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It was getting towards the afternoon at the vicarage orchard, for more years than he could remember now, this had been home to Trevor the traction engine, now in the prime of his life, but still steaming and kicking, he and Jem Cole would find themselves occasionally trundling off to Market with a cart load of apples, each time coming back it would always be empty. It was a simple routine, but it had been one he had come to love, seeing children out in the sun enjoying themselves at the lake, or playing games in a field was much better than just seeing them seemingly all sit in a corner, lifeless while they stared silently into little rectangular things. True he had come to terms that times DO change, but was this really for the better? Ah well, he supposed it couldn't be helped. Children would do what they do.

Presently he approached the farm crossing. It was a simple arrangement, just a bit of solid concrete covered with dirt that allowed vehicles to cross the line, no guards were here as the crossing road led straight back into the orchard and nowhere else, so it wasn't exactly what you'd call busy... heck he was probably the only one to use this crossing safe for the sunday goers and the Vicar.

A shrill distant whistle broke the traction engine out of his train of thought. "Hold up, Trevor" Jem called to him. "Sounds like Edward's on his way down!" and with that, he closed what little regulator he had and Trevor came to a stop just clear of the up line. Then... silence. He looked around while he waited for the supposed train to come. Trevor took in the surroundings, he could see that the bees were in full buzziness. The lush green leaves on the trees swayed gently back and forth in the afternoon breeze.

Another shrill whistle, this time Trevor heard it properly and he was quite sure that wasn't Edwards whistle. Looking towards the source of the slowly approaching noise, he could JUST see far enough up the line to what was coming around the corner. The engine approaching was like nothing he had seen before... Small, tall funnel, painted black, shiney silvery side rods, enormous dome... Definitely not a regular that he knew of. As the engine drew closer with its train, Trevor could distinctly spot Edward behind the newcomer, he whistled a greeting as the train approached the reaction though, wasn't what he had expected. The little tank engine practically jumped off her axles in surprise, eyes wide directly at the at him, she looked as if someone had just popped a balloon right in her face! But a few seconds glancing at the old traction engine, her eyes softened in realization... a distinctly red blush of embarrassment dawned her cheeks as her eyes quickly went back to watching the rails for trouble. Edward however, returned the whistle gesture as they clanked by.

"So Tinkerbell... Might I ask where you come from?..." Edward tried breaking the metaphorical ice for the upteenth time that trip. He had allowed her to go up front so she could learn the route, if she ever needed to run the line while he was banking trains, but so far Edward had only succeeded in getting short responses out of the foreigner.

"I-... Somevhere very s-far away..." ....That wasn't very cryptic. He tried again.

"May I ask where?"

"I-I-.. I do nawt vint to say..."

"There's no need to be embarrassed about it... If you'd like to talk about it..." Edward was interrupted abruptly

"N-No Edvard.. I don't... Just...." She trailed off into murmurrs....

Edward sighed, it was quite clear that whatever happened to this engine, it had reduced her self esteem down to barely anything. "Very well Tinkerbell, you don't have to talk about it if you don't want to, but if you ever do..." he paused "I'll happily hear you out..." In hindsight, he thought it was a bit over the top for an engine he had just met, but it was apparent she hadn't really made any friends... and she needed one...

Upfront, Tinkerbell couldn't believe it, this was an all British railway! Why weren't they sneering at her for being different? What did that stout gentleman see in her enough to bring her all the way here in the first place?! Why was this old engine being so nice to her? These questions and more flooded her smokebox and refused to budge, all were trying to force their way out of her mouth. None came though, this had been the way it had for years now, she wasn't sure what to make of it. Two words however did make it out of her mouth, along with a little smile, maybe it was doubt, maybe it was self assurance, maybe she'd like to think there WERE good people outside those 3 young boys and Mr. O'Connel... but whatever the case....

"T-thank you...."

Well was this really worth the weight?... Probably not. <_> Even now I dinna think my art or writing has really gotten anywhere, but a lot has happened in my life as of late and yet... I want to continue with this little series, just haven't really had a clue on where to take it. But thats all changed as of now, I now know how I'm going to end the Edward's branchline story arch, then we can move on from here. But when this story arch ends, where should she go from here?

But the idea behind this is that Tink does gradually becomes more confident.... Like a lot of things... give her time... and she'll show you just who she can be.

