The Polar Express; Journey's End

Well, you have MY attention!  Bravo!  More,  please. 

Excellent, Rick!!!  As my parents and one of my last remaining aunts are in personal care homes, It kind of hits home.  Being in my 60s, I can remember events from childhood concerning family, my Christian faith, and trains.  Some now seem like dreams as you wrote of the Old Man not sure about his first Polar Express ride!!  I'll be glad to read the rest of the story!

Very nice!  

Going to have to change the original tagline in the story from "One thing about trains: it doesn't matter where they're goin'. What matters is deciding to get on." to "One thing about the Polar Express: it doesn't matter diesel or steam. What matters is deciding to get on."

Interesting twist on the story. At the outset, I thought the old man was going to be the protagonist - end of life, alone in the world, cranky - and the magic and mystery of Christmas would come back to him on the ride. Then again, Dickens told that tale with his 3 ghosts from Christmas past.

The direct reference to God and Christmas and the question of faith for the boy is also interesting. I have always thought the question of belief in the original story is as much about God as it is Christmas. The whole concept of not being able to hear the bell ring wreaks of biblical phrases with the same sentiment of having ears that aren't open to hearing God's call. And there is the line from the conductor talking about belief where he says sometimes the most real things in life are things that we can't see. Never thought this movie was about Santa Claus.

If you don't already have it, add Grammarly (free version available) to your editing software. Great add-on that helps with proper grammar, spelling, and tips on sentence structure et al. Definitely an awesome tool for a writer.

Keep on writing!

Thank you.

Mooner posted:

Going to have to change the original tagline in the story from "One thing about trains: it doesn't matter where they're goin'. What matters is deciding to get on." to "One thing about the Polar Express: it doesn't matter diesel or steam. What matters is deciding to get on."

Interesting twist on the story. At the outset, I thought the old man was going to be the protagonist - end of life, alone in the world, cranky - and the magic and mystery of Christmas would come back to him on the ride. Then again, Dickens told that tale with his 3 ghosts from Christmas past.

The direct reference to God and Christmas and the question of faith for the boy is also interesting. I have always thought the question of belief in the original story is as much about God as it is Christmas. The whole concept of not being able to hear the bell ring wreaks of biblical phrases with the same sentiment of having ears that aren't open to hearing God's call. And there is the line from the conductor talking about belief where he says sometimes the most real things in life are things that we can't see. Never thought this movie was about Santa Claus.

If you don't already have it, add Grammarly (free version available) to your editing software. Great add-on that helps with proper grammar, spelling, and tips on sentence structure et al. Definitely an awesome tool for a writer.

Keep on writing!

 

Moon, Excellent take on the original story and Rick's story.  I am kind of dense when it comes to looking for hidden meanings, but I now see where you are coming from saying the story is about hearing God's call!  As a believer in Christ Jesus, I really like Rick's and your take on it.  Thank you!

Sitting waiting on freight to arrive, here the next few chapters. (Some reason pasting isn't keeping my format from word)

5

Tommy and the Old Man settled into their seats as The Polar Express made its way into the night. Tommy’s eyes were darting here and there taking in all the ornate decorations strung about the coach car as he finally began to relax and settle in. Not much was said between the two as they looked out the window to watch a light snow once again began to fall upon the earth to blanket the ground in a glimmering white under the light of the full moon. The snow sparkled as if all the stars in heaven decided to rest themselves upon the ground, and slumber for the night. The train began to exit the urban centers and suburbs, as the scenery changed to rolling hills and farm land. All covered in the blanket of white. The tracks began to take a northern turn as the Polar Express began the next leg of Her journey, taking them deep into the wilderness. Pines covered in snow, branches drooping from the weight, stood like sentinels along each side of the track, glowing in a brilliant white as the headlight from the lead locomotive cast its light upon them, then receded back into shadow as the train passed.

It seemed like they had been traveling for quite some time when a familiar announcement to the Old Man came over the intercom. It was the Conductor announcing, “Is there anyone on the Polar Express in need of refreshment?’ This brought a smile to the Old Man’s face. The Conductor finished his announcement by adding, “Then please make your way to the dining car.” Tommy asked, “Why are you smiling like that.” “Because,” the Old Man began, “If they are offering what I think it is, it is the best hot chocolate you will ever have. And it can’t be duplicated. I tried for years to get the blend right and it never came out.”

