky.
(Acela Smurf7): Now that's smurfy news for Grouchy. And will Father Time really get the Smurfs to the Island of Sodor again? You all just have to wait and see what happens next.