A/N This is the story of Linus's friends from my The Brave Locomotive crossover with TTTE. I ran out of steam for Linus to the point I couldn't use him as lead, but not his friends. They may interact with Linus, but his role's less than theirs, as I just want to develop the kids more.
Linus was on a siding and his friends, Sophie and her little siblings, Patrick and Imogen were with him.
Sophie said, "Patrick's birthday's tomorrow and my parents are getting the ingredients to make his cake. He's been weepy today."
Patrick began to cry again, wailing sobs of grief. "I-I m-miss Gr-Granddad dr-dreadfully. H-He u-used t-to c-ome s-see m-me f-for m-my birthday," he said, wiping tears away. Every word was another huge sob. He fidgeted and sniffled, blowing his nose mixed in with wiping away his endless tears.
Imogen wailed loudly, joining her brother in tears.
Sophie said, pulling out a handkerchief from Imogen's backpack. "Imogen's learning to blow her nose, since she wipes it without being told.". Then, she gave the littler girl the hanky, saying "Wipe your face."
Imogen wiped under her eyes, saying, "M-Me s-so s-sad. P-Pat s-sad. Cw-Cwy. S-Sad ou-out m-my e-eyes. Fl-Floods o-of t-tears."
Imogen's nose was soon runny from her crying, then Sophie, who was holding her crying sister on her lap, took the hanky when she saw her sister's nose pouring snot from her crying and said, "Blow your nose, Imogen, like your brother.", holding the hanky for her. Sophie blew out from her nose, to encourage the little one to do the same. Imogen blew her nose. She snuggled her brother, who was sitting next to his sisters.
Sophie then began to cry, unable to hold back her tears, triggered by Patrick's mention of their granddad. She pulled out her favorite hanky and sobbed into it, one hand free to help Imogen blow her nose.
Linus told the kids, "Here with me's a safe place to dry your eyes. Just cry. Let it all out. I'm here for you, to listen and support you in your grief attack.".
The kids sobbed convulsively, not holding back. They were constantly drying tears and blowing their noses, stuffy and runny from all their weeping.
Linus said, "I know what grief's like, so I just want to be supportive and understanding to heartbroken friends of mine.
The kids' tears and sobs subsided. They dried their last tears away, their faces and swollen eyes flame-red and blew their noses.
Sophie said, "I've got to get them home, as our parents will be back soon. Cheerio."
Linus said, "I got a train to pull when my crew come back. Maybe I can pull a birthday train for you, Patrick. I've had my crew make arrangements for each of you to get one, but I've got to have dates for your sisters."
Sophie said, as she left, "Imogen's is a few months off and I had mine before I met you. She's a very sensitive soul, overwhelmed with empathy"
Sophie and her siblings went back home with sodden handkerchiefs from their tears and Linus went on with his day.
Sophie helped her parents decorate for her brother's birthday, keeping an eye on him and their little sister as they played a game. Then, they had their tea and went about the end of their day.
A/N Patrick's birthday will be the next chapter. I once read a book in which a girl half as tall as a grown-up had a hankie in her backpack, which is why Imogen, my toddler OC, has one in hers. Some 2.5 year olds can blow their nose on request, so her speaking ability sets whether or not she's 3 yet.