It was a bright and sunny day on the Brazilian Railway. Thomas and Raul were delivering some trucks to a factory.
"So, the Amazon is a rainforest?" Thomas asked.
"That's right," said Raul.
"Well then, why is it called a rainforest?"
"Because it rains there most of the time. There are many amazing animals and special trees too. The trees grow food for people to eat and they have other special qualities that people use for making things like medicine."
"What about their big leaves?"
Thomas went on to tell Raul about how he and Nia had run out of water in the Amazon and how their Drivers used leaves to make funnels to catch rainwater. When they finally arrived at the factory, an orange and blue diesel met them. "Hola, Raul, and you must be Thomas. I remember you from the first time you were in Rio. I'm Alex."
Thomas was puzzled. "You don't sound like you come from around here."
"Neither do you," laughed Alex, "but you're right. I used to work near London before I came here."
Just then, they all heard a pair of whistles and two more engines puffed out of the factory. One of them was Ricardo, who Thomas had met before, but he didn't know who the other engine was. "Olé, Thomas," said Ricardo. Raul cleared his throat. "Hello to you too, Raul."
Thomas looked at the other engine; he looked almost exactly like Raul and Ricardo. "I didn't know there were so many engines like you, Raul."
Raul smiled. "This is my other brother, Ronaldo. We're triplets."
"Triplets?"
"You've seen twins before, si?" asked Ronaldo.
"Yes-uh, I mean…si."
"Well," said Ricardo, "think of it like that, but with three engines instead of two; that's what 'triple' means."
"Oh." Thomas was impressed.
"Anyway, where do you want these trucks?" asked Raul.
"Come with me," Ricardo sighed. "I'll so you." And the two brothers set off together.
Thomas was confused. "What was that about?"
"What do you mean?" asked Alex.
"Is something bothering Ricardo?"
"It's Raul," explained Ronaldo. "The three of us are very alike. We have the same shape, power, and skill, yet Raul was chosen to take part in the Shunting Competition at the Great Railway Show…twice. Whenever he's around us, that's all he talks about. The only relief we get is when the Carnival is in town."
At that moment, Raul and Ricardo came back. "So, once more," puffed Raul proudly, "I was able to show everyone at the Show what a skilled engine I am."
"Really," said Ronaldo. "If I remember correctly, Thomas won the last Competition."
"Along with that tank engine from India," added Ricardo. "What was her name again?"
"Ashima," said Thomas, "and she did very well too. We became very good friends."
"Yes, well, I still put up a good challenge," Raul insisted.
"Of course, you did," said Thomas, trying to be polite.
"Tell us more, Thomas," urged Ronaldo.
Raul was surprised. No one seemed to be taking notice of him anymore. "Hey, what about me?"
"Oh, your trucks are waiting on Siding 10," said Alex. "Thomas' aren't ready yet." Raul didn't know what to make of this, but he knew he had work to do, so he puffed back to the sidings.
Thomas enjoyed talking with the other engines and they didn't notice how much time had passed. Then, the Foreman approached them. "Alex, we need you to shunt the last trucks for Thomas' next train."
"Oh, sorry, Sir." Alex went to fetch the trucks and it wasn't long before Thomas' train was ready.
"Bust my buffers," gasped Thomas. "That's a long train."
"Well, there were more than we thought there would be," said Ricardo.
"And wasn't Raul supposed to come back and help you?" Ronaldo asked.
The four engines looked around, but Raul was nowhere to be seen. "Where is he?" Thomas wondered.
"I haven't seen him since I told him where his trucks were," replied Alex. Then, he had an idea. "Ronaldo, why don't you and Ricardo help Thomas take these trucks to Rio and rest there tonight? I can manage the rest of the work here." The two brothers were excited and agreed.
Working together, the three engines reached Guanabara Bay easily with their heavy load, but when they arrived, there was still no sign of Raul. "Cassia!" Thomas called, "have you seen Raul?"
"He left his trucks here this afternoon and went to the sheds. He looked sad."
"Oh, no," groaned Ricardo. "I think we hurt his feelings. No wonder Alex suggested we stay here tonight."
The engines left their trucks and hurried to the shed and saw Gabriela and Gustavo. Raul was there too, sitting silently by himself.
"Ricardo, Ronaldo, hola!" said Gabriela. "We don't see you two here very often."
"What's wrong with Raul?" asked Thomas.
"I don't know. He only says he wants to be alone."
Thomas, Ricardo and Ronaldo backed into the shed. Thomas looked at his friend. "Are you alright, Raul?"
"Who wants to know?" Raul answered quietly.
"I do; we all do. You just disappeared earlier."
"What you mean is you didn't notice when I left."
"Is that what this is about?" asked Ronaldo. "We were just talking."
"It was like I wasn't even there!" Raul burst out. "Me! Your own brother! Am I not important to you anymore?!"
Now, the engines understood. "Of course you are."
"Then why were you ignoring me?"
"We weren't trying to," said Ricardo. "Thomas is a guest on our railway, and Ronaldo and I never met him properly. He's been travelling all around the world having adventures while we have always worked here in Brazil."
"But," Ronaldo added, "we've also been getting a little tired of your stories from the Great Railway Show. Almost every time we see you, it's all you talk about. I think we've also been jealous of you. The three of us are all the same, but they chose you to go to the show."
"Oh," sighed Raul. "I'm sorry. I know I like the excitement of winning competitions, but I also thought you would be proud of me. When I went to the show, I was able to show everyone what the three of us can do; how reliable we are at our work. Besides, it can be boring around here sometimes, and I wanted to bring a little excitement back with me."
Raul's brothers looked ashamed. "We are proud of you, Raul," Ricardo replied, "but maybe it would be better if you didn't tell the same stories every time we see you? Then they get old and don't feel special anymore."
"And you don't have to tell only those stories to make us proud," smiled Ronaldo. "You're our brother and, no matter which of us went to the Great Railway Show, we will always be reliable. Still, we're sorry too."
"We are."
Raul felt better. "Well, now that we're all here…Thomas, would you mind telling us about your adventures while visiting us?"
Thomas was happy to agree, but what made him happiest what that the three brothers were happy to be together again.