“Well,” the Old Man asked Tommy, “Want to see what they have to offer?” Tommy smiled again for the second time tonight saying, “Sure. I could use something to eat.” The two got up and headed to the door connecting the cars. They passed into another coach, then on into a fancier lounge car with stairs leading up to a domed top. Just beyond the next door, they could hear the muffled laughter of children that turned into a loud noise as they entered into the dining car. There were a dozen children of various ages all trying to talk above each other, laughing at anything that seemed to amuse them. The Conductor emerged from the rear of the car urging the children to settle down and take their seats at the various dining tables lined along each side of the center aisle.

The children began to disperse into their seats when they noticed Tommy and the Old Man walk down the aisle to take a table midway down the car. The children immediately quieted down and began to stare at the two. This was making Tommy feel a bit uncomfortable and self-conscious. The only noise inside was the sound of the wheels rolling along the tracks as the children continued to look quizzically upon the two. Tommy whispered to the Old Man, “Why are they staring at us like that?  It’s creeping me out some.” The Old Man thought for a moment before replying, “Well, you did say so yourself a while ago that this was a kids fairy tale. They probably didn’t expect to see a young man and a senior citizen along for the ride.”

Just then the Conductor Passed by their table and spoke to the children, “Do not be alarmed. These two gentlemen here are special guests for a very important mission for Santa.” The Conductor turned his head to wink at the two as the children began to excitedly talk amongst themselves about what these two could be doing for Santa. The ideas ran from Railroad Inspectors from one of the older children to wild conspiracy theories that the two were Secret Service Agents and part of Santa’s Intelligence Division collecting information on each of them.

The two smiled at each other as they overheard the stories the children’s wild imaginations could conjure up, when Tommy spoke softly to the Old Man, “These kids have been watching too many James Bond movies or something.” No sooner had he got that out, one of the middle aged children was overheard saying his Dad worked for The Department of Homeland Security, as another child said his parents worked for CSX Railroad, and that the CSX Santa merger was real. That CSX helped Santa haul the toys around the country to staging areas so that Santa could refill his bag. Tommy was beginning to laugh to himself just as the dining car crew emerged from the kitchen with very ornately plated serving carts.

The Old Man began to smile as music poured from the overhead speakers, as the wait staff began emerging out from the kitchen area, dancing up and down the aisle with the grace of a Broadway Musical full of flair and pizazz. The first group began setting the tables, tossing blue place mats as if they were Frisbees. They were adorned with a deep red boarder and a large painting of the Polar Express in the middle, and Polar Express in large gold letters above the train. They were landing on the tables in front of each passenger. The Old Man marveled at the whole routine, and even with the swaying of the cars, they never once stumbled or missed their mark.

Next were white napkins wrapped around gold utensils and a gold metal ring with the letters PE engraved on a plate affixed to the ring. Then lastly came the porcelain cups and saucers with the PE emblem in gold relief etched into each piece. While the servers moved on towards the front of the dining car, Tommy just stared in awe at the grace and precision of the crew as each setting was placed neatly and precisely in front of each child. The children were enamored by the show as the Conductor stood at the front of the car with a big smile upon his face.  Pleased with the quick and professional service being offered to the riders as each task was completed.

Next came the waiters, dancing, twirling and jumping as they placed a menu in front of each passenger. This gleeful display continued as they made their way back to the kitchen area to begin the rounds of collecting the children’s orders. Tommy and the Old Man opened their menus to see a cornucopia of delicacies, from cupcakes and pastries to puddings and other sweet treats that could put any normal person into a diabetic coma. Tommy’s mouth began to water as he looked at the deserts and sweet treats offered and said to the Old Man, “This sure beats TV dinners and Roman Soup. I’m not even sure what I want.”

The Old Man looked up from his menu saying, “I’m going for the Banana Pudding. We don’t get anything but a mush that tastes like paste at the Retirement Home. Most of the residences there no longer have teeth to chew with, so the food selection there reflects that.”  Tommy nodded his head to the halfhearted joke and made his selection. As if the waiters could read his mind, one was at the table ready to take their order. He first looked at the Old Man and asked, “What would you like sir?” The Old Man looked up and replied, “I’ll have the Banana Pudding.” “Very good sir,” as the waiter looked to Tommy, “And you sir?” Tommy as well looked up at the waiter and said, “I’d like the marble cake with butter cream frosting and vanilla ice cream.” “Excellent choice,” and with that he was gone.

