7
The Polar Express began to make its climb up into the mountains. The grades were relatively easy for now and the three engines made light work of the entire affair. The foothills were giving way to granite rock faces, where upon the observant rider could catch glimpses of Doll Sheep standing along some of the crevasses. As the train began to climb higher in altitude, the atmosphere began to thin a bit and the stars in the sky glowed with an intensity rarely seen at the lower altitudes, competing in intensity with the light of the full moon, as the number of them to be seen increased tenfold. You could see the arm of the Milky Way our solar system resides, in a brilliance those living in cities could never appreciate. As if you could reach up into the heavens and touch the stars themselves.
Tommy and the Old Man were lost deep in thought, comfortable in the chairs, when from out of nowhere the Conductor spoke up, “Beautiful view isn’t it?” Both so deep into their concentration, they failed to neither notice nor hear the conductor approach, so his speaking startled both to where they almost jumped completely out of their seats. Much like a cat that is intently staring at a toy and is startled, that if the two had had tails, they would have resembled pipe cleaners with every bit of fur standing straight on end.
After the initial shock wore off, the Old Man in a smart-alecky tone said, “You know, this habit of yours, of just sneaking up on people is going to kill my ticker.” The Conductor chuckled a moment before continuing, “The best view of this area is from one of the dome cars.” To the surprise of both men, Tommy spoke up, “But I like the tree. It feels very peaceful here,” he turned in his seat some to look up at the Conductor, almost a pleading in his voice, “I wanna stay here. I don’t want to go back.” The Conductor moved over to Tommy’s seat and looked in his eyes. The sadness and hurt almost seemed to radiate from him. “What about your family? Friends? Don’t you want to see them again?” the Conductor asked.
The look on Tommy’s face pretty much told them the answer before he even said anything. He hung his head and softly spoke, “I don’t know. I really don’t have any friends and my Dad pretty much ignores me, so, what do I really have to go back to?” The Conductor watched the boy for a moment, and then looked at the Old man, almost as if he was at a loss for words on how to answer Tommy. “Tommy, I know your Father loves you very much,” the Conductor began, “But, I have a feeling that the future is going to be remarkable,” but before he could finish, they could hear the loud blast from the air horn as the train passed over a small grade crossing for an old road that had not seen a vehicle on it for years.
At that moment, the intercom buzzed. “The Engineer is calling. Something must be amiss.” He turned and walked back to the front of the car as Tommy got up, and along with the Old Man, followed the conductor to the intercom box on the wall near the door. They could overhear part of the conversation as the Conductor spoke into the phone, “Well, is there a possibility we could out run it?” The Conductor began to nod his head at something that was being said on the other end of the line. “Well, that could put a quick stop to this trip if that happened, and I am not about to make this the first time The Polar Express will be late to the North Pole, or its final run either.” He thought for just a brief moment then added, “Let’s give it a try. If not, we could be stuck here for days. Let me know when you are ready, Time is of the essence here.” He returned the phone to its cradle and closed the door to it and began to address the two standing before him with bewildered looks upon their faces.
“It seems we have a, minor problem. The horn sound was loud enough to crack the snow pack above us and is about to give way,” the Conductor informed them. Tommy was the first to ask, “A minor problem? That sounds more like a major problem Captain Understatement. What would happen if it lets loose?” “At the least, the avalanche will slide in front of us, blocking the tracks,” he answered. “And the worst?” the Old Man asked. The Conductor faced him, sternly saying, “The snow field would bury us and quite possibly knock us off the line into the canyon below us.”
“So what is the solution?” Tommy asked. The Conductor turned back to Tommy saying, “We are going to try and out run it. If successful, the snow will fall harmlessly behind us and we continue on.” Now the Old Man had another important question to ask, “How big is this snow field we’re talking about?” The Conductor ushered them to the window on the side facing the canyon wall and said, “Look up. That snow pack is roughly a couple miles long. When it lets go, it will start slow at first, and then very quickly pick up speed as it flattens and buries anything in its path.”
They craned their neck to get a better view, and with the brightness of the full moon, they could clearly see the snow field, and the large crack that was beginning to form. “It’s going to go any moment now,” the Old Man commented. As if the Engineer could hear them, the intercom buzzed again. The Conductor went back to the panel and this time put them on the speaker function so they could all listen in, “Are you all set up there?” the Conductor asked. The Engineer replied, “Just give the word sir. One thing, we are coming up on Bobby Pin Curve. You know that we have to take that under a certain speed or we could fly right off the tracks.”
“I’m well aware of the risks, but that avalanche is letting go as we speak. We need to go now! I have a feeling that She will hold to the rails and get us out of this predicament,” the Conductor replied as words of encouragement. “Yes Sir. Going full throttle, now!” The three stumbled back a bit as the sudden burst of speed hit the train. The Conductor kept the line open so he could hear the Engineer and Brakeman communicate with each other as they began to push the Polar Express to its limits.
The scenery outside began to coalesce into one major blur as the train went faster. They could feel the vibrations and hear the straining of metal as the cars were beginning to exceed their limit, as if in protest to the abuse and threatening to rip themselves apart. Just as the snow field let loose and began its destructive slide down the face of the mountain, Tommy came up with the oddest time to ask a question, “What is Bobby Pin Curve?” The Conductor looked at him in a serious tone and said, “It is the sharpest turn on the Polar Express Line that wraps around a granite outcropping. The curve resembles a Bobby Pin women use to keep their hair up with,” as the Conductor made a map in the air with his pointer finger showing a curve that almost bends back into itself, then continuing with a series of S turns that follow. “The limit for that curve is crawl speed,” the Conductor finished.
