Episode 32
A/N This is Thomas and Trevor meeting.
Hey, it's me, Thomas and I shall tell you of how I met Trevor the Traction Engine. I was glad to make a new friend.
Trevor the Traction Engine enjoyed living in the Vicarage Orchard. Edward came to see him every day, but sometimes Trevor didn't have enough work to do.
"I do like to keep busy all the time," he sighed one day. "And I do like company, especially children's company."
"Cheer up," smiled Edward. "Sir Topham Hatt has work for you at his new harbor. I'm to take you to meet Thomas today."
"Ah", exclaimed Trevor happily. "A harbor...The seaside...children...That would be lovely!" My mentor told me this after we met, Trevor and me, that is.
I was on my way to the harbor with a train-load of metal pilings. They were needed to make the Harbor wall firm and safe.
"Hello, Thomas," said Edward. "This is Trevor, a friend of mine. He's a traction engine."
"A what engine?" I asked. I'd never known a traction engine before, so I was confused.
"A traction engine," explained Trevor. "I run on roads instead of rails. Can you take me to the harbor, please? Sir Topham Hatt has a job for me."
"Yes, of course," I replied, but I was still puzzled. Workmen coupled Trevor's car to my train and soon we were ready to start our journey.
"I'm glad Sir Topham Hatt needs me," called Trevor. "I don't have enough to do sometimes, you know: although I can work anywhere- in orchards...on farms..in scrapyards- even at harbors!" .
"But you don't run on rails!" I puffed. I was puzzled by an engine who didn't need rails.
"I'm a traction engine. I don't need rails to be useful," replied Trevor. "You wait and see."
When we reached the harbor, we found everything in confusion. Cars had been derailed, blocking the line, and stone slabs lay everywhere.
"We must get these pilings past," said Driver. "They are , we need you to drag them 'round this mess.
"Just the sort of job I like," replied Trevor. "Now you'll see, Thomas... I'll show you what traction engines can do."
Trevor was as good as his word. He dragged the piling clear of the chains, and towed them into position.
"Who needs rails?" he muttered cheerfully to himself. Later, I brought Annie and Clarabel to visit him. I was most impressed.
"Now I understand how useful a traction engine can be." I'd seen Trevor at work, so now I got what a traction engine could do.
The coaches were full of children. Trevor gave them rides along the harbor. He liked this best of all.
"He's very kind," said Annie.
"He reminds me of Thomas," added Clarabel. I believe it was my kind heart and cheerfulness. I could be kind, when I wasn't being cheeky, even then and my branch line made me a happy little engine. Because of my kind heart, I didn't like my new friend being sad. I still don't like it when my friends are sad, so I give them a buffer press, if they've got buffers and I can move. If they lack buffers, I do other actions to help them feel better and I can also offer comforting words. I quite like comfort when I'm unhappy, like from Driver. I've had multiple drivers over the years and my driver at any given time's been able to comfort me like no one else. If I like comfort, I feel I should give it and my dislike of my friends being sad's another reason to do what I can. Everyone was sorry when it was time for Trevor to go. I pulled him to the junction. A small tear came into Trevor's eye. I pretended not to see. I whistled gaily to make Trevor happy.
"I'll come and see you if I can," I promised. "The Vicar will look after you, and there's plenty of work for you now at the orchard. But we may need you at the harbor again someday." It was clear he liked the harbor, I felt, to be teary-eyed over leaving it. I thought if I told him that, it might provide some comfort and help cheer him up.
"That would be wonderful," said Trevor. The next time I saw Trevor, he told me about the night after we met.
That evening, Trevor stood remembering...his new friend me...the harbor and most of all, the children. Then he went happily to sleep, in the shed, in the bottom of the orchard. I know Trevor to have become fond of children. Many children love me, for whatever reason I couldn't tell you. Maybe children just like tank engines. but I'm happy to know I make them happy.
A/N Respect my inspiration for the parts I added and my English. I'm not British, they are.