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In the freight yard Rocky Three and Flat Top were waiting. Rocky Three looked up at the sound of someone humming and grinned.
"Hey!" he shouted, "Poppa's gonna sing!"
Rocky Two came down the spiral ramp into the yard at that announcement and Dustin rolled out from under the buffer where he had been taking a nap.
An old steam engine, known throughout the yard as just "Poppa", was seated in the center of the yard, rocking back and forth and humming.
"Oh man that stuff is so out of date," Flat Top groaned.
"Cool it man!" Rocky One said, riding the bridge down, "Poppa's gonna sing."
Flat Top rolled his eyes and skated across the yard, into the corner.
"Poppa don't sing often," Rocky Two started.
"But he do sing mean," all three boxcars finished.
Dustin crawled over to sit down next to the old steamer as the Rockies gathered around.
"Oh the first line of the blues is always sung a second time," Poppa said.
"Oh yeah?" the Rockies asked.
"Oh yeah," Poppa answered, "I said the first line of the blues is always sung a second time."
"Kinda smooth," Rocky said approvingly.
"So by the time you get to the third line you've had time to think of a rhyme," Poppa continued.
Flat Top had gotten bored and emerged from his corner. He skated around behind the others hitting Dustin with his brick as he passed. Dustin looked up and made a face. Flat Top innocently sat down on the buffer.
"Oh ain't no law that says third line's gotta be different at all," Poppa started the next verse.
The Rockies moved next to him and started dancing in rhythm with Poppa's singing.
"No, no ain't no law that says third line's gotta be different at all," Poppa repeated. He looked over at the Rockies, one of which was doing a handstand, "You're looking good Rockies."
Flat Top had come back over by Dustin and was playing hacky sack with his brick. He kicked it up too high and it flew up over his wide shoulders, hitting him in the head and knocking him flat out on the ground.
"No there ain't no law that says third line's gotta be different at all," Poppa repeated with a smile.
Dustin pulled out a harmonica and offered it to Poppa, who gently refused.
"Oh never borrow no mouth organ," Poppa sang, "Not even from your best friend."
Dustin shrugged, wiped off the harmonica and began to play.
"I'll say it again, don't you never borrow no mouth organ," he repeated, "Not even from your best friend. 'Cause you may survive the blowing... "
He paused, resting for a few beats while Dustin wailed away on the harmonica.
"But the-" Poppa started. Dustin continued playing.
"But the-" the engine started again and again Dustin didn't stop.
"Dustin," Poppa said tapping the hopper on the shoulder, "Dustin, please."
The hopper either didn't hear him or he ignored Poppa, either way he continued playing.
"Dustin!" Poppa shouted, hitting the hopper in the back of the head.
Dustin fell forward, landing face down with a thump, but he had stopped playing.
"But the sucking's gonna get you in the end!" Poppa finished, "Oh yeah!"
Rusty whooshed into the freight yard, swung around the buffer and sat down. He looked very downcast as he stared down at his hands in his lap.
Poppa looked at the trucks around him and smiled, singing always put him in a good mood. Then he say the very dejected looking Rusty and his smile faded, what was Rusty doing here?
"Well Rusty why you lookin' sad?" Poppa asked.
Rusty looked up and sighed, "I got no hope," he answered, "Pearl decided she's not racing with me... "
Poppa shrugged, so Rusty just needed a partner, it wasn't a full scale disaster.
"So take Rocky with you," he said.
The Rockes looked at each other, and then at the smallest of them.
"Better, take Three," Rockies One and Two said.
Poppa looked around, "Maybe Flat Top would be good... "
Flat Top held up his hands, palm out, and backed away slowly, not with Rusty.
Dustin turned around to try and convince Flat Top.
"No, Poppa, no," Rusty said, getting up, "For all the chance I've got I might as well take Dustin."
Dustin whirled and let out a high pitched gasp, covering his mouth.
"Gee I'm sorry Dustin," Rusty apologized quickly, "But you could lose a few pounds huh?"
Dustin looked down at himself, measuring his size. He sniffed and went behind Poppa's chair, putting his head down. He already knew how big he was, Rusty didn't have to rub it in.
Flat Top sighed and gave Rusty a Look before going to comfort Dustin.
"Rusty, you ain't got no faith," Poppa scolded, "I am a steamer, I was a champion once."
At this statement the Rockies, seated on the ground around Poppa silently cheered.
"You like the rest, you just blind," he finished disappointed.
"No, no I see good," Rusty said shaking his head, in fact he saw all too well, "There ain't no power in steam no more," he declared, "Elec-tri-city is faster now."
