New Henry

A/N Henry as a baby engine.

A man stole plans for an engine and took them to a workshop, where the engine was built. The engine came out looking like an A1/C1 mix. When the engine was finished, including being painted green, a workman said, "Let's name this engine."

"Henry", another voice said, giving the engine his name.

Henry, now alive, blinked his eyes, wrinkled his nose, opened his mouth and breathed for the first time. Henry smiled a bit, but then had a look that showed he felt a need for something. He had a look on his face that indicated he had a gentle side, but could also be vain.

"We shall get you coal and water," the workmen told Henry.

Henry smiled a bit, as he was shunted to the water column, then the coaling plant. Time went by and he eventually was steamed. "Henry," he said, softly. He showed who he was, overconfident, temperamental, neurotic at times, but with a calm, gentle side. As he went through his test, he became known as someone who spoke in his mind. He could also be arrogant and stubborn at times.

One day, because Henry was an experimental engine, another engine said, "You shouldn't exist Henry. You're not a good engine, because you can barely make any steam, often.

Henry froze up over the mean words, then he began to cry. "M-My e-eye a-are l-leaking. S-Someone dr-dry m-my f-face," he sniffled.

"There, there, Henry," a kind workman said, softly drying the green engine's tears with a cloth. "You've got tears, which is what water droplets leaking out of your eyes are.", as he softly dried Henry's tears with a cloth, rubbing his cheeks and wiping his eyes.

Henry cried some more. He was sniffing again hard, coughing, choking on his tears and hiccupping. He gasped and gulped, shaking with sobs as he let his friend comfort him.

He said, as he continued to wipe the tears away, "Cry, Henry. Let it all out.". He held the cloth to Henry's eyes and wiped all his tears away as best he could.

Henry finished his cry, hurt feelings spent. His friend dried Henry's last tears away, wiping his cheeks and eyes dry of tears, then tucked the sodden cloth in his pocket.

Due to Henry's flaws, the locomotive builder wanted to sell him and found a customer.

A/N The last line sets up Henry's journey to Sodor.