They heard the other waiters taking the children’s orders and imagined that they all will have tooth decay by the time they get to the North Pole. After the waiters were gone, the next crew arrived with a large cart which upon it, sat what looked like a highly polished chrome high tech coffee maker. They proceeded down the aisle expertly shooting hot chocolate into every cup on each table. Not one drop spilled out of any cup, or dribbled on to the tables. The Old Man watched in amazement as he remembered watching the exact same thing on his first trip. This time though the song and dance number performed by the serving crew was new and different.

After the hot chocolate was dispensed, the music choice changed and Christmas Carrols began playing from the speakers mounted in the ceiling panels. The children began singing along as they were waiting for their food to arrive and sipping from their cups. The Old Man sat back taking it all in when he noticed Tommy, staring out the window, softly started to sing along as well. The Old Man didn’t let on that he noticed, but Tommy had a pretty fair voice, not Frank Sinatra or Dean Martin quality, but it didn’t make his ears bleed either. Moments later, the waiters arrived with everyone’s meals, and the singing stopped as everyone dug in. Comments could be heard up and down the car that this was the best cake, the best pie that they had ever eaten.

The Old Man dipped into his pudding and took a bite. The flavor exploded in his mouth as he marveled at how every flavor was defined. The taste of the bananas, the Nilla wafers and the pudding all distinctly separate, but yet blending into one flavor that is banana pudding. Tommy appeared to be enjoying his cake and ice cream as he resembled a steam shovel digging and filling up the dump trucks nearby, eating like he hasn’t had decent food in weeks. They finished the dessert off with a toast proposed by the Old Man as they began to indulge in the Hot Chocolate, “To dreams coming true, and that you find what you have secretly been searching for.” They raised their cups and took a sip. The look on Tommy’s face said it all. “The Old Man was right,” Tommy thought to himself, “This is the best tasting Hot Chocolate I’ve ever had.”

With refreshment time finished, the crew returned, and just as quickly as the placements had been set up, the tables were cleared and cleaned, and the children began to yawn in a sudden drowsiness. The Conductor just seemed to reappear from out of nowhere saying to the children, “I believe it appears some of you might require a nap.” The children began nodding their heads in agreement. “Very well then, follow me to the next car. There you will find individual rooms for each of you. I know you want to be nice and rested when we arrive to meet Santa.”

The Conductor began to lead the children out of the dining car when he paused and looked at the two remaining occupants. “Would you two also like to take this time to rest up before arriving?” Tommy looked at the Old Man saying, “I’m not really tired.” Neither am I,” the Old Man said back. He turned to address the Conductor, “We’re not tired. Think we’ll just sit up and enjoy the ride.” The Conductor didn’t say a word, but turned back to the door and led the children into the sleeper car. Tommy then said, “I would like to see the rest of the train though.” The Old man got up out of his seat and looked down at Tommy, “Let’s see what else we find on board.”

6

The two made their way out of the dining car following the children, being sure not to wake them from their slumber. They passed through into another dome car that was even more elaborate than the first. Ornate carvings and decorations of Santa as he has appeared in print and picture throughout the years lined the walls above the windows. There were modern conveniences such as game tables, arcade games and pinball machines for the children to entertain themselves with on the journey. Tommy stopped at one game to play a quick round, and then the two climbed the spiral stair case to the upper level and marveled at the view from the glass dome above them. The light snow streaked past the windows in such a blur, it seemed to make the world look like it was nothing more than a shaken snow globe.

Mixed in between the seating were, what looked like hand carved book cases, with books galore. From Little Golden Book readers to one in particular that caught the Old Man’s attention. He reached down and pulled the leather bound volume from the shelf, the cover was warn as were the edges of the paper when he opened to the first page and caught himself beginning to read, “Marley was dead, to begin with. There is no doubt whatever about that. The register of his burial,” He didn’t even realize he was reading aloud until Tommy interrupted him from the other side, “What did you say?”

The Old Man caught himself short and stammered, “Ah, Oh, this,” as he turned to see Tommy coming over to stand next to him. He turned back to the copyright page at the beginning and read aloud, “A Christmas Carol in Prose, Being a Ghost Story of Christmas. Written by Charles Dickens, published by Chapman Hall,” then he froze. “What? What is it?’ Tommy asked a little more excitedly than he had realized. The Old Man continued, “Published 19 December 1843, first printing, first draft.” He carefully turned the pages with the drab olive color like if he had turned them a fraction of an ounce greater in force, the book would dissolve into dust. Together they quickly and carefully skimmed the pages examining the illustrations with in.

