Chapter 264: A Misty Island Christmas

Christmas time had come to Sodor, and everyone was getting ready for the big day. Presently, Ferdinand was having a cup of cocoa with Thomas and Percy while conversing about the holiday.

"Are you looking forward to Christmas this year, Thomas?"

"Considering it'll be little Tommy's first one, yeah! Emily was so excited dressing him up as an elf, though I don't think he enjoyed it too much."

"Yeah, I can imagine. Still though, it'll be different this year."

"Hey, I just realized something. This will be Bash and Dash's first Christmas too, won't it?"

To their surprise, Ferdinand just laughed merrily.

"Well, not quite. First traditional Christmas, perhaps, but we did have a Christmas party of a sort a few years ago."

"Oh, do tell us!"

And so he did. And this is the story that he told...

A few years ago, around Christmas time, Ferdinand sat on the beach, staring out towards the ocean as he remembered a life before he washed up on the forgotten isle.

"I wonder what the world out there is like now. Maybe there's still a place out there for me."

"Whatcha doin', dad?"

Turning around, he found his sons approaching him.

"Oh, nothing. Just thinking about life beyond this little rock we call home."

"We'll get off this rock one day, day. Just you wait."

Bash shivered, trying to keep warm in the cold air.

"Well, wherever we wind up, I hope its somewhere warm! I'm freezing!"

Ferdinand chuckled quietly.

"That's winter for you. Ah, this brings me back! If my calendar's right, it should be December. Ought to be about Christmas time, I think."

"What's Christmas?"

So Ferdinand told them all about Christmas trees, presents, and Santa Claus. Bash and Dash sat in intense awe as Ferdinand finished his story.

"Woah, that sounds awesome!"

"Can we have Christmas here? Please?"

Ferdinand shook his head.

"Sorry boys, but we don't have even half of the things we'd need. We'd need lights, and a christmas tree, a wreath..."

"Oh."

"I'm gonna go try and catch us some breakfast. I'll see you two later."

"Bye dad!"

As soon as Ferdinand was out of sight, Bash pulled his brother close and began whispering a plan. Dash grinned and nodded.

"We'll do it tonight. Oh boy, is dad in for a treat!"

The two spent the entire day plotting, making Ferdinand rather suspicious. But no matter what, he couldn't get a word out of them. "Wait and see," was all they would say.

Later that night after dinner, Ferdinand sat up and stretched, letting out a rather big yawn.

"Alright, I'm heading to bed. Don't stay up too late, you two."

"We won't!"

Bash and Dash waited 30 minutes, just to make sure Ferdinand was asleep before setting to work.

"Make sure to keep quiet. If we wake dad up, it'll ruin the surprise!"

"I know, I know!"

The two of them worked all through the night, and by sunrise their work was done. Although they were tired, they couldn't help but feel a sense of great accomplishment.

"Hey dad, come quick! You've got to check this out!"

"Alright, I'm coming. Now what's the-"

Ferdinand stopped dead in his tracks when he saw what the boys had done. Over the course of one night, they had transformed their tiny little hut into as much of winter celebration as they could muster. A medium sized Jobi log stood in the corner wrapped in fishing wire, a bunch of leaves had been formed into a wreath, everything was represented in some way.

"You... you two did this for me?"

"We saw how much you missed Christmas, so we decided to-"

"...Give it to you as best...

"...We could. Do you like it?"

Ferdinand grinned and wrapped them both in a big hug.

"I love it! Thanks boys, this is the best gift I've ever gotten! Come on, I think there's still some...boys?"

Ferdinand stopped, looking down to see his sons sound asleep. Ferdinand chuckled and shook his head.

"Merry Christmas."