The Old Man was about to pipe up that it would be impossible for a train of this size to navigate such a turn, but thought better of it when the first rock sized chunks of snow began to pelt the roof of the car. The Conductor spoke into the air towards the intercom, “I’m not sure if you are getting anything up front, but we are beginning to get pelted with snow and debris from above us. I suggest a little more speed!” “I’m giving Her all She’s got!” came from the speaker, “You better grab hold of something solid, quarter of a mile to the curve.”
“I suggest we sit at the tables and hold on. They are bolted to the floor,” the Conductor urged. The three sat down and wrapped arms around the table edge, gripping for dear life, as the pounding on the roof intensified. The Conductor looked his usual stoic self, The Old Man looked concerned, but Tommy had a look of sheer terror on his face as to what was about to happen. The vibration turned into violent rocking and shaking as the train fought against the forces of physics and nature to stay on the tracks.
Thick black smoke poured from the exhaust stacks on the three locomotives as the train reached terminal velocity. The avalanche was beginning to overtake them when the Polar Express hit the curve. In that moment, it seemed that time came to a complete stop for the three in the observation car as the entire dynamics of the train’s motion suddenly changed. The lead locomotive hit the curve first and began to lean to the outside of the curve, over the canyon below. There was unintelligible yelling coming from the speaker box, which no one could make out what was being said. The trucks and wheels began to squeal and send up a tremendous light show as the sparks started flying with metal grinding against metal, to the point it seemed they were ready to tear themselves apart.
Just then, something totally impossible began to happen. The three could feel the train begin to lean to the outside and ride on just the one set of wheels. Tommy began to scream as he was sure they were going over the edge, and whatever his destiny was to be tonight, would end with them tumbling down the canyon wall to their deaths below. He looked at the Conductor who sat completely still, not a muscle moving, his eyes closed and his face set in a determined look, as if the whole ordeal were nothing more than a minor irritant.
The train rocketed around Bobby Pin Curve so fast, that the train looked like a blue blur as the lighting from the train created a rainbow effect that trailed off the end of the train. Rolling along on nothing more than the outside wheels, folding itself into almost an elastic, accordion shape to try and make the curve, every bit of the train was stressed past its fail point, but held together. They were almost laying completely on their side around the curve when centrifugal force began to take its toll. As the rest of the train came out of the curve on to a straight part of the line, the observation car began to leave the track and start its swing out over the canyon. The forces exhorted on them began to create a momentary sense of weightlessness inside the car. They began to feel themselves lift up out of their seats and float. The Old Man thought for sure the car was going to break the coupler and disconnect from the rest of the train, but with such forward momentum on their side, the rest of the train pulled them along as they hit the straight section of track on the other side of the curve.
The observation car whipped around the last part of the curve, out over the canyon, and then literally was dragged back into a straight line trajectory and right back on to the rails. The three hit their seats hard as the car slammed back down on the track with such an earsplitting screech of metal grinding against metal, and a shower of sparks to rival any Fourth of July fireworks show. The three remained seated clutching the table for dear life, when they realized they made it! They could feel the train begin to rapidly decelerate as it made its way through the three broad S curves before a slight decline brought them out to a long straightaway in a pleasant little valley deep in the mountain range.
The Conductor was the first to speak, “That Gentlemen is one that will go into the record book.” The Old Man just stared at him in disbelief that he would say something like that when both of their attentions was turned to Tommy. He began to laugh. A laugh that came from the soul, laughing that he was alive. The Old Man thought he must be in shock and asked him, “What’s so funny?” Tommy looked at him, bringing himself somewhat under control and blurted out, “That, was , totally, AWESOME! We just did something totally impossible and are still alive to tell about it!” Tommy’s youthful excitement was catching as the Conductor and the Old Man began to join him in a chorus of laughter.
Thank You Again, great job.
That was worth the price of a ticket!
RickA
I have been reading this from the start. This is fantastic.
thanks for the fine reading. so are you going to leave it as a cliff hanger?
More, More, More!......................
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..............That's great, very good job on this story!..........................Brandy!
Merry Christmas everyone. Here is chapter 8. Two more left to write.
8
After the laughter began to die down, the Conductor arose from the seat, announced that he should go check on the rest of the passengers when he stopped and asked for Tommy’s ticket. Tommy pulled the crumpled ticket from his pants pocket and was amazed at how it unfolded itself into a crisp flat piece, not a crease or wrinkle in it. The Conductor once again worked with flying efficiency and when finished, handed the freshly punched ticket back to Tommy. He looked at it with a puzzling expression on his face asking, “What is FA?” The Conductor paused, as he was heading to the door and said, “That is for you to finish finding out. I’m sure you will by the time we reach the North Pole.” With that he exited the observation car to check on the children.
The two decided to follow him and made their way to the sleeper where they saw children up and about, wiping sleep from their eyes. The Old Man asked the Conductor, “Think they knew what happened?” The Conductor, a bit surprised that there was someone behind him without him noticing, quickly composed himself and replied, “Looks like they slept right through it.” He then ushered the children into the game room to let them have at the toys and games available. Tommy and The Old Man, with nothing else to do, followed suit.
