Chapter Text
James was a splendid red engine.
But one day, he didn’t feel so splendid.
He sobbed and wailed without his driver and fireman. He was lost and completely alone on an old abandoned branch line. All around him were green trees, bushes, and vines. His wheels ached from running over the rough, unkept tracks and plants were stuck all around and inside his wheels and drive shafts.
No one had seen him enter the old line and he was sure no one could see him now from the main line due to all the greenery as well as how far he’d travelled before stopping.
“No one will find me here,” he wept, feeling a large tear slide down his cheek. His fire was weak, having not been tended in some time. He didn’t even have enough steam to whistle.
All he could do was cry.
As he paused to take a deep sobbing breath, he felt his gaze drawn to a little stone well that sat nearby in the same state of disrepair as the rails. The wooden roof and winch had collapsed into the well, but James could see water sparkling inside the stone rim. He remembered something Thomas and Percy had mentioned about “wishing wells”.
“ You make a wish and toss in a coin and your wish would come true,” Thomas informed him.
“But you can’t tell anyone your wish or it won’t come true,” Percy added.
“If only I had a coin,” James whined. “Maybe… Maybe it’ll work even if I don’t have one. If this is even a wishing well…” He closed his eyes and focused hard on his wish.
“I wish I would be found and rescued,” he spoke clearly, hoping the well could hear him.
Just then, a squirrel broke a twig onto James’ face. He sputtered, spitting out several leaves in surprise.
Unbeknownst to him, one of the leaves drifted into the abandoned well.