Right, thats all from me for now, hope you all liked this and thank you for being so patient

Take care all

Joey the joj

Description
It was getting towards the afternoon at the vicarage orchard, for more years than he could remember now, this had been home to Trevor the traction engine, now in the prime of his life, but still steaming and kicking, he and Jem Cole would find themselves occasionally trundling off to Market with a cart load of apples, each time coming back it would always be empty. It was a simple routine, but it had been one he had come to love, seeing children out in the sun enjoying themselves at the lake, or playing games in a field was much better than just seeing them seemingly all sit in a corner, lifeless while they stared silently into little rectangular things. True he had come to terms that times DO change, but was this really for the better? Ah well, he supposed it couldn't be helped. Children would do what they do.

Presently he approached the farm crossing. It was a simple arrangement, just a bit of solid concrete covered with dirt that allowed vehicles to cross the line, no guards were here as the crossing road led straight back into the orchard and nowhere else, so it wasn't exactly what you'd call busy... heck he was probably the only one to use this crossing safe for the sunday goers and the Vicar.

A shrill distant whistle broke the traction engine out of his train of thought. "Hold up, Trevor" Jem called to him. "Sounds like Edward's on his way down!" and with that, he closed what little regulator he had and Trevor came to a stop just clear of the up line. Then... silence. He looked around while he waited for the supposed train to come. Trevor took in the surroundings, he could see that the bees were in full buzziness. The lush green leaves on the trees swayed gently back and forth in the afternoon breeze.

Another shrill whistle, this time Trevor heard it properly and he was quite sure that wasn't Edwards whistle. Looking towards the source of the slowly approaching noise, he could JUST see far enough up the line to what was coming around the corner. The engine approaching was like nothing he had seen before... Small, tall funnel, painted black, shiney silvery side rods, enormous dome... Definitely not a regular that he knew of. As the engine drew closer with its train, Trevor could distinctly spot Edward behind the newcomer, he whistled a greeting as the train approached the reaction though, wasn't what he had expected. The little tank engine practically jumped off her axles in surprise, eyes wide directly at the at him, she looked as if someone had just popped a balloon right in her face! But a few seconds glancing at the old traction engine, her eyes softened in realization... a distinctly red blush of embarrassment dawned her cheeks as her eyes quickly went back to watching the rails for trouble. Edward however, returned the whistle gesture as they clanked by.

"So Tinkerbell... Might I ask where you come from?..." Edward tried breaking the metaphorical ice for the upteenth time that trip. He had allowed her to go up front so she could learn the route, if she ever needed to run the line while he was banking trains, but so far Edward had only succeeded in getting short responses out of the foreigner.

"I-... Somevhere very s-far away..." ....That wasn't very cryptic. He tried again.

"May I ask where?"

"I-I-.. I do nawt vint to say..."

"There's no need to be embarrassed about it... If you'd like to talk about it..." Edward was interrupted abruptly

"N-No Edvard.. I don't... Just...." She trailed off into murmurrs....

Edward sighed, it was quite clear that whatever happened to this engine, it had reduced her self esteem down to barely anything. "Very well Tinkerbell, you don't have to talk about it if you don't want to, but if you ever do..." he paused "I'll happily hear you out..." In hindsight, he thought it was a bit over the top for an engine he had just met, but it was apparent she hadn't really made any friends... and she needed one...

Upfront, Tinkerbell couldn't believe it, this was an all British railway! Why weren't they sneering at her for being different? What did that stout gentleman see in her enough to bring her all the way here in the first place?! Why was this old engine being so nice to her? These questions and more flooded her smokebox and refused to budge, all were trying to force their way out of her mouth. None came though, this had been the way it had for years now, she wasn't sure what to make of it. Two words however did make it out of her mouth, along with a little smile, maybe it was doubt, maybe it was self assurance, maybe she'd like to think there WERE good people outside those 3 young boys and Mr. O'Connel... but whatever the case....

"T-thank you...."

Well was this really worth the weight?... Probably not. <_> Even now I dinna think my art or writing has really gotten anywhere, but a lot has happened in my life as of late and yet... I want to continue with this little series, just haven't really had a clue on where to take it. But thats all changed as of now, I now know how I'm going to end the Edward's branchline story arch, then we can move on from here. But when this story arch ends, where should she go from here?

But the idea behind this is that Tink does gradually becomes more confident.... Like a lot of things... give her time... and she'll show you just who she can be.

Right, thats all from me for now, hope you all liked this and thank you for being so patient

Take care all

Joey the joj