Carved Kindness

Saturday morning began the way it always did at Brightseed Burrow — with warm pine needle tea, a favorite story, and a few quiet moments together before the day began.

As Zippy closed the book, Zinny folded the little blanket across the back of the chair.

"Before either of you disappear on another adventure," she said with a smile, "Ronnie stopped by yesterday."

Goldie's ears perked up.

"He did?"

"He wondered if anyone might have time to help him with a Saturday chore."

"I'll help!" Goldie said, hopping to her feet.

"So will I," Mitch added.

Zippy smiled as he reached for his hat.

"Then we'd better not keep him waiting."

The trail to Anaheim Siding was quiet in the early morning.

Visitors hadn't begun arriving yet, and the forest still belonged mostly to the birds.

When they reached the siding, Ronnie was already there beside his little white locomotive.

A bucket of warm water sat nearby.

Soft polishing cloths were folded neatly on a wooden crate.

A tin of brass polish rested beside a small brush.

Fastened to the front of the little white locomotive was the upholder Ronnie had made for Goldie and Mitch.

Goldie gave a happy little squeal, raced over, and climbed right in, wrapping both paws around the little handrail.

She looked back over her shoulder.

"I remember that!"

Ronnie smiled.

"I was hoping you would."

Mitch tilted his head as he looked around.

"I think it already looks clean."

Ronnie chuckled.

"It is."

He dipped a cloth into the warm water.

"But clean and cared for aren't always the same thing."

Soon everyone had a job.

Goldie polished the shiny brass bell.

Mitch carefully rubbed fingerprints from the handrails.

Zippy wiped dust from the little cab windows.

Ronnie worked quietly beside them, humming a cheerful little tune as the morning sunshine slowly warmed the rails.

Mitch paused in the middle of polishing the handrail.

He listened for a moment.

Ronnie always seemed to hum when he worked.

Mitch smiled to himself and picked up his cloth again.

For a while no one hurried.

No one needed to.

After a few minutes Goldie looked up.

"Ronnie?"

"Yes?"

"Why do you polish your train every Saturday?"

Ronnie thought for a moment before answering.

He gently rubbed one last smudge from the headlight.

Then he smiled.

"People think I'm taking care of the train."

His hand rested softly against the side of the little white locomotive.

"Sometimes..."

he said quietly,

"I think the train's taking care of me."

Mitch looked at Ronnie.

He wasn't completely sure what he meant.

But it sounded important.

He quietly opened his notebook.

Some thoughts...

were worth keeping until you grew into them.

When the last bit of brass shone in the morning sunlight, Ronnie folded his polishing rag.

"Well," he said.

"I think we've earned a little surprise."

Goldie's eyes grew wide.

"A surprise?"

Ronnie disappeared into the little storage shed beside the siding.

For a few moments, all they could hear was the quiet tap of metal tools and the soft scrape of a file from inside Ronnie's little workshop.

Then he stepped back outside.

He was carrying another upholder.

At first glance, it looked almost exactly like the first one.

Then Mitch stepped a little closer.

Tiny wildflowers had been carefully etched into the metal along both sides.

Delicate leaves curled around the handholds, and little blossoms decorated the front panel.

Goldie gasped.

"Oh..."

"It's beautiful."

Ronnie smiled, almost a little shy.

"I've been working on it for a while."

Mitch gently ran one paw across the smooth metal.

"You etched all of these?"

Ronnie nodded.

"I did."

Goldie tilted her head.

"Why flowers?"

Ronnie looked toward Brightseed Burrow, just visible through the tall pines.

"I thought your mother might like them."

Zippy stepped beside him and looked at the delicate flowers for a long moment.

"They're Lasher flowers."

Ronnie smiled.

"I hoped you'd recognize them."

Zippy nodded slowly, his eyes never leaving the little upholder.

"She will."

For just a moment, the two old friends simply stood there.

Neither of them said another word.

They didn't need to.

Goldie looked from one to the other.

She wasn't quite sure why...

...but somehow the little upholder had become even more beautiful.

Ronnie carefully coupled the second upholder behind the first.