"No!" Poppa shouted angrily, making everyone jump, a bit startled. He glared at Rusty, "Now let me hear you say 'Steam!" he ordered.
Rusty hesitated and looked away. "Steam... " he said half-heartedly, only to get Poppa to be quiet.
Poppa frowned, that certainly wasn't very convincing. He turned towards the trucks.
"Let me hear you all say 'Steam!'" he ordered.
"Steam!" the Rockies and Dustin shouted.
Flat Top skated out, "Oil! Oil! Oil!" he shouted holding up his arms and laughing.
"Oil!?!" Poppa shouted.
Flat Top quickly dropped his arms to his sides and flinched, slowly turning around.
Poppa glared at the brick truck, "Oil," he said, "Is the work of the diesel himself!"
Flat Top stuck out his tongue and Poppa indicated the corner.
The brick truck, banned to the corner again slammed into the supports of the overhead track before putting his head down and sulking. Why did he always have to be stuck with the steamers?
Poppa returned his attention to Rusty.
"How many times have you found, though you were firm on the ground, still the world around you sways?" He sang softly, "You notice all that you've got does not add up to a lot and the way ahead's a maze. You've used everything in side you, so maybe it's time you tried to find a brand new power to shine a light, a light to brighten up your darkest hour."
Rusty was showing some interest, despite himself.
"Starlight Express hears your distress," Poppa sang, "He's there, all around. Starlight Express will answer you yes, he's waiting to be found."
The Rockies, Rusty and Dustin all looked up to the night sky, almost expecting to see the magical engine.
"Starlight Express hears your distress," Poppa repeated, "He's there, all around. Starlight Express will answer you... "
"Control! Control! Five minutes to the second heat!" Control interrupted.
Poppa looked upwards with a "what now?" and sighed.
Flat Top had whirled around at Control's theme music and held his brick up to his ear like a phone, "Hello?"
Dustin stifled a laugh.
"Race time minus five minutes! Race time minus five minutes!"
Rusty had been rolling in place, and his whistled softly, then he remembered, Pearl was gone, and the Starlight Express was nothing more then a story.
"Rusty!" Poppa called.
Rusty hesitated, and then shook his head. "No," he said, "Not without Pearl!"
Poppa sighed, a little annoyed, and then he started to get up. Rockies One and Two immediately went over to help him to his wheels.
"Who'll come with me?" he asked suddenly.
Everyone looked at him stunned.
"Who'll come with me?" he repeated, getting up, "Race behind me?"
The Rockies started edging away from him.
"Poppa you're mad!" they exclaimed, "Poppa you're mad!"
"I'm gonna find me somebody who'll go with me," Poppa said, looking around, "Hey! Come on Rocky!"
Rocky turned around, "I can't, I'm reserved," he said, not entirely upset, "I got me a ride."
Flat Top had quietly been sneaking out of the yard.
"Okay Flat Top, you'll do," Poppa said.
Flat Top turned around and skated back over to Poppa.
"No way, not with you," he said, "Me? Go with a steamer all smelly and smoking and ancient and filthy? You gotta be joking."
He turned away before he could get banished to "his" corner again.
"I'll go with you," Dustin said.
Everyone, Flat Top included, looked at Dustin surprised.
"I'll go with you," he repeated, holding out his arms and skating over to Poppa, who backed away.
"Well I may be strong son... " he started.
Dustin understood, "Okay I know," he said a little sadly, "I'll be too slow... "
"Take too long son," Poppa said, not unkindly.
"Please Poppa take me!" Dustin begged.
Rusty quickly skated over between Poppa and Dustin.
"No way, it's all over," he said, "The race is full up, they'll blow you away."
Dustin stuck his tongue out at Rusty, who ignored it and turned to Poppa, "There's no place for steam on the railroad today!"
"Control! Control!" Control broke in, "Here is an announcement!"
Poppa rolled forward, listening intently.
"The British train has been scrapped!"
Rocky gasped and his face fell. He was supposed to race with that engine.
Poppa smiled, "ha!" he exclaimed.
"Space for late entry," Control continued, "Space for late entry."
"There's a light at the end of the tunnel," Poppa sang softly.
"There's a light at the end of the tunnel," the freight cars joined in.
Poppa turned to Rusty, who quickly turned away. Poppa sighed and looked around as the other trucks turned away.
"Come on Dustin!" he shouted.
Dustin hitched behind Poppa and looked back at Flat Top.
Poppa started moving, but didn't get that far, as Dustin wasn't ready.
The steamer looked back at the hopper reproachfully, before starting up again.
Rusty watched them leave and then turned to the trucks helplessly. They hitched together and he pushed them out of the yard, to go watch.
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