Henry's Past

Hours later, Henry had been thinking of the story of Gerald. "A failed experiment?" Henry repeated, "Is it?" For the rest of the day, Henry couldn't stop thinking about Edward's story. He still thought about the story even before he fell asleep that night.

The next morning, the other engines left Tidmouth Sheds to start the new days work. But Henry still kept on thinking about the story that Edward had told. "Maybe," Henry thought, "I'm a failed experiment myself." And Henry sighed in depression.

Soon, Henry's driver and firemen arrived, ready for work. "Ready, Henry?" the firemen asked. "Yes," Henry answered dully. As Henry left for work his driver and firemen knew something was wrong with Henry. Not mechanically, of course. "Henry," the driver said, "Is there something wrong?"

"Well," Henry said, taking a few seconds to answer the question, "Remember Edward's story about that failed crane?" "Yes," the driver said. "I was thinking of my own past," Henry said. "Well," the firemen said, "It is true that you were built from stolen plans."

"And you were a bad steamer once," the driver said, "But that was a long time ago." "Yes," Henry said, "But still." "Well, Henry," the driver interrupted, "We got a long day's work. So try and stay focused on it. Don't think about your own troubled past." "Yes," Henry replied.

For the whole day, Henry did his jobs as usual, whether it be pulling goods trains or the express. But Henry still kept thinking about his beginnings for the whole day. Even though he'd never cause any trouble that day, the driver and firemen became concerned.

"I think he's still thinking about it," the firemen whispered. "You're right," the driver agreed, "Nothing is changing his mind now."

Nonetheless, Henry carried on with his jobs, even if his mind isn't focused on them.

That night, Henry was given a special job. "Tonight," the driver said, "We are to pull the flying kipper." "Yes," Henry said slowly. "Henry," the driver said, "You've been thinking about your past and Edward's story the whole day, haven't you?" "Yes, driver," Henry said.

"Well, it's time that you make a choice now," the firemen said, "Do you want to prove yourself useful and take the flying kipper now?" Henry looked at his crew with a worried face, but it didn't take long for Henry to answer the question.

"Yes," he replied. "Good," the driver said as he got Henry ready, "Remember, you are a different engine now. You don't run on special coal anymore!" "Right!" Henry replied triumphantly as he left his sheds and puffed off to the docks. Henry backed onto the train just as the last of the fish had been loaded onto the train.

"I am a different engine now!" Henry yelled, but not too loud. And so, the Flying Kipper was ready to go. "I'm not going to quit on this one!" Henry said to himself. This time, he is determined to not let anything go wrong. He left the docks just as the guard blew his whistle. In no time, Henry set off into the night. Henry puffed along happily.

"I know this has to work!" he chuffed to himself. "Steady, boy," the driver said, "But I'm glad you've got your confidence back!"

However, they all felt a clunk from the train. "Oh, no," Henry thought as his driver put on the brakes, "What now?" The guard went to protect the train while the driver and firemen checked the train to see what went wrong.

However, the firemen found out immediately. "One of the wheels on one of the vans has broken," he said. "Oh," Henry said disappointingly. "Don't worry," the driver said, "We can still carry on with the train." "Right," the firemen agreed. "Good thinking!" Henry told his crew.

"No," the driver said, "You're doing the good thinking yourself." "Just think about it," the firemen said, "All day, you've been sad and depressed. That's because you've been thinking about that story with the walking crane." "Right!" Henry replied.

"But now, you're thinking about doing a good job," the driver concluded, "Just keep thinking that." "And we'll be all right," Henry concluded. "That's a good engine," the driver said.

So they left the broken truck, had most of its fish transported into another van and Henry set off once again without further mistakes. "I can do this!" Henry said. "Well done, boy, the driver said. "You're doing great!" the firemen agreed.

In no time, Henry had made it to his destination with no mistakes. "We've done it," Henry said. "Right," the firemen agreed, We've all done it together."

After all the fish had been delivered, Henry returned to Tidmouth Sheds. The next morning, Henry was satisfied with his job and proud of himself. "I'm glad to be who I am," he smiled. However, he and his crew decided to sleep in that morning. "I think we all deserve a good morning sleep," Henry's crew said to themselves.