A Touch of Nature
Emily the Stirling Engine is enjoying her life on the Island of Sodor. She enjoys seeing the many sights and sounds on the railway. From the bustling sound of people at Knapford station to the calm ocean sound near Tidmouth Beach. She enjoys each and every one of them.
One day, she was taking a goods train through a place everyone calls, Henry's Forest. She heard from the other engines that Henry enjoys visiting his forest the most. She wonders why.
"Hmm, I wonder. Out of all the places on the Island of Sodor, why does Henry like the forest?" She thought to herself.
As Emily wondered, she was stopped by a red signal. While she waited for the signal to change, she spotted Henry in a siding, enjoining the sights and sounds of the forest.
"Hello there Henry." Emily called out to him.
This made Henry looked.
"Oh hello there Emily." He replied back. "What brings you here?"
"I'm taking a goods train from Wellsworth to Brendam Docks for Edward. He broke a coupling between his tender and the front truck. So he had to go to the works to get a replacement coupling while I was called in to help take it for him. I hope he'll be alright."
"Oh don't worry, Emily. He may be old, but he's still has enough steam in him to keep him going." Reassured Henry.
"Well...if you're sure about that." She said. Then Emily spoke out what she had in mind. "Mmm Henry. I want to ask you something."
"Really? What is it, Emily?" asked Henry.
"Out of all the places on the island, why do you like your forest the most?" The Emerald Engine questioned him.
Henry was surprise. He blink for a moment before he smiled and happily explained.
"I like the forest because it's peaceful here. The sounds of the trees rustling, the birds chirping, and children playing in the distance sound really relaxing here. "
"I think I know what you mean Henry." said Emily. "The sights and sound for a place like this does feel relaxing here."
"Indeed. It's called A Touch of Nature." Henry said.
"A Touch of Nature?" Asked Emily.
"That's right. It's like the forest can help take away whatever bad feeling you feel and helps whisk them away as the sound of nature can help you feel calm and peaceful whenever you're here."
"And where did you get this "Touch of Nature" from?" asked Emily.
"I got that from my old driver that use to drive me in the early days of the railway. He helped me see what a "Touch of Nature" can do to you."
"That sounds really nice. Can you tell me more?" asked Emily.
"Do you have some time for a story?" Henry asked back.
The Sterling engine looked at the signal. She could see that it was still red.
"Doesn't look like I won't be going anywhere for awhile." said Emily. "I do have time for a story."
"Very well then." Henry began his story.
It all started back before I had my new shape. I was still getting use to the Welsh coal. The coal helped me do wonders to my performances. I no longer feel sick whenever I took the Welsh coal and my fireman at the time would put it in my smokebox, despite being undersize at the time. It burn brightly in me. I felt wonderful.
Unfortunately, Gordon and James were jealous by how my performance improved by the coal. Saying that the only reason the Fat Controller bought the coal is due to favoritism. So they tease me when they both got the chance.
"Fancy using that special coal, eh Henry." Teased Gordon as he chuffed pass me one time. "Why don't you put it to the test the next time you went into a tunnel ."
"You're only using that coal because the Fat Controller sees you as his favorite." Pestered James. "You're just being a silly lazy engine."
I slowly became irritated by this. They both won't stop teasing me. Edward tried comforting me, but it didn't do much. I just grew slowly cross and annoyed by Gordon and James' teasing.
Then one day, as I was getting ready for the day, my driver said that after we done our work for the day, he will take me to the forest.
"Why are we going to the forest?" I asked my driver.
"You'll see." Answered my driver.
I didn't know what my driver was thinking from that answer. So I just worked hard as normal while I ignored Gordon and James' teasing.
After I finished all of my jobs for the day, my driver drove me to the forest. I passed the forest a couple times before, but back then, I never stop by the forest. My driver went by the signal box, made some arrangements with the signalman, and then brought me to a siding. I was still wondering why my driver brought us here.
"Driver, why are we in the forest?" I asked him.
"Simple. I know one way that can help deal with your irritation from Gordon and James' teasing." My driver told me.
"Really? How?"
"Listen." My driver said.
"Listen to what?"
"To the forest of course." My driver chuckled.
I was skeptical by what my driver wanted me to do, but I complied and do what he said. As I listen, I didn't understand what he meant at first.
"Mmmm. Driver? I don't understand. All I hear are the trees rustling and birds chirping. Nothing more." I said to him.
"Exactly. It's those sounds that you should listen to, Henry." He said.
"But why listen to the sounds of the forest? How does that help deal with my irritation?" I asked my driver once more.
"Well Henry. Do you know that one way to help deal with irritation is to find a happy place to go to. And the forest is the place I like to go for my happy place." He explained.
"Really?"
"Yes it is. It has that kind of feeling that helps blows away all of your negativity away as the calm noises of the forest sinks in you. I call it, A Touch of Nature." He told me.
After hearing that, I became interested by this.
"Why don't you try listening to the sounds of the forest again? Carefully this time." My driver implored.
And so I did. I listened to the sounds of the forest again. This time I listened carefully. As I did, I took in the sounds of the forest around me. The sounds of gentle rustlings of the trees and the chirping of birds helped clear all of irritation and other negative feelings out of me.
"Now how do you feel Henry?" My driver asked again.
"I...feel calm, relaxed, and at peace. I think I found my own happy place here too, driver." I calmly told my driver as I took in the calm sounds of the forest around me.
And so whenever I feel irritated or down, I would come here to the forest to listen to the sounds. Eventually after my accident with the Flying Kipper and my rebuild, the teasing died down for the time being. As time went on, the railway continues to change and become busier and busier. So my driver and fireman, along with my current new crew, finish our jobs for the day if possible, we would come here to the forest and take in the calming sounds of the environment as we look around in our surroundings and let a touch of nature help take all of the negative feelings away.
Henry finished telling his story. Emily took in everything that he said. She was fascinated
"So now you know. The reason why I like the forest the most is because the sounds here help me calm down. I really find it peaceful and relaxing here. It's all thanks to what my old driver told me about how a touch of nature can help with my irratation." He told Emily.
"That's a wonderful story, Henry. Thank you for telling it. I can now see why you like this place very much." She said.
Then the signal changed to red.
"Oh? Looks like that's my cue. I need to take this goods train to Brendam Docks." Said Emily to Henry.
"Of course. Thank you for listening to my story." Happily said the green Engine.
"You're welcome. And thanks again for telling it." Replied Emily happily.
With that said, the Sterling engine puffed away; now having a better understanding on how the forest is Henry the Green Engine's most favorite place to visit.
The End
Author's Notes: So I wrote this a year or two years ago for a contest with one of the T&F Youtubers out there. I lost unfortunately lost, but I'm happy to type something out after all these years. I was gonna put it up earlier around the time I made it, but I thought I missed placed it. Luckily I manage to find again. I hoped you guys enjoyed it.
Disclaimer: I do not own Thomas and Friends/ the Railway Series. It belongs to its respective owners.