The Midnight Train Crossing

Poppa awoke CB rather early the morning of his appointed task
CB muttered in his sleep, not wanting to wake up.
The steamer shook the caboose gently
"5 more minutes..." he muttered.
"You said that five minutes ago."
He groaned, not really looking forward to what he had to do.
"wake up now," Poppa said, "Breakfast is ready."
"alright, alright..."
He waited until the caboose had actually gotten out of bed
CB moved in an attempt to get up.

Poppa went out to the kitchen and the caboose soon followed. His breakfast was awaiting him
He sat down at the table with a yawn, trying to wake up further.
Poppa set a glass of orange juice down
"thanks.."
"Sure."
He took a bite. "So when's Meg expectin' me?"
"At nine."
"all right.."
He glanced at the clock on the wall, "so about half an hour."
He nodded.
He sat down at the table with a cup of coffee
The caboose continued to eat.

"Finished?" Poppa asked fifteen minutes later
"Yeah.."
He nodded and stood up
CB pushed his stuff away a stood as well.
"Ready?"
"As ready as I'll ever be.."
The engine turned around so CB could hitch up, "Come along child of mine and we shall be off."
He hitched up and held on.

Poppa pulled him down the tracks towards Meg's house
He gave a slight sigh. Well, at least he wasn't completely grounded now.
They arrived at her house and Poppa knocked on the door
CB stayed quiet.
Meg answered it with a cheerful "good morning."
He looked up.
"Come in."
CB unhitched and went in.
Meg and Poppa conversed for a minute or two and then the steamer left
CB looked to Meg.
"Well shall we get on with it?"
"might as well..."
"That's a fabulous attitude to take CB," she said with a smile to show she was teasing
"Still too early for me..." he explained
"Ah I see," she said, setting a hand on his shoulder and leading him towards the back door
CB allowed himself to be led.

She led him outside where there were several cans of paint lined up next to her shed
He looked around.
"So I guess you can see what needs to be done."
He nodded. "yeah.."
Meg handed him a brush
he took it and then readied the paint.
"Let me know if you need anything else," she said
"All right Meg.."
She gave him a smile
He then got to work.
Meg watched him for a few minutes before heading back into her house

He watched her go into the house but got back to work.
Meg had certainly supplied enough paint, and the shed wasn't huge, but it certainly was large enough to take the whole day
he worked hard and the day grew warmer. He paused to wipe sweat from his forehead.
A distant whistle sounded as a random train passed by
He looked in that direction.
Rusty waved, pulling Buffy and Ashley along
CB gave a wave back and looked back at the shed with a sigh. He was about a fourth done, he was *never* going to get done at this rate.

Meg emerged from her house with a glass
CB looked in her direction hearing the repair truck come out.
"Looking good," she said
"thanks..."
"Would you like some lemonade?"
"please.." He wiped away some more sweat.
She handed him the glass.
"thanks.."
She nodded
He took a sip. it was quite refreshing.
"How're you doing?" she asked
"It's tiring..." he admitted.
She nodded sympathetically
He sighed again.
"If you get too hot, then come inside," she said
"All right Meg. Thanks.."
She nodded, "I don't want you passing out or anything like that."
He gave a slight smile. "I know."
She grinned at him
He gave Meg back the glass.
"Alright," she said, "you know where to find me."
"Yes. Spose I should get back to work..."
She nodded, "Yup."
CB took up the paintbrush once more.
Meg went into her house, letting him get back to work

After about an hour, someone called his name
CB looked up in the direction it was coming from.
Flat Top was leaning on Meg's fence
"Hey FT," he responded dipping the brush back into the paint.
"Whatcha doing?"
"Paintin' Meg's shed," he said simply.
"Why?"
He thought a moment and then smiled some. "Cuz it's fun."
"Really?" he looked doubtful
The caboose gave a nod. "Course! would I lie to you?"
"Well, no..."
He dipped the brush back into the paint and as he painted the shed, CB swayed with the motion of the brush, trying his best to whistle a made up tune.
Flat Top watched him for a bit CB indeed seemed to having fun.