The Old Man carefully placed the book back into its spot on the shelf feeling like he had just found the Ark of the Covenant. He looked at Tommy saying, “This was my favorite story growing up. I didn’t realize there was any of the original first couple of prints left. You see Dickens didn’t care for the Olive color on the ends of the pages, so the publisher stopped production and changed the paper to yellow ends. Two more revisions were done before the book was officially published and released to the public.” Tommy looked at him oddly asking, “How do you know so much about this book?” The old Man grinned then replied, “After I retired from the Air Force, I took a job as a history teacher. Government offered a tuition bill, so I went to college part time, got two degrees one a major in American History. Give me something to do after my stint was up.”

Tommy seemed amazed when asked, “Wow. What did you do there? Did you fly fighters?” The Old Man motioned Tommy to move along as they headed for the second stairwell, making their way back down to the lower level, he answered, “I was Air Force Security. Basically a Military cop” “Awesome,” was all Tommy could come up with. Now that it seemed The Old Man had a feeling that he had gotten Tommy to open up a bit, he decided to ask the question that had been bugging at him all night.

They stopped at the door to enter into the next car and the Old Man turned to Tommy and blurted out, “What happened, Tommy?” Tommy was kind of taken aback by the vague and blunt question, “What do you mean?” “What happened that made you,” The old Man thought his next words carefully then started over, “Why did you stop believing in Christmas, Santa and everything?” Tommy turned his head away staring at the door. He pushed the door aside and went into the last car without saying a word.

The Old Man followed and just barley stopped in time to keep from colliding with Tommy. This was the observation car. The Old Man looked in disbelief as he saw what was displayed before him. It was his living room from his old house just as it was the night he rode the Polar Express. “My God!” he exclaimed, “Tommy, do you see what I’m seeing?” The Old Man looked over at Tommy and saw him just as wide eyed. “It’s,” Tommy seemed to stumble over the words needed, “it’s my home. Right after we moved in. Dad had his new job, doing well, just before it all happened.”

Just in that instant, the two different interiors that each of them saw, returned to the interior of a railcar. Seats and tables, all in the Polar Express decorum, and at the far end, right in the middle of the wrap around window,  The brightest lit Christmas tree either one had ever seen. Oh, what a marvelous sight to behold. The lights, the shimmering tinsel, and the ornaments, that seemed to emit a glow, from some unknown internal power source. One that the best scientists could spend years trying to figure out, and never come up with a reasonable answer.

There was no need for any other interior lighting, as the glow from that one tree at the end of the car seemed to fill every nook and cranny, chasing away any hint of a shadow. The light, not overpowering in any sort of way, seemed to have a warm feel to their faces as they stared in awe at the tree. They collected enough of themselves to move their feet and slowly walk to the end of the car. There were large cushion lounge chairs on each side of the tree with a small table mounted to the wall under the big pane windows for travelers to set drinks or what not upon them for the rider’s convenience.

They each took a seat, and continued to stare in abject wonder at how such a tree could emit that much light, but not blind or hurt the eyes. There was one ornament in particular, that caught the Old Man’s eye. It was located on a lower branch, more toward the back near the center pane window. It flashed in such a peculiar pattern, as if trying to get his attention.  Similar to light pulses emitting from a pulsar, starting off dim, going brighter, letting off a large flash, then back to normal. The Old Man leaned forward in his seat, trying to get a better look at it. Just then it seemed that the ornament almost moved of its own accord, as if taunting him to follow it.

The Old Man sat there puzzled for a moment, and then slowly got out of his chair. His knees and back hurt more than normal, although he has done more walking and moving around tonight than he has done in weeks. So with effort and a grimace to his face to fight away the rejection his joints were now beginning to protest, he knelt down on the floor by the tree and caught sight of the fleeting ball. He leaned in closer then seemed to be frozen in place where he knelt. He didn’t dare blink, afraid he will miss something in the flashing pattern that began to spin faster.

A kaleidoscope of color danced before his eyes. Just as quickly as it began, it let off a tremendous flash, and then returned back to the steady glow by which it started. In a twinkling of an eye, the entire light show lasted. In that moment, images began to appear in the ball. The day he was born, his first Christmas, then important moments in his life scrolled past like in a movie. Good and bad, his life played right up to that point. The Old Man blinked, and the ornament was back to its normal state. For the Old Man, it seemed like he was frozen in place for minutes, perhaps longer? He cast a glance around the tree to see Tommy still in his seat, half watching the tree, half gazing out the window, just as he was when the Old Man knelt down to the floor.