The children were laughing and having a good time, when to the shock of The Old Man and the Conductor, Tommy joined in. He sat with one little boy who had found a tub of Lego’s and was trying to figure out how to build his airplane. Tommy gave him some direction when another child was getting frustrated at a video game, so Tommy went over to help the child get unstuck on the level he was at. It might have been minutes, or might have seemed like hours, the two watched as Tommy became a little boy again, laughing and playing with the children, and the children immediately accepted him.
The Old Man saw that this brought a smile to the Conductor’s face and a smile to his as well. Now that he had been feeling a lot better, almost more spry and agile, ever since the encounter with the Christmas tree in the last car, he turned his head to watch the scenery go by when he finally caught a glimpse of his own reflection in the window. “What the?” he let the sentence hang as he made his way to the cars lavatory. Once inside and the door shut, he looked closely in the mirror. “This is impossible,” he said to his reflection in the glass. His hair was a bit less grey and a bit thicker as well. Wrinkles were receding as well as some old blemishes. He bolted out of the lavatory and right up to the Conductor, “Ok, upstairs. Me and You are going to have a little talk.” The Conductor seemed a bit taken aback by the sudden forcefulness of the demand from the Old Man. The Old Man held his hand up gesturing to the stairwell leading to the domed library section.
Seeing as the Old Man was not going to relent, he made his way up the stairs while the Old Man followed. They made it about half way down the aisle, “take a seat,” the Old Man said. He continued after they sat down, “I think it’s about time you owe me an explanation, as to what is really going on, why I am here, and what is happening to me now.” The Conductor just sat stoic, staring into the Old Man’s eyes without even blinking.
This time the Old Man didn’t back down. It was now a staring contest. Who would give in first? They sat as the train continued to gently rock back and forth on its journey. The sounds of the children laughing and playing below could be heard coming up the stairwells. It seemed as if nothing was going to break this relentless stare down. The Old Man began to feel a little frustrated, “Well? Say something! Or are we just going to spend the rest of this trip in a standoff?”
“Fine! I’m just going to ask,” the Old Man continued, “this train has the ability to manipulate time doesn’t it?’ When no answer came forth he continued on, “Or is it you doing it? Somehow, this whole thing is almost a time paradox. Look at me? Why is it I’m looking younger? Ever since I looked into that ornament on that tree, I feel better now than I have in the last twenty years. And I have noticed that every time you look at your pocket watch, the hands have barely moved, yet it seems like we have been on this train for ten hours already. That last near disaster, by all the laws of nature and physics, we should have flew right off the tracks and into that canyon. Trains just cannot change their shape, or mass, or contort or any of the things that happened around that curve, but yet IT, DID, and we’re here to prove it!
The Conductor just smiled and was about to say something when all of a sudden, they were jerked forward as the train began an emergency stop. “What in blazes is it now!” the Conductor huffed. He got up and went to one of the call boxes, grabbed the receiver, nodding his head, the Old Man overheard him saying, “Oh. Just standing there? No, no, I’ll go out and handle this.” He put the handset back and said to no one in particular, “Always something.”
The Old Man jumped up and followed him down to the lower level, motioning Tommy to follow them. The Conductor disappeared into the next car to retrieve his lantern. Igniting it, he stepped down into the blowing wind and shin high snow and began to make his way towards the front of the train. The Old Man quickly found a jacket for Tommy, and they followed behind to see what stopped the train this time out here in the middle of nowhere.
There was a shadowy figure standing in the middle of the track that had been swinging a torch back and forth to get the engineer’s attention to stop. As they got closer, the Conductor had already reached him and was in an animated conversation over something. From the glow of the lantern, the Old Man caught a glimpse of the face, and his jaw dropped. “It can’t be.” Tommy asked him what that was about when the Old Man moved on ahead of him. “It is,” he said to himself, “That’s the Hobo that was on the train when I last rode.”
His supposition was affirmed when the Conductor turned back from his conversation, and the Hobo caught sight of the Old Man, gave him a salute, and then dissolved away into the wind. The Conductor reached the two and said, “We have a very major problem.” He then made his way to the locomotive to get with the engineer about this latest interruption.
They could barely keep up with the Conductor as he marched quickly to the lead locomotive. When they caught up with the Conductor, who was talking very loudly to be heard over the sound of the idling diesel engines, they heard him tell the Engineer that the bridge up ahead was out. The Engineer opened the cab door, and for a reason only known to the Conductor himself, motioned the two to climb up and join him.
The cab was warm and cozy, with strings of Christmas lights hung around the ceiling. Tommy had a look of pure enthusiasm on his face, “So cool. This is my first time in a locomotive.” The Engineer turned in his seat and warmly said, “Welcome aboard.” The Old Man stared in amazement when he looked over saying, “you look just like,” the Engineer stopped him in mid-sentence replying, “I know, I know. I get that a lot, especially from some of the older riders, but no. I’m not him.” Leaving the topic at that, he redirected his attention to the Conductor on how they were going to get out of this latest mess. Tommy leaned in closer to listen in. “This will be the first time in history the Polar Express will not make it to the North Pole. There are no other routes to take to go around,” the Conductor finished with a sadness in his voice that no one ever heard from him before, “Looks like this is the end of the line. The children will miss the first gift of Christmas. I will get on the radio and inform the Big Man myself.”
Tommy’s mind was whirling with ideas when he blurted out, “This trip is that important, there is that much at stake tonight, we can’t just give up!” The conductor turned his head to Tommy while reaching for the radio saying, “What do you suppose we do? The bridge is out, and in case you haven’t noticed, trains do not fly.” “Really?” Tommy replied. The Conductor squinted his eye’s putting the radio set back down, “What do you have in mind?” Tommy squared his shoulders, and in the most serious tone a teen age boy could muster, firmly said with all seriousness, “We jump the gap.”