He entered Meg's yard and headed closer to CB
CB noted that Flat Top had entered the yard but continued to keep to his work.
He looked as though he were trying to not to look interested
The caboose glanced to Flat Top and gave a slight smile, still working all the while. "Nothing more fun then painting really.."
"I dunno..."
"I'd offer you a turn..." he started.
"Maybe..." Flat Top said, "just to see if you're tellin' me the truth."
"But I can't," he finished. "Meg trusted me to do this."
"I see," Flat Top said, "But there are a lotta trains that could do it..."
"I don't know...Meg wants it done a 'special' way. Not too many trains can do it the way she wants it."
"And you can?"
"She must think so."
"Well, what's so special about the way she wants it done?"
"Ya gotta paint it a certain way." He dipped the brush back in the paint and continued to paint, swaying to the motion.
"You look silly," Flat Top declared.
CB shrugged. "It helps the paint go on they way Meg wants it. She wants the paint evenly spread and this helps with that."
"Oh," Flat Top said, "Well... it don't look *that* hard..."
"I don't know..."
"Well it doesn't," he said, picking up an extra brush
"But I don't want my best buddy to get in trouble if Meg should see."
That did indeed give Flat Top reason to hesitate.
"Eh, what the heck" CB finally said. "If ya really think ya can do it the way Meg wants, I'll keep a look out for ya while ya take a turn."
Flat Top nodded
CB stepped back, allowing Flat Top to take over while he took a glance back to the house.
Flat Top dipped the brush into the paint and carefully started to paint
CB crossed him arms, smirking proudly to himself. This was great.
Flat Top painted cautiously
The caboose took another glance back to the house.

Flat Top painted for about half an hour and then stopped.
CB kept his word and kept a look-out. After FT stopped, CB took up his brush and looked over Flat Top's work.
"y'know..." he started
CB looked to FT. "Yeah?"
"This isn't fun."
He gave FT an odd look then shook his head. "Knew it!" he said. "Knew ya wouldn't appreciate it."
"Yeah," he put the brush down
He shrugged. "maybe it's just as well."
"Yeah," Flat Top said
He took up the brush and started to paint once more.
"Well, I guess I'll see you later then."
"All right FT."
He headed off

CB looked back to the shed. In his attempt to be sure that he didn't do it wrong and incur the wrath of Meg, Flat Top had only painted a small section
The caboose gave a sigh. least that was a section *he* didn't have to do.
He had about two thirds left to go
He decided he'd try and see what more he could get done.

Soon the noon sun was over head and he decided to break.
Meg was just about to ask him if he wanted lunch
He put his paint brush down and started for the house.
"hungry?" she asked, holding the door open for him
"Definitely!"
She grinned and let him inside
CB did so.
There were sandwiches on the table
He sat down.
"It's looking good," Meg said
CB grinned.
"At this rate you should be finished by evening."
"Good."
She nodded, sitting down herself to eat
CB sat down as well.
"So," she said, mid bites, "How're you holding up?"
He gave a nod taking a bite himself.
"Good," she said, "So it's not too horribly unfair then?"
"No...Though I could be playin' with Flat Top.."
"I seem to recall that being what got you into this mess in the first place."
He looked down.
Meg didn't look particularly accusing, she was only stating a fact
He looked back up.
She gave him a smile
He couldn't help but smile back.
"Of course after lunch it's back to work for you."
"I know.."
She smiled at him fondly
CB took a drink.
Meg had finished eating, and took her plate over to the sink
CB soon finished after.
"All done?"
He nodded. "Yeah.."
"Alright then," she said
CB stood to his skates, taking his dishes to the sink as well.
"Thanks," she said, taking it from him
He gave a nod, just being helpful.
"Alright," she said with a smile, "off to work."
"off to work..." He turned and headed out the door.
Meg smiled at him and went to wash the dishes