The Old Man was still confused and in a bit of denial as to what he had just witnessed. He began to ponder what the meaning of all this was, when he decided he better get back into the chair before his ageing joints go into revolt from being in a crouched position for so long. Without thought or hesitation, he found himself in a fully erect position minus the cracking bones and the shooting pain that would run up his back from such an endeavor. He sat back down with ease and tried to remember the last time he was able to move as freely as he had just then, turning his gaze from the tree to the scene outside.

The scenery flashed by the window, then seemed to pause a moment to regain focus, then fall away just as quickly as if he was watching time itself recede from this moment into the past. Never to be encountered or seen again. Farther out, everything seemed to just stand still, motionless, as if time had no meaning here, as if he were looking into a photograph that was hanging a few feet off the back of the train. While pondering the meaning of the both of them seeing their own homes during a Christmas season upon entering the car, he then began to realize something.  Time really has no meaning here. Something began formulating in the back of his mind when he was startled by Tommy speaking to him. “You wanted to know what happened.”

The Old Man snapped back to the present, “Oh, yes. Yes! What changed you?” Tommy stared at the tree with a blank look on his face. “When we came in, I saw my house as it was, our first Christmas there. I was eight years old. The excitement of my parents was overwhelming. It was the joy that we were finally going to have a decent life. It was a nice neighborhood. Most of the families there worked at the plant nearby. My Mom and Dad where just nuts over Christmas, and this was the first year we could afford to go all out. Even before that, my parents had this, unexplainable magical touch for Christmas. They seemed to radiate magic and joy and love. Every year as I got older, it got better and better. It wasn’t the gifts; it was the spirit they shared.” Tears began to fall from Tommy’s eyes as he could no longer hold in the emotion and the anger he carried around now for years.

“Things were perfect, you know? Dad enjoyed his job, Mom got to stay home and care for the house, and then it all went away.” He hung his head, unable to hide the embarrassment of his flow of emotion, especially in front of a complete stranger. The Old Man sat patiently, not wanting to push the Young Man, for he may clam up and no longer feel comfortable enough to speak. The Old Man’s patience paid out when Tommy collected himself enough to finish his story.

“A few years later, Dad lost his job when the plant closed and moved overseas. Both of them took whatever jobs they could get. Then Mom got sick. Real bad, some kind of cancer, I think my dad said. She passed away four years ago. My Dad was never the same again. I think whatever magic and love he had went with my Mom. All that mattered now was how much he could work. When I was old enough, my Dad pulled me out of school to work with him. He said ‘you don’t need your head filled with all those lies’.”

Tommy continued, “That year we lost her, I wrote to Santa asking for one thing. I figured I wasn’t getting through to God, so I thought maybe Santa could ask him for me.” The Old man waited a moment for Tommy to continue, but when nothing more came forth, he asked softly, “What was it you asked for?” At that, Tommy lost all control, sobbing like he hadn’t done since his Mom’s funeral. “For God to bring my Mom back and make our family whole again,” Tommy began to bring himself under control continuing, “I want my Father back. Anymore he acts like I don’t even exist except for when he wants someone to yell at.”

Tommy began wiping his eyes, “My Dad would whoop my butt if he saw me crying like this, especially in front of a total stranger.” Mimicking his dad once more, he added,” ‘Crying is for babies and wussies’, he would tell me.” Tommy turned his head to look out the window, silent, unmoving and solitary. The Old Man sat and watched him, figuring Tommy would continue when he felt ready. After what seemed like an hour passed, but only minutes in reality, Tommy finished, “That was the Christmas I knew everything was a lie. Santa, God, magic, love, all of it. I gave it up for the reality I could see in front of me.”

The Old Man just sat there in silence with the boy but adding one more thing, “You know, your Dad is most likely hurting as much as you are.” Tommy snapped his head back around finishing the conversation, “He sure has a funny way of showing it then,” as Tommy turned to face the window once more. There was nothing he could say; nothing he could do to begin to comfort the Young Man. Tommy not only suffered from a broken heart, he suffered a broken spirit, so shattered that it was going to take an absolute miracle to begin the healing. “Maybe, just maybe, that is why I’m here?” thought the Old Man, “I got him to come along, now what do I do?” He turned his gaze out the window again as many more questions rather than answers arose in his mind, and tried to think as the Train began its journey into the mountains.

