Arthur's Path

One day, Arthur had finished pushing a train of empty vans in a siding. Then he left to move a stone train. "Hey, Arthur," called a voice. It was Harvey. "Hello, Harvey," said Arthur as he finished his job. "How was your day?" Harvey asked. "Oh, fine," answered Arthur in a simple tone. "Just fine?" repeated Harvey.

"Yep," Arthur replied as he left for home. "Just fine?" Harvey said again, "What is going on in his mind?" Harvey set off for home as well. Arthur returned to his sheds. "Time to call it a night," Arthur's driver and firemen said, "Good night, Arthur." "Night," Arthur replied. The crew left and Arthur fell asleep, but not before Arthur said, "I wonder if there is a reason for me being here."

The next morning, Arthur's crew arrived to start the day. "Ready?" the driver said. "Yes," answered Arthur. "Then let's get started," said the firemen. He lit Arthur's fire and he started off for work.

Today, Arthur is going to Brendam docks to take cargo trucks with goods unloaded from arriving ships for the day. "All right," said Arthur, "Let's get on with this." So Arthur set to work at once. "Come on!" grumbled Cranky, "Come on! I don't have all day!" "Well, you can find it yourself!" Arthur said to the grumpy crane.

"Oh, you really don't want to go there!" Cranky said. "Then get to work!" said Arthur seriously, "Like you wanted!" "Fine!" replied Cranky. So Cranky stopped complaining and he loaded Arthur's trucks.

Later on in the afternoon, after Arthur had finished shunting a line of trucks ready for loading, he noticed a tugboat moving a ship out of the docks.

This particular tugboat is one that Arthur had never met before. "Ok," thought Arthur, looking at the tugboat. After the tugboat finished moving the ship, he immediately noticed Arthur. "Hello," the tugboat said in a cheery voice. "Oh, hi," replied Arthur, "I've." "I know that you have never met me before," the tugboat said.

"Right," said Arthur. "Because I've never seen you before," said the tugboat. "That's right," said Arthur. "My name is Starburst," the tugboat introduced himself. "And I'm Arthur," said Arthur.

"And I'm Cranky, so keep working!" interrupted Cranky "Yeah," said Arthur, "He said so himself." "Right," agreed the tugboat named Starburst, "But now, I better finish moving this ship." "Then you can go right on ahead," said Arthur. So Starburst did the job. The day ran like normal.

Starburst had finished docking one tramp steamer into a loading dock. "There you go, Sheffield," Starburst said to the tramp steamer. "Thank you," replied the tramp steamer named Sheffield. Later, Starburst met up with Arthur again.

But this time, Arthur is staring out into the sky. Starburst wondered what Arthur is thinking. "Hey, Arthur," said Starburst. Arthur was startled. "Huh?" he exclaimed, "Oh, hey, Starburst." "What are you thinking?" asked Starburst. "What?" replied Arthur. "I said what are you thinking of?" Starburst asked again.

"Oh," said Arthur, "I was thinking about why I was brought to this railway in the first place." "All right then," replied Starburst. "Yeah, I have been thinking about that," said Arthur, "I was thinking about my life from before to the point when I came to this railway."

"Ok," said Starburst, "You can think about it." "I am," said Arthur and he then left to move a train. "Well," said Starburst as he left to bring in another ship, "What a curious thinker."

Arthur shunted another truck in a siding. That's when he finally remembered. "Now I get it," he thought, "It is my choice. My decision. And my path in the first place." Arthur continued on with his job, satisfied with the decision that he made many years ago.

Harvey had just arrived to collect a train loaded with machine parts. Before he arrived, he heard everything that Arthur had said.

"Well," smiled Harvey, "That's what was going on with Arthur. I know why I was brought here to this railway in the first place. To help out with rescue missions. And I have proven that a long time ago. And I'm proud of that." Harvey left with his train. By the end of the day, Arthur had finished his job and Starburst returned after taking Sheffield out. "He is on his way to another port," said Starburst.

He then met Arthur, resting on a pier siding. "Hello, Arthur," smiled Starburst. "Now I know why I arrived on this railway," said Arthur, "It's because I choose to live here on this railway. I have proven myself to be a really useful engine, well, with one mishap on my first day."

"I see," said Starburst. "And I would like to tell you," said Arthur and he told Starburst his story. "Well," smiled Starburst, "You had an interesting life."

"And I'm glad with a new job at the fishing village some time later," said Arthur, "I'm glad to have made my choice about that." "I'm sure you are," said Starburst, "Well, time to call it a day." "Goodbye, Starburst," said Arthur, "I hope we can work together again someday." "You too," smiled Starburst.

Arthur returned home. "Now this is the path that I choose," said Arthur to himself.