Hope everyone had a joyous christmas. Here is chapter 9
9
Everyone was looking at Tommy like he had another appendage growing out of him. Even the Brakeman poked his head through the door from the engine room to bestow his thoughts on the matter, "Can't be done son. Trains can't fly," then ducked back inside to finish whatever task he was conducting. The Conductor seemed to be lost in thought when he spoke up, "Let's go up the line and take a look at what we are dealing with." The Engineer released the brakes, and opened the throttle slightly. The train began to slowly roll up the line. About two miles up, the signage for the bridge approach was visible. The Conductor ordered the Engineer to come to a stop. Everyone climbed down from the warmth of the cab into the cold and made their way to the embankment where the beginning of the bridge was supposed to begin.
Using the head light from the locomotive, they looked out past the light into the darkness over the chasm. The Engineer shook his head saying, "Impossible. No way will this happen. It would take an act of God and an army of Angels to get us across." Everyone turned to head back to the locomotive when to everyone’s surprise, Tommy spoke up again, pleading, "Don't give up! I know we can do this! Something in me is saying we can do this!" This time the Conductor spoke up, "The Engineer is correct son, this is totally impossible. We cannot make it over that gap. That’s at least thirty, forty feet to the other side."
The Brakeman spoke up adding, "Also, there is no guarantee that the rest of that bridge will hold up either.” Tommy didn't relent, "Why is this impossible? Isn't what happened to us out running the avalanche impossible too? This isn't any different. I know we can do this." The Conductor spoke up next, "You seem so sure of this Tommy. Why?" Tommy wasn't sure how to answer, but did not let the question bother him.
"I can't explain it. I,I," he stammered then paused, "I just have some faith that we will make it across." The Conductor raised his eyebrows in astonishment at the new revelation from Tommy. "What did you just say?" Tommy slowly began to smile, "I have faith that we can do this. I know it, feel it in my heart. I can't explain how we will do it, but I know we will."
The Conductor seemed to be pleased at this change in Tommy. He looked at the Old Man who was already in deep conversation with the Engineer, “And what are you two brainstorming about?” The Old Man paused his conversation to relay that they were working on calculations to possibility get them across, then made their way back to where the bridge should have started, and continued their animated discussion.
Tommy following, interrupted the two, asking the Old Man, “I thought you said you had a degree in literature, not science.” The Old Man paused just long enough to answer, “I recall telling you I had degrees. I have a minor in science, not very good at it, but it’s more of a hobby than anything.” Tommy stood there quietly as they finished up, then all three made their way back to the locomotive where the Conductor was nervously pacing back and forth.
He had almost cleared all the snow from his path, when the three returned with the news. The Engineer spoke first, “I don’t care what he says,” Pointing to the Old Man, “But someone made a very clear point a long time ago that you can’t change the laws of physics. So, with that said, we better get this over with.” Everyone climbed into the engine and look seats. The Old Man stood next to the Engineer for last minute corrections, while Tommy sat behind them, his eyes closed as if in a deep trance or prayer.
The Conductor looked at everyone in turn, and then spoke, “Let’s go.” No big speech this time, nothing. He just sat down behind the Brakeman and stared out the front windshield. The Engineer threw the lever into reverse and began to slowly back the train up for a few miles to get a running start. Once far enough back, before the Engineer began to move forward, they could barely hear Tommy saying to himself, “We can make it, we can make it,” Over and over again as if by just his will alone, the train will fly.
The train began to increase speed and rocket down the track. The few short miles were eaten up very quickly as they approached and passed the predetermined abort point and continued on. Everyone in the cab could feel their heart racing and the adrenaline flow as they neared the end of the line, and quite possibly the end of them as well. Tommy seemed to be oblivious to everything around him as he continued to pray for a miracle that he felt so certain about.
Just before they hit the slight incline that lead on to the now missing bridge piece, it was the Brakeman who noticed it first, “Look at that! There is a fog rolling in!” Everyone looked up and the Engineer said, “We won’t be able to see our landing point!” The fog rolled in thicker, the density of which none had ever seen before. It was so dark, that it seemed to swallow the darkness itself, and any light that happened to be around, it extinguished it with total efficiency.
It began to swirl and shift as if trying to shape itself into something that fog was incapable of becoming. Just as the train hit the last few feet, the mysterious fog began to settle. The Locomotive started to clear the end of the track. No one expected what would happen next. They imagined that they would feel a shift as the train would begin its flight, then the familiar drop in their stomach as gravity would begin to take its toll on them and they would begin the nose dive into the canyon.
None of that happened. Instead, a miracle that they had hoped for happened right before their eyes. The fog began to freeze and solidify underneath them, providing the necessary support for the train to clear the gap and safely roll across to the other side. Cheers went up from everyone in cab as they began to clear the rest of the bridge and the engineer began to slow them down to a more reasonable speed.
“In all my years of Railroading, I have never experienced anything such as what just happened tonight,” the Conductor was the first to say. “An absolute miracle!” came from the Old Man. The Brakeman just stared out the windshield wide eyed and unmoving. The Engineer smiled and nodded his head. It was Tommy who was the most emotional, “We did it!” as he felt excitement, relief and a myriad of other emotions wash over him at once. He began to speak rapidly, “I knew we could do it. I just kept praying for a miracle, and He answered! It happened! We got across!” Tommy was bouncing around with such excitement, that it caught on to everyone else as the reality of what just happened hit them. They couldn’t keep their excitement in any longer and joined Tommy in his celebration.