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 want to stay here. I don’t want to go back.” The Conductor moved over next 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 blast from the horn was loud enough to crack the snow pack above us and it’s 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.” Another voice, rich, deep and smooth piped in claiming, “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 to 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, groaning 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 through no explanation at all, held together. They were almost lying 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.

Here is the next chapter

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. You and I 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 the two finally caught up with him, they could hear him 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 with a slight accent, “Welcome aboard.” He was a burly man that barley fit into his overalls. The Old Man noticed his Engineer cap was unusual as it was not colored in the normal black and white checker pattern, but in the colors of a Scottish Family Tartan. The Brakeman, who was entering into the engine compartment, was a tall, muscular, mustached, gentleman that would look just at home on a horse running a cattle drive just as much as running a train. Both seemed to have that “you look familiar” air about them but The Old man shrugged it off as an over active imagination.

He redirected his attention back to the Conductor and 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 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, “If this trip is that important, if 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 thought for a few moments, squared his shoulders, and in the most serious tone a teen age boy could muster, firmly said with all seriousness, “This is going to sound insane, but we jump the train across canyon.”

Hee!  Niiiice.    

Rick,

Great start.  However, the last two chapters are EXTREMELY difficult to read.  PLEASE reformat with some paragraph structure because it reads like an attorney wrote it.  

My apology to any forum members that practice law.

Here is chapter 9. Two more to go

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 began to get a feeling of defeat as one by one they slowly turned to head back to the locomotive, 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 was the one to speak, "The Engineer is correct son, this is totally impossible. We cannot make it over that chasm. That’s at least a hundred thirty feet or more 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 this feeling of,” Tommy stopped to try to form words into a cohesive sentence. “It’s something I can’t describe. “It’s was like a voice in the back of my head, and this strange tingling that just come over me saying that we will make it across." The Conductor raised his eyebrows in astonishment at the new revelation from Tommy. "What are you trying to say?"

Tommy slowly began to smile, "I not sure. I think its faith that I know we can do this.” Just then, Tommy’s face lit up as a realization, known only to him began to solidify in his soul. “I know it,” he said in a sudden serious and firm tone, “I feel it in my heart. I can't explain how we will do it, but I know we will. I have faith that we can do this together"

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, pausing his conversation to reply, “Working on impossible calculations to impossibility get us across,” then made their way back to where the bridge should have started, and continued their animated discussion.

Tommy following along, interrupted the two, asking the Old Man, “I thought you said you had a degree in history, not science.” The Old Man paused just long enough to answer, “I recall telling you I had two degrees. I have a minor in science, not that I did very well at it, but it’s more of a hobby than anything.” Tommy stood there quietly as they finished up. “We can’t go back, and if we could, the track is destroyed from that avalanche,” came from the Old Man. The engineers Scottish accent began to get more pronounced, the more agitated he got. “Well there is ney a bridge up head, and if ya didn’t notice, this thing do’na has wings. Ya can’na change the laws of physics because a teenager has a sudden leap of faith!”     

With neither one agreeing with anything the other said or the solutions they could come up with, they all three turned to make 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’na care what he says,” Pointing to the Old Man, “trains can’na fly, but you’re the Conductor, you have the final word.” They waited a moment as the Conductor finalized his thoughts. “The word is given. We proceed with plan,” the Conductor said. The Engineer let out a sigh and answered, “Aye, thy will be done.”

As they began to climb up into the cab, the Brakeman said to the Engineer, “You know we’ll never make it over that chasm.” The Engineer answered back, “He’s the Conductor. If he wants this train over that bridge, I don’na wan’na be the one to disappoint him.” As the rest of the group climbed in and took seats, the Brakeman shook his head and disappeared into the engine compartment. The Old Man stood next to the Engineer for last minute deliberations, as he heard the Engineer mutter to no one in particular, “Aye, the Haggis in the fire now” Tommy sat quietly still behind them, his eyes closed as if in a deep trance or prayer. The Brakeman emerged from the back stating, “Everything is ready go.”

The Conductor looked at everyone in turn, and then spoke, “Let’s go.” No big speech this time, nothing. Everyone but Tommy was tense, apprehensive at what was about to take place. No one needed to say anymore how impossible this endeavor was, even with the past experience of the avalanche. The Conductor 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, God please let us make it across” 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, it was the Brakeman who noticed it first, “Look at that! There is a fog rolling in!” Everyone looked up as the Engineer exclaimed, “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. As the Locomotive started to clear the end of the track no one was prepared for what happened 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.

