Chapter 321: Phillip and the Tiger
A new wildlife park had been built on Edward's branchline, and everyone was excited to see the new animals. Edward was at Brendam, collecting the animals. His son Phillip was there with him, watching in awe as all of the animal crates were lowered down onto their waiting flatbeds.
"What kinds of animals will there be, dad?"
"All kinds," his father replied. "There'll be Lions, Tigers, Hippos, and so much more!"
"Oh my! What's a hippo?"
Edward chuckled, and ruffled his son's hair.
"Tell you what, we'll go when it's open, and you can see for yourself."
"Yay!"
"But if we don't get these animals there, it won't open. Do me a favor, and go check that all of the crates are secure before we leave."
"Sure thing!"
Phillip walked down the length of the train, but as he reached the halfway point a growl caught his attention, coming from one of the boxes. Curious, he stepped forward and peered in to be met with a pair of piercing white eyes. Startled, he stumbled back just before a huge claw emerged and swiped at him, Edward catching him.
"Phillip, are you alright?"
"Wh-what is that thing?"
Edward sighed, and pulled him into a hug.
"That's a tiger and her newborn cubs. Listen Phillip, you should never get too close to a wild animal. Even a baby one is dangerous, especially if you don't have proper training. Do you understand?"
Phillip nodded, making Edward smile.
"Good. I just got the go ahead to leave. How about after this run is complete we go and get some ice cream?"
Phillip smiled.
"Ok!"
A few days later, Edward and Phillip were eating breakfast before he left for work. Edward was reading the newspaper when a headline caught his attention.
"Oh dear, it says here that the tigers escaped from the zoo last night!"
"Not the same ones we were transporting!" Phillip cried.
"The very same ones, I'm afraid."
"Oh dear, I hope they're alright."
"Don't worry," Edward soothed. "I'm sure they'll be returned soon."
A while later, Phillip was walking home from school. He was just walking past an old engine shed when he saw something move within it. He couldn't be sure, but he thought it looked like a long, striped tail.
"Could that be?"
He remembered Edward's warning about wild animals, but he also knew that they could be hurt. So, very cautiously, he approached the shed. As he got closer, he saw a very familiar pair of white eyes.
"The tigers are in there!"
Indeed they were. The mother Tiger growled at him when she saw him, so he stopped in his tracks. But even from that distance he could see one of the cubs was hurt.
"Don't worry, I'll go get help!"
Phillip immediately ran to the station and phoned Animal Control. It didn't take long before the animal park caretakers arrived to retrieve her, Edward having taken them. The mother tiger growled at them as they approached, they didn't back down, just coming towards them with their arms up.
"It's okay, girl, we don't want to hurt you. We're here to bring you home, and help the little one."
Once she realized the group wasn't a threat, the mother backed down, letting them guide her and her cubs into a waiting animal car.
"Don't worry, you'll all be fixed up in no time."
Once the tigers were secure, Edward walked over to Phillip.
"You did the right thing, Phillip. And because of you, the tigers are now safe and sound."
"That's good," Phillip said. "Can we go visit them this weekend?"
"I don't see why not."
"Yay!"
Edward was good as his word, and that Saturday the two of them made a trip to the park. The tiger cub was still healing, but Edward and Phillip were happy to see him playing with his brother while their mother watched them as she dozed in the sun. But Phillip was most surprised to learn that they had named one of the cubs Phillip after him.