When everyone began to settle down, the Conductor looked at his watch, smiled and said, “Looks like we may make it on time after all.” Looking at Tommy and the Old Man, he added, “Let’s leave these two to work and go check on the rest of the passengers.” They exited out of the cab and made their way through the other two locomotives entering the first car of the train. It was the baggage car, and as they went through, Tommy was amazed at the amount of toys in various stages of disrepair and neglect.
“What a shame,” said Tommy. “I would fix toys for some of the kids in the neighborhood. It was one of the things that brought me escape, tinkering and fixing things. What will happen to these?” The Old Man answered before the Conductor could open his mouth, “Santa implemented a program many years ago that recycled and refurbished old toys to be reused again.” Tommy nodded, “I like that idea,” as they made their way out of the baggage car into the coaches, to check on the children.
The Polar Express continued on over mountains and valleys until they reached a great white expanse with a glow coming up just beyond the horizon like the rising of the sun. The glow grew as they rolled on, coming upon a large viaduct system that wound its way over the frozen expanse and into the outskirts of the city itself. They made it, they reached the North Pole.
If you like the Polar Express check out my post on Tin Plate trains titled Polar Express Tin Plate
gene maag posted:If you like the Polar Express check out my post on Tin Plate trains titled Polar Express Tin Plate
I saw it. Beautifully done set
Chapter 10 is half way completed. I really wanted to have this finished by Christmas, but between work and brain locks, I didn't want to rush. I should have the entire story finished in another day or so, so please stay tuned 
Thank You Really enjoyed the story, would make a great movie.
And now, the conclusion to the story. Enjoy
10
As the train made its way into the city, the children were all bouncing up and down in their seats. Exclaims of ooh’s and ahh’s were heard along with “Wow! Look at that!” and “Elves!” along with all the other items that caught the attention of the children. Tommy was sitting with the Old Man taking it all in, he overheard him talk to no one in particular, “It’s true. It’s all true, just as Dad described it. The streets, the shops even the Elves.” The Old Man didn’t know what to make of what he was saying, but he figured his answers will be coming soon enough.
The train slowly rolled to a stop at the town square where the extremely large Christmas tree stood. The Conductor began to usher the children off, forming them into two lines. Tommy and the Old Man disembarked and stood with the Conductor as he was explaining the events that were to take place. He looked at his pocket watch and announced that it was five minutes to midnight. The Old Man smiled as he remembered what that meant. The first gift of Christmas was about to be handed out soon.
He also remembered in detail, the adventure that him, the girl, another boy that he couldn’t quite remember his name, along with know it all kid, had taken through the city and wound up in Santa’s red bag being dropped from a blimp. He caught Tommy staring at one building in particular. It was the home that Santa himself resided in. The Old Man had to ask, “Well, what do you think? It’s just how it was when I was here.” Tommy seemed to be speechless as he just stared in amazement at all around him.
They began walking with the rest of the group to the viewing area to see Santa as he emerged from his home. Elves were still pouring in from all over the city. Tumbling, dancing, skipping, doing cart wheels, very few were actually walking. The noise was getting fairly loud as they all were trying to talk over each other in the excitement that it was Christmas Eve and they had finished their work for the year.
“How did my Dad know all this,” Tommy asked the Old Man, “He told me every detail down to the brick buildings, and tracks that made a loop around the tree to head back out. Even the sleigh”, as he pointed to the sleigh with the reindeer jumping up and down, ready to take flight. The Old Man heard it first as they gathered at the spot the Conductor brought them to, the drone of prop engines. He pointed up for Tommy to see the blimp with the red bag, as it settled the bag into Santa’s sleigh.
The Conductor had been watching Tommy the entire time, with a mixture of relief and happiness on his face. He caught Tommy’s attention, just as Santa emerged from his home, came down the long steps to where his sleigh awaited and let out a loud, hearty, “Ho, Ho,Ho. Merry Christmas!” The Elves and the Children let out a thunderous roar and applause as Santa Greeted them. “It is time, for the first gift of Christmas!” Cheers erupted from the crowd as Santa made his way to the passengers of the Polar Express.
He stopped at the Old Man saying, “It’s been a long time. You can still hear the bell.” It wasn’t a question, but a statement that Santa knew he could hear it all these years later. “Even with my hearing going, I could faintly hear it every Christmas Eve.,” the Old Man said smiling. Santa nodded his head, “Yes, and your wife and son could hear it also.” The Old Man fought back a tear as memories of eighty some years vividly came back to him all at once.
Santa gave him a condoling pat on the shoulder as he went down the line, greeting each child in turn. When he reached the end of the line of children, he turned and announced, “And now, the first gift of Christmas!” He turned and went back down the line as children were shouting, “me, me,me!” He continued on till he was standing in front of Tommy.
Tommy looked up into his kind eyes, and sheepishly said, “Hello Santa. I, I, guess you’re probably a bit disappointed in me these last few years.” Santa just smiled warmly at him and in a very gentle voice, “Tommy, I wasn’t disappointed in you or your father. I knew you would come when the time was right, and you were ready, even though you may not have fully realized it at the time.” Then Tommy had a thought, “Is that why he was along tonight?” pointing to the Old Man, “To help me realize the time was right?”