Transpiring instead, a miracle that they had hoped for happened right before their eyes. The fog began to freeze and solidify underneath them. Against all possible understanding of the universe, the fog shaped itself into a bridge providing the necessary support for the train to clear the missing bridge and safely roll across to the other side. Cheers went up from everyone in the cab as they began to clear the remaining portion of the bridge that hadn’t collapsed 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 and stated mater-of-factly, “A Christmas miracle.” The Engineer smiled and nodded his head. The Conductor quickly piped up, “Yes, a miracle indeed,” He turned his head to look directly at the Old Man as he finished, “But the real Christmas miracle is yet to come.” The Old Man began to look puzzled at the last of the statement but was interrupted by another outburst.

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, crawling through the small door in the nose of the backward facing locomotive. “Watch your head and your step,” the Conductor cautioned as one by one the three of them stepped from the small foot pad on the locomotive, over the coupler, then the platform inside the apron wrapped around the door leading into 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. Once again to the astonishment of the Old Man, the children seemed oblivious to the fact that they were once again in a perilous situation. Some were in the toy filled car happily playing, and others were in their roomettes sleeping peacefully.  The Old man decided it was better not to dwell on it and enjoy the rest of the journey. Provided they didn’t have any more mishaps.

The Polar Express continued on with no further incidents winding its way through the mountains and into another valley. The Conductor ushered Tommy and the Old Man up to the dome car, “look up,” he said. They all three turned their heads and looked up in awe and wonder. Many miles high up above them in the clear, cold, star filled sky, a curtain of light began to dance to the music of the galaxy that only it could hear. It began to sway to and fro, up and down in a multi-color array that could hypnotize the Angels themselves. The shimmering lights changed hues from reds, to greens, to blues, purples, and white then cycle through the colors again. They continued to stare through the dome glass in silence until the Heavenly light show began to fade. The Old Man broke the silence, “I’ve been stationed in Alaska, and I have never seen a more beautiful Aroura Borealis until tonight.” Tommy replied, “I’ve never seen anything like it before.” “That my Friends, is just a small portion of the magic that is the North Pole.” The Conductor added.

The Polar Express continued her rhythmic run as the steady clickety clack of the wheels could be heard lightly through the floors of the cars. They climbed around and cleared one more mountain peak until the train emerged onto a great white expanse of snow and ice. On the horizon a glow that grew in intensity as they approached, a shimmering light resembling the rising of the sun, casting its glow across the snow plain. 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.

Rick, I am so far behind.  I need to catch up!  The story is great, there has just been so many other things I need to do!  Keep then coming please!!!

Well done. Thank you sir.

The magic of the story is why we find magic in our trains. Great story, a well written Christmas miracle. I can still hear the bell ringing. I believe

(standing ovation) Looking forward to the rest!  

Mitch 

Merry Christmas everyone.

And now, the conclusion 

10

As the train made its way into the city, the children were all bouncing up and down in their seats, faces pressed to the windows leaving fog on the glass from their breath. Exclamations 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, as the Old Man 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, Billy, 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,” as Santa paused while the whole crowd began to quiet down waiting with abated breath for Santa to finish, “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 nodded yes.

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, walked up and down the line of children again then announced, ‘The First Gift of Christmas,” he paused to add suspense, before continuing, “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 bypassed the sleigh and 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 one member of. 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, “What does Billy 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 was even real, but it has to be.” 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, 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. The place was so bright, so warm, and it felt like you could feel love in there. It was like something that wrapped around you, like a warm blanket. 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 crucifixion and atonement,” whispered the Old Man. 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?” the Old Man asked Tommy. The boy thought for a moment then answered, “I know what I have to do. It starts with forgiveness. I have to forgive my Dad and help him to 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 he 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. 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.”

The Old Man looked up at Tommy, still on the steps to the car and answered back, “Better yet, why don’t you and your Dad take a trip to go see him. It can’t be that far for you.” Tommy looked down from the doorway smiling, “it’s only an hour or so from where we live.” “Well do it as soon as you can,” urged the Old Man,” Our time on Earth is finite, don’t let opportunity and special moments that bring you joy pass by. Once gone, you can never get that time back.”

