Chapter 11: Going Home

Later, as everyone was being loaded back onto the train, the elves helped put the caboose back on with a trolley. "Show your tickets. Have your tickets ready." Conductor Norwood said, punching holes in the tickets. The Ferrus Quintuplets and Artha's siblings were already on board after having their tickets punched. "And remember to eat 5 basic food groups. Ticket please. And please brush after every meal." As the elves finally attached the caboose, they fell from the trolley's handles. Max and Artha giggled at the scene, but soon stopped. "Remember to duck and cover. Alright, Morris. Ticket please." Conductor Norwood said as Morris gave him his ticket. After punching in the remaining words, Morris took back his ticket and saw what he had spelled. "Lean. Whatever that's supposed to mean." Morris said, handing his ticket back. "Lean is spelled with 4 letters. I believe I punched 5." Conductor Norwood said, revealing he punched in an R in between the A and the N. "Hey, are you saying I don't know how to-" Morris started to say until he read the word. "Oh. I'm sorry. It says learn. My mistake." He apologized before getting back on the train. "Lesson learned." Conductor Norwood said, impressed with Morris' quick learning. "Ticket." Jeanne held up her ticket, revealing to have an O and N punched in it. Conductor Norwood punched in the letters and handed it back to her. As she looked at it, she noticed it was upside down. She flipped it and it said Depend On. But after getting a deep thought, she flipped it again and the words changed to Rely On, and one more time to Count On. "That is some special ticket, Jeanne." Conductor Norwood said. "It sure is." Jeanne said with a smile. "So, can you count on us to get you home safe and sound?" Conductor Norwood asked. "Absolutely. Me…and my friends." Jeanne said, smiling at Max and Artha before heading on board. "Ticket." Artha handed him his ticket. Conductor Norwood punched in the remaining letters before handing it back. Artha stared at the word Lead. "It says Lead. Like lead balloon." Artha said, mispronouncing the word. "I believe it is also pronounced lead. As in leader, leadership, lead the way. Follow you anywhere, Mr. Penn." Conductor Norwood said, saluting Artha before he headed on board. "Ah, yes. Maxwell McGrath, the young man with all the questions. Ticket." Max handed him his ticket. But then, Conductor Norwood put the ticket behind his back and started punching in the letters without even looking. As he handed it back to Max, he saw that he spelled Believe. "It says…" Max started to say, but Conductor Norwood stopped him. "D'oh! It's nothing I need to know." Conductor Norwood said. Max smiled and nodded.

Max continued to stare at his ticket as he made it aboard the train. As he looked out at his friends with a smile, when he put the ticket back in his pocket, he didn't notice it disappearing. As he walked in, the kids started begging to see his new bell. "Come on. Show us the bell, Max." Artha said as he helped sit him down. "Yeah, let's see the bell." Morris said. "Show us, Max." Wandella said. Max reached into his pocket to grab the bell. But he then realized that was the pocket with the hole in it. And the bell…was gone. "It's gone." He said. "What?" Vandana asked. "Where is it?" Lance asked. "I lost it. I lost the bell from Santa's sleigh." Max said in sadness. "Don't worry, Max. We'll find it." Jeanne said. "Yeah. We'll help you. All of us." Morris said. "Yeah, let's hurry out and find it right now." Artha said. But before anyone could head outside, the Polar Express started moving. Artha looked out the window and saw they were moving. "It's too late." He said. "Oh no." Zad said. "Gee, that's really too bad. Really." Morris said. As everyone hurried to their seats, Max sat in sadness for losing his First Gift of Christmas. "I'm sorry, Max." Artha said. Max didn't answer as the train made its round trip around the tree and the still dancing elves.

"Next stop, 113 44 Edbrooke. Next stop, 113 44 Edbrooke." Conductor Norwood announced on the microphone after a while of travelling. Jeanne got up from her seat and started to follow him. "Hey, Jeanne, where are you going?" Morris asked. "Home." Jeanne said. "Oh, okay. Merry Christmas." Morris said. Jeanne nodded before continuing. But she stopped in front of Max, Artha and their family. "Thanks for stopping the train for me, Max." She said, giving Max a handshake. Kyden walked up and gave her a hug. "You have a wonderful Christmas." He said. Conductor Norwood set down a footstool as Jeanne walked down. "Watch your step. And Merry Christmas." He said. As Jeanne looked at her house, she pointed at it. Conductor Norwood motioned for her to go. Jeanne ran up to her house and entered through the front door. "Look, guys." Artha said. Max and the others looked out the window before the train started moving again. "Santa got to Jeanne's house already." Artha said. Jeanne came back outside…holding her present! "Look, look! Santa got here!" She cheered. "Isn't that amazing?" Artha said with a smile. "It is amazing." Max said in awe. "Look! Look!" Jeanne cheered as she waved goodbye. "It is amazing." Max said as he sat down, wondering if Santa got to his house too.

Finally, the Polar Express came right up to the McGrath-Ferrus house. Conductor Norwood signaled Corneal to stop the train. As it stopped, Max and his cousins prepared to get off as the Penns and Morris came to see them off. "I'm sorry about the bell, Max. It was a really special present." Artha said. "Well, you know what they say. It's the thought that counts." Morris said. "Yeah." Max said, trying to cheer up. "Well, see you, Max." Morris said, patting Max's shoulder before heading back in the car. "Well…see you, Artha." Max said. "See you, Max." Artha said. They all came together in a big group hug. Conductor Norwood watched this before checking his pocket watch. As they broke the hug, Max and his cousins made their way down. "Watch your step please." Conductor Norwood said. "Thank you, Conductor Norwood." Max said. "No, thank you, Max. One thing about trains: It doesn't matter where they're going. What matters is deciding…to get on." Conductor Norwood said with a wink. Max and his cousins smiled at this before looking back at the Penns. They waved goodbye to each other before the Penns went back into the car.

Max and his cousins walked back into their house as the Polar Express started moving again. "Merry Christmas!" Conductor Norwood called faintly. "What?" Max said, didn't hear him. "MERRY CHRISTMAS!" Conductor Norwood called loudly, saluting them goodbye. Max and the Ferrus Quintuplets saluted back. The kids on the train waved goodbye to them. Just then, Max looked up and saw Lyman on the roof, playing his lute. He stopped playing as he waved goodbye to them too. As Max and the Ferrus Quints waved goodbye, Lyman and all of his belongings disappeared in the snow. "Who was that?" Zad asked. "A good friend." Max said. After the train disappeared, Max and his cousins went back inside. Max fiddled around his holed pocket. Still no bell. They all looked at the living room. Still no presents under their tree, stockings were still empty, and milk and cookies still right where they left them. The Ferrus Quintuplets were a bit saddened by this, thinking that Santa had forgotten them. But Max comforted them with a look of hope before they headed back up to their rooms. But then, as they went back up, smoke started rising from the logs in the chimney.

As Artha watched the McGrath-Ferrus house disappear out of view, he sat down in his seat. Just then, he felt something in his pocket. He reached in and pulled out a small present. He looked at the tag and it read 'I made this during the journey back. The elves were generous enough to lend me some of their supplies. So that you don't forget us. -Maxwell McGrath and the Ferrus Quintuplets.' Artha opened the present and revealed to be…a handmade friendship bracelet. It was made from blue and gold ribbons, with an M-shaped jewel tied on it. Artha sniffled happily at this gift, knowing that he made a best friend in Max.