“Partly,” Replied Santa, “there is also a bigger reason as to why he was called on tonight. Something that will be revealed later,” Santa finished as he straightened up and announced, ‘The first gift of Christmas,” he paused to add suspense, then continued, “goes to this young man here,” and pulled Tommy out of the line. The cheering was deafening as Santa led Tommy to the sleigh, but to everyone’s astonishment, he lead Tommy up the stairs and into the house.
The Conductor was the first to comment saying, “Well, this is highly unprecedented and completely out of the norm.” The conversation spread through the crowd as to what Santa was showing or giving Tommy as the first gift. Time once again seemed to stand still while Tommy was gone, which gave the Old Man time to grill the Conductor again over something about Tommy. He made his way over and asked, “Conductor, what is so really special about Tommy? Beside the fact that I didn’t want to see him left behind when you told me that this was his last chance.”
This time, the Conductor did not seem reluctant to answer, “The reason Tommy is so special, and why Santa did not want to give up on him all these years, is due to his family line. A family I’m sure you are familiar with. In fact, he lived in the same building as you did at that home you were in.” this time the Old Man was at a complete loss. He tried to remember all of the residence he came across there, but none of them seemed to strike any familiarity to him.
“Who are you talking about?” He asked. The Conductor realized that he was going to have to spell it out for him. “Do you remember a certain boy that almost didn’t join us that night?” then recognition fell upon the Old Man, and everything seemed to make sense to him now about Tommy and why he felt drawn to him. “Billy!” he exclaimed, “He was the one I was trying to remember his name for some reason earlier. What does he have to do with all of this? I didn’t even know he lived there at the home with me. I never saw him!”
The Conductor continued, “That’s understandable, Billy kept to himself there. His son, Tommy’s father, stayed away after his wife died, when they both lost hope and fell into despair. Billy was a reminder to them of everything that used to be. Tommy’s father didn’t seem to want anyone’s help in dealing with her death, so he shut everyone out, including his own son.” The Old Man stood stunned at how a chance meeting, on a magical train ride so many years ago, was woven into his life unknowingly, but would come full circle tonight. “Billy is Tommy’s grandfather. That’s why you picked me up. You knew I would be able to get through to him,” the Old Man said. The Conductor smiled once again, “Apparently my ‘insight’ as you called it, was correct once again.”
The Old Man replied, “How do I thank you for giving me the chance to help him?” The Conductor acted as if a bit taken aback, “Thank me? I should be thanking you! There could have been some serious repercussions years from now if Tommy had chosen to not accept this last chance.” “Repercussions? What repercussions?” asked the Old Man. The Conductor, in a very serious and frightening tone simply stated, “It would have been the end of Christmas.” The Old Man asked no more questions as the Conductor turned his attention back to the house.
Santa and Tommy had emerged and Tommy running back to the two of them, seemed to be at peace with the world. The Old Man asked first, “Wow, you got to go inside. What did you see?” Tommy said, “I’ll tell you in a minute. I’m not really sure what I saw.” He turned back to watch the sleigh as Santa climbed aboard to prepare for flight. To the Old Man the sleigh looked the same but was quite different now, more modern and high tech.
With another boisterous Ho, Ho, Ho, he began his lift off., calling out to the reindeer as they began to rise. The sleigh began to emit a blueish glow from the runners, and what looked to be peppermint candies on the front of each runner, also began to glow a mixture of red and white as they slowly started to spin. The Old Man stared in awe as they gained altitude, and began to circle around the square. When Santa did a low level flyby over their heads, he also noticed that there were two red glowing rectangles on the back of the sleigh.
In amazement he just said, “Huh, never saw the sleigh lit up like that before.” The Conductor, hearing the comment, leaned in and said, “Santa has done quite a few modifications over the years. It’s faster, more efficient, and highly maneuverable at all altitudes. Also less stress on the reindeer.” No faster than the Conductor could explain, the Old Man watched as Santa pulled up from one last lap, and with a brilliant burst of light emitting from the runners, he was gone. The eye couldn’t twinkle fast enough to measure the burst, just a short rainbow of color that had streaked from the sleigh at that instant, and lingered not a moment longer.
Everyone held their breath for what seemed like half a minute, or a minute, not knowing if the sleigh would return or the nights run was to be aborted. Nothing came. A cheer so loud, that semiologists in Anchorage could have recorded it, went up. The Elves threw their pointed hats up into the air, and the party started. The Elf flight crew, who were standing by on the side of the house with a backup sleigh, began pushing it back into its hanger, to be readied for next year, when this year’s sleigh would be rotated out for maintenance, then set to be the backup ride for next year.
The Elf band began playing as the Elves themselves began dancing and singing. The Conductor let everyone join the fun before it was time to re-board the train for the journey home. The Old Man took that time to ask tommy what he had witnessed in the house. Tommy wasn’t quite sure how, or where to begin to explain. “Just start from when you went in through the door,” the Old Man said. Tommy started in, and then began to speak in such a rush; the Old Man had to have him slow down a bit to keep up.
“After we went in, there was this grand hall with two spiral stair cases that went up to the next floor, and hallways leading off to each side. There was garland and lights strung everywhere. Wreaths hung on the walls, and in the middle of the floor was a tree like the one on the train, but this one was twice as big. It was absolutely beautiful. Santa then led me down one of the hallways where at the end was a large wooden door. It looked like it was carved by hand. Every image on it depicted a scene of Christmas.”