CB went outside and picked up the brush once more.
The day hadn't cooled off much
He slowly began working once more, not really feeling like doing much in the heat.
Every so often, Meg would check on him

However, despite the heat and him going slow, as the day came closer to and end CB finished up.
Meg came out to survey his work
He put the paintbrush down and turned to Meg, waiting for her approvel or not.
She nodded, "Nice job."
"Thanks.."
She looked him over, "I think that you need a shower..."
CB looked at himself. Indeed, he was sweaty and dirty with paint.
"And scrub really well unless you want to be white speckled," she said with a wink
CB chuckled. "I don't know. seems to match my trim."
She laughed
"Don't ya think?" he asked with a grin on his paint-spattered face.
She laughed, "Well," she rubbed at a speck on his cheek
He chuckled and pushed her hand away.
"Go on home now," she said, "you're released."
CB gave a cheer but before he sped off, the caboose gave Meg a hug.
She watched him go with a smile

The caboose soon reached his home and entered. It was apparent he had gotten some sun.
"goodness," Belle said when she saw him
"hey Belle!" he said with a grin.
"well you look happy..." she said with a smile of her own
"I'm free! Course I'm happy!"
She laughed
He gave her a hug. "Free!" he exclaimed happily once more.
"Ack!" she said, pulling away and taking hold of his collar, "Not quite yet..."
"Aww Belle, I paid my dues..."
She gave him a teasing smile, "You're taking a shower right now."
"Aww Belle." It was clear he was teasing now as well.
She pretended to lead him along towards the bathroom.
"Aww c'mon! I like my new paint Belle."
"but you're all sweaty."
"Aww c'mon Belle. I ain't that bad."
She pushed him into the bathroom
He pretended to nearly loose his balance though the sleeper's push wasn't that hard to begin with.
"Now don't come out until you're clean."
"Yes ma'am." He gave a salute and a grin.
She returned the grin

As the door closed, CB turned on the shower.
Belle smiled, hearing the water and returned to whatever she had been doing
He got ready to take the shower and stepped in. It wasn't until he had stopped moving completely when CB realized how soar he was, but the hot water felt good
After he finshed, he dried off, dressed, and headed into the kitchen once more.
"That looks much better," Belle said once he had come out
CB grinned.
"Very shiny."
"Though my new 'paint job' is gone," he joked.
"Well if you want to have white specks, we could always get you painted that way properly," she teased
"Would coaches go for it?"
She laughed, not unkindly
"Well? Would they?"
"I'm not so sure about that."
""Hmmmm, all right then. No thanks."

Belle smiled, "Sit down."
The young boose did so.
"Now," she said, "I know that you're happy to be "free"..."
He nodded.
"But I hope that you'll be more responsible after this."
"oh, I will belle."
"Good," she smiled
"I'll think before I act"
"Good boy," she said with a smile
"May I go now, belle?"
She nodded
"Thanks!"
She couldn't help but smile at that. The way CB was acting, he might as well have been rescued from a desert island rather then just trapped in the house."
the caboose hurried outside.

The sun was just beginning to show signs of setting
He had gone out into the backyard and looked up at the setting sun. The last day of his punishment. felt good to be 'free' again.
Rusty was just coming home
"Hey rusty!" CB called.
"Hiya CB."
The caboose grinned.
"You look happy."
"I'm free!" he exclaimed.
Rusty laughed, but not at all meanly
"great feeling."
"I see."
He grinned again.
"Well I'm glad you're feelin' better."
He nodded.
"It's a nice night too."

It was getting dark, and Belle eventually called CB in
CB turned back to the house and went in.
"it's getting late," she said
CB nodded. "All right."
She closed the door after he had come in
CB headed to his room. He had things to write about before Belle suggested he go to bed.

After an hour or two she came into his room to do just that
He looked up as the sleeper entered.
"Bed time," she told him
He closed his diary and gave a nod. "All right Belle."
"Good night."
"Night Belle."