Tommy reached down to shake the Old Man’s hand, “Goodbye sir. Hopefully we’ll get to see you there too.” With that said, Tommy turned to enter the car, paused, then added, “Then tell Grandpa that we will be visiting him soon.” The Old Man said he would and stepped back as the steps were raised and secured and 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 marveling at the splendidness of the home. He began looking around at all the decorations, the photos and history neatly displayed on the walls. The Elf then informed him, “You may wait here until Santa returns. I wouldn’t go wondering around, as you could get lost very easily.” The Old Man thanked his host as he 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 Sir. 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 reflection staring back at the Old Man made him gasp, “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 the young boy he was the night he first rode the Polar Express. “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. The mighty sound he thought he would never hear again, thundering amongst the buildings was the chugging of a steam locomotive 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 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.  As the locomotive slowly passed by, The Old Man could see through the cab window. The portly Engineer along with the tall red bearded Fireman that ran the train last time he rode, were busy bringing the train to a stop. The clanging and squealing of metal subsided 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 excursion runs now and again.” Santa’s voice snapped the Old Man back to the present, “What kind of excursion runs?” Santa smiled then asked, “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, to 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 had to shield his eyes momentarily as the light diminished to a more suitable level. He began to take a step, and then froze in place. Everything from excitement to fear gripped him all at once as 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 very soul saying, “Your work here on Earth is done. Your family and I await your arrival. Welcome home my son.”

Tears began to freely flow from his eyes 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 of the first coach car without even realizing he just walked down a flight of stairs and into the main court yard. As he began to climb up into the vestibule, he paused, turning to see Santa one last time saying, “Thank You Santa. This IS the best Christmas ever,” The Old Man then realized what the Conductor meant when he said the real Christmas miracle was yet to come. He gave the North Pole one more look, then he turned and finished climbing aboard, disappearing into the warm light inside.

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 to head south out of the city, but instead crossed through a turnout and took a different line that led straight north out of the city. As the train rolled along, fading into the horizon, from out of the Heavens, a cloud with ever changing rainbow of color descended ahead of them. They rolled on into the mist, and in a twinkling of an eye, were gone.

Christmas Day

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 while 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’s face changed from one of annoyance and anger, to almost ghost white with shock. He slid down the door jamb to the floor, beginning to weep.

Amidst the tears he said, “Son, where did you get these? Did Grandpa stop by when I wasn’t home?” Tommy sat down next to him on the floor saying, “No Dad. I was there. Last night. The whole place was just how Grandpa told you, and you would tell it to me in bedtime stories. The train was different, but everyone was just how you said Grandpa described it. There was an Old Man on the train too, who knows Grandpa. I never got to know his name. He was on the same trip Grandpa was on. This is the bell he got as The First Gift of Christmas. I can hear it ring. In time, maybe you will be able to hear it too.”

His dad sat there staring into the never ending shine of the Jingle Bell. Years of hurt, anger and regret began to slowly lose their grip on him. “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; they had a lot of time to make up, and a new future to unfold before them. Tommy then suggested, “I know today is Christmas, and it might be a lot to take in, but let’s go see Grandpa this afternoon.” His dad nodding his head in agreement, “After breakfast I’ll call and see if we can come by. Then you can fill me in on your adventure last night.”         

Christmas morning arrived early at the retirement home with the night nurse completing 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 pushed the door open finding him lying in his bed, with the most peaceful expression she had ever seen on any ones face her entire life. Her hands began to tremble as the reality of what she was witnessing began to sink in. She dropped the tray on the floor, and covered her face as she began 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 resident.

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 never forgot your kindness and friendship that night we rode. I was notified earlier that my Son and Grandson will be here for Christmas later today.” Billy stood in silence for a few moments more, not knowing what else to say. He finished with, “I know 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.

Narration

“I was once told long ago, that the dates on a tombstone weren’t as important as the dash between them. That little line represents how others remember how you spent that life during your time here on Earth. I just hope my dash may have made a difference in someone else’s life. One thing I do know, life doesn’t end with the physical death, but continues on a wondrous eternal journey where there are no more tears, no more pain, just, pure joy. This life exists for ALL who TRULY Believe.”

THE END

Well I thought I was caught up!  Now I see the last two chapters are there.

Have a Blessed Christmas, Rick and everyone!

(raises a glass) Merry Christmas, one and all.

Well..........I am very impressed and very moved.  Greatly appreciate your time and dedication to putting this together for all of us to share.  God Bless and Merry Christmas to one and all.

Thank you everyone for the kind words and encouragement. I'm glad that everyone who has read this enjoyed it and brightens your Christmas.

Amen, Brother!!!

Thank you!

A beautiful reminder of the true meaning of Christmas and Rick... you have touched everyone who reads this!

Thank you!

Dave