Tommy continued, “Santa opened the door and there in the room was a shimmering whirlpool of light right before us. He urged me on and we went in. Next thing I knew, we were someplace dark. It was night time, and he led me around a building. There was candle light set up, and shepherds with sheep were standing near the opening to this barn. We went up and made our way to the opening, and inside were a man a woman, and a baby. Santa said to me, this is the true first gift of Christmas. God stepped down from his throne and became flesh. The child’s name is Emmanuel, God among us. You would know him as Jesus.’”
Tommy continued with what Santa told him, “He also said, you see, it’s not so much about the birth, which is very important by fulfilling prophesy, but more of what he will do later in life that is the miracle.” The Old Man spoke up, “The crucifixion and atonement.” Tommy nodded his head and continued, “Yes, that’s what Santa said. He said that the true spirit of the giving of Christmas would be God offering His Son as a sacrifice for our sins. Then, we went back to where we appeared and came back out into the room. Santa said that every year he goes there to help remind him of what Christmas is truly all about.”
“So, what will you do when you get back home?” he asked Tommy. The boy thought for a moment then answered, “I know what I have to do. I have to help my Dad remember, and bring the spirit back. Santa also said something about my future, but now I can’t remember. Maybe it’s because I’m supposed to do one thing at a time, and that is to get my dad back first.” The Old Man nodded, and then said, “by the way, I know your Grandfather, Billy.” Tommy’s eyes lit up and wanted to know more. “We met the night I rode the Polar Express. I was the one who stopped the train when he decided that he wanted to go.” Tommy’s eyes began to fill with tears, “I haven’t been able to see Grandpa in a few years. I miss him. That’s why Dad knew so much about this place.”
Before they could finish, the Conductor came along telling them it was time to depart. He asked for Tommy’s ticket and finished punching it out. Tommy stood there a moment as he turned the ticket over and over as the words changed. Faith, hope, belief, forgiveness, prayer formed over and over on the ticket. He nodded his head in understanding as they made their way back to the train. They were just about to board when The Conductor stopped the Old Man, “Not this time. Santa has something special for you when he returns.”
The Old Man stood there in shock that he wasn’t going back yet. He stopped Tommy as he was half way up the steps and said, “Tommy, I have something for you, to help you remember.” He reached into his pocket and pulled the warn velvet pouch out and handed it to Tommy. “What is it?” he asked. The Old Man replied, “This was my first gift of Christmas. Have a listen.” Tommy took the bell out and slightly shook it. He could hear the marvelous rich tone of the ring it made. The Conductor was the next to say something, “That is a very special gift, the only one of its kind.” Tommy didn’t know what to say. He gently returned the bell back into the bag, and then pulled his ticket out, and placed it inside with the bell. He shook hands with the Old Man saying, “Thank you, for believing in me. When you get home, say hi to my Grandpa for me.”
He turned to enter the car, and then added, “Also, tell him that we will be visiting him soon too.” The Old Man said he would and stepped back as the train began to move. He watched as it rounded the tree, came back upon the main line, and then rolled out of town and out of sight. The Old Man stood in the square, as the Elves finished their party and prepared for the return of Santa. One of them came up to him and ushered him up the stairs to wait inside the house. He entered the foyer, marveled at the splendidness of the home, found a cushioned bench, sat down and waited.
11
It seemed like he sat there all night, but apparently, once again, time has no meaning here. For just when it seemed Santa had just left, he could hear the commotion outside as the sleigh and reindeer returned from their global trip. A few moments later, Santa came in through the front door. “Merry Christmas!” he exalted for his greeting. “I’m sure you are wondering why it is that you are still here.” The Old Man stood up to meet him half way, “Well, yes. I thought it a bit odd when I was told I wasn’t going back home.” Santa let out a chuckle and said, “Young Man, tonight you are going to go home.” The Old Man thought Santa still had frost on his glasses by saying, “Young Man? You do see how old I am right?” Santa gently took him by his arm and led him to one of the mirrors that lined the wall.
The Old Man gasped, “MY God! What has happened to me?” The face looking back at him in the mirror was no longer a man in his eighties, but more of a man in his mid-thirties. “How did this, what is going,” he couldn’t finish a single sentence. His mind was running around in circles trying to comprehend not just this, but apparently the entire night. It was too much for him now. “Come,” said Santa, “It is time.”
The Old Man couldn’t think of anything more as Santa led him out of the house and back to the town square. “Behold”, he said as a shaft of light, like the headlight from a locomotive, appeared at the edge of town. The Old Man was now beginning to become a bit frightened when the sound of a steam whistle reverberated along the buildings. Then came the mighty sound he never forgot as the chug chug began piercing the night. Thick black smoke was bellowing up above the tops of the buildings as the, what was it that kid said it was, oh yes, a Baldwin Steam locomotive emerged.
It was the Polar Express, the train he rode on as a child. The Black locomotive was bellowing steam as the train slowly rolled to a stop in front of the steps to Santa’s home. The clanging and squealing of metal subsiding as the train sat motionless in front of them. Steam and smoke rolling out of the stack and cylinders, as if the engine was a living, breathing entity, waiting to be released to run again.
The Old Man marveled at how beautiful the train still looked after all these years. Santa chuckled again as the look of rapture on the Old Man’s face hid no emotion. “We still bring Her out for special runs now and again.” Santa’s voice snapped the Old Man back to the present, “Special runs?” Santa continued, “You still have your ticket do you not?” The Old Man checked his pocket and pulled out the special ticket. The punch outs were finished, even though the Conductor had never finished punching the ticket. It had one word, Eternity. “What does this mean?” he asked. Santa put his hand on the Old Man’s shoulder and said, “It means you are going home, your eternal home. That is the other reason why you were brought along tonight. You see, God did not forget about you either. You just had one more mission to complete for Him. You did that tonight with Tommy.”
Just then, the door to the first coach car opened up, and a brilliant, unearthly white light emerged from the opening. The Old Man took a step, and then froze in place. Everything from excitement to fear gripped him all at once. Just then a voice came forth, a voice that sounded like a thousand waterfalls with a thousand orchestras playing a beautiful melody, but so soft and soothing to the every soul said, “Your work here on Earth is done. Your family and I await your arrival. Welcome home my son.”
Tears were freely flowing down his face at the thought of being reunited with his beautiful wife, his son, parents, family and friends that had gone on before him, to be with Jesus and to touch the face of God. Whether it was by his will, or some other urging, his feet began to move. He found himself at the steps, turning to see Santa one last time saying, “Thank You. This IS the best Christmas ever,” and with that said, climbed aboard.
The door closed behind him as the boiler built up pressure, and the big locomotive began to move. Slowly at first as the big drivers slipped here and there on the steel rails, biting for traction. The train began to pull away as Santa waved goodbye. The train didn’t loop around the tree, but instead took a different line that led straight out of the city. As the train rolled along, from out of the Heavens, a cloud with ever changing color descended ahead of them. They rolled on into the mist, and in a twinkling of an eye, were gone.
Conclusion
Tommy awoke that Christmas morning with a start. Immediately he began to question whether it was real or all a dream. He bolted out of bed to find the coat that the Old Man had found on the train for him to wear when they had ventured outside when they were stopped for the bridge being out. He quickly went through the pockets until he found what it was he was hoping to be there. He pulled the velvet sack from the pocket and opened it. Still inside was the bell given to him by the Old Man, and his ticket. He pulled both out, giving the bell a hearty shake, and finding that it still produced the same tone as last night.
He then looked the ticket over, and with every flip, the words punched upon it would change, just as they did last night. With excitement he yelled out, “It wasn’t a dream. It was all real! All of it is real!” he went to open his bedroom door, to find his father standing there, demanding to know what all the commotion was about at this ungodly hour of the morning. For the first time since the funeral, Tommy threw his arms around his father’s neck saying, “Dad, I love you. I think it is time we sit down and talk.” After the embrace, Tommy held up the bell and ticket for his father to see. Tommy’s father slid down the door jamb to the floor, beginning to weep. Amidst the tears he said, “Son, I’m so sorry for everything. Will you ever forgive me? I love you so much and I ,I, I have no excuse for how I’ve treated you and what you were becoming,” Tommy stopped him there saying, “Dad, I forgave you the moment I woke up this morning.” With that, father and son made their way to the small living room, to start anew, and a new future to unfold before them.
Christmas morning arrived early at the retirement home with the night nurse making her final rounds before heading home, and day shift arriving. She noticed the door to the Old Man’s room was open as she went in to administer his morning meds, not thinking anything of it. She found him lying in his bed, with a smile, and the most peaceful expression she had ever seen on any ones face her entire life. Her hands began to tremble as she dropped the tray on the floor, and covered her face to cry. She knew at that instant, that he went peaceably in his sleep during the night, his dosage from last night, still on the table where she left them. She left the room to notify the head nurse, that they had lost another residence.
As she made her way down the hall, a frail old man, with his walker for support, slowly came around the corner, and entered the room. Billy made his way to the Old Man’s bed and stood silently. He looked upon the face, not seeing the age represented there, but seeing him as the young boy who took the initiative, to stop the Polar Express that night to let him on. Billy slowly raised his hand to wipe a tear from his eye and said, “Thank you for saving my family. I also never forgot your kindness and friendship that night. We will meet again soon. Goodbye old friend.” He turned away from the bed, made his way out into the hall and back to his room, with no one ever knowing he was there.
THE END
Rick,
Thank you for this wonderful story. You gave us a beautiful Christmas gift. I was touched by the ending and am thankful for the gift and for allowing me to share your story with others.
Merry Christmas
Thank you, Rick. The Polar Express Streamliner now has its own story. I enjoyed it.
Rick,
You have awakened fond, old emotions and created new ones that I will remember always. Thank you for making this Christmas a most memorable one...
Best,
Dave
Thank You Rick, at first I did not know that I like the ending or not, then I thought about it and came to the conclusion that the ending was perfect.
You really brought Christmas and it's true meaning to light as we live in a world of political correctness. This political correctness interferes with our own believes on how we think on not to offend anyone else and putting aside on what we really believe in.
I compiled all the chapters and passing it around (with your name/picture attached), as this story needs to be shared.
You did a great job and hopefully someone will use it in a movie.
Thank You Again!
Rick,
What an amazing story. Bravo! Thank you for sharing.
Happy New Year.
Thank you everyone for the kind words. I've had this idea floating around for almost a year, then it began coming together. I knew it was time to write it. This is pretty much complete. There are some areas I can expand and detail out a bit more, as I continue to proofread it, more slowly. I'm glad everyone enjoyed it, and got a little something out of it. This was very fun to write, even when I got stuck from time to time. I did notice and correct a spelling error I missed last night in the final part.
Everyone have a safe New Year, run trains, and remember, if we lose our inner child, we lose our humanity.
Great job, Rick. I really appreciate the effort and creativity you shared with us.