He stepped back and smiled.

"Come on," he said.

"We've got a stop to make."

Goldie didn't wait another second.

She scrambled into the familiar front upholder, and Mitch climbed in beside her.

As Ronnie made one last check, Zippy walked over to the new upholder.

His hand brushed gently across the delicate etched wildflowers.

He smiled.

"They're going to make her very happy."

Ronnie looked up.

"I certainly hope so."

Zippy gave the flowers one last gentle pat.

"Oh..."

"I'm pretty sure they will."

A moment later, the little white locomotive gave a cheerful whistle, and the tiny train rolled quietly out of Anaheim Siding beneath the tall ponderosa pines.

Back at Brightseed Burrow, Zinny was hanging a freshly washed towel on the clothesline when she heard the cheerful whistle of Ronnie's little locomotive.

She turned toward the tracks and smiled.

"Well, that's not the sound I was expecting."

Goldie was already waving both paws.

"Mom!"

"Hurry!"

"You have to come see!"

Laughing, Zinny brushed her hands on her apron and walked toward the little train.

Ronnie tipped his cap.

"Morning, Zinny."

"Morning, Ronnie."

She smiled at the freshly polished locomotive.

"It certainly shines."

"It had some very good helpers today," Ronnie said.

Goldie could hardly stand still.

"Mom..."

"Look!"

Only then did Zinny notice the second upholder.

She stepped closer.

Her fingertips gently traced the delicate wildflowers etched into the metal.

She looked at Ronnie.

"You made this?"

Ronnie nodded.

"I did."

Her fingers lingered on the flowers.

"They're Lasher flowers."

"They are," Ronnie said quietly.

"I thought your rides through the forest ought to have a little bit of your mother's garden with them."

For just a moment, Zinny didn't say anything.

Then she smiled.

The kind of smile that reached all the way to her eyes.

"They're beautiful."

Goldie slipped her little paw into Zinny's.

"Now you can ride with us."

Ronnie smiled.

"That was the idea."

Even Zippy laughed.

"I'd say this surprise turned out rather well."

A few minutes later, the little white locomotive gave a cheerful whistle and rolled quietly beneath the tall ponderosa pines.

Goldie and Mitch laughed together in their familiar front upholder.

In the new one behind them, Zippy settled in beside Zinny.

As the little train wandered beneath the towering pines, Zinny gently ran her fingers across the delicate wildflowers etched into the metal.

She smiled.

Zippy noticed.

"They suit you," he said quietly.

Zinny looked over at him.

Zippy smiled. "I think your mother would have loved them."

"I think she would have, too."

For a little while, neither of them said another word.

They didn't need to.

The little white locomotive rolled peacefully through the forest while patches of morning sunlight danced between the trees.

Ahead of them, Goldie and Mitch laughed together as the upholder gently swayed around the curves.

Behind them, Ronnie smiled to himself.

No one was in a hurry.

No one needed to be.

For a little while...

the whole family simply enjoyed being together.

Later that evening, the warm smell of supper filled Brightseed Burrow.

Zinny gave the soup one last stir while Goldie carefully carried the napkins to the table.

Mitch set out the bowls one by one, making sure each was in just the right place.

From the kitchen, Zinny paused for a moment.

She smiled.

Mitch was quietly humming to himself.

The tune wasn't exactly the same...

...but it was close.

Goldie looked up.

She smiled, too.

Without saying a word, she began helping him set the spoons beside each bowl.

Mitch never seemed to notice he was humming.

He simply kept right on setting the table.

Goldie carried in the last of the berry tarts and paused.

“Mitch...”

“Hmm?” he answered, placing another plate on the table.

“You've been humming ever since you started setting the table.”

Mitch stopped and blinked.

“I have?”

Goldie nodded.

“The whole time.”

He thought about it for a moment.

Then he gave a little shrug.

“I guess I have.”

Goldie smiled.

“I like it.”

Mitch smiled back.

“So do I.”

Outside, beneath the tall ponderosa pines, the little white locomotive rested quietly after another Saturday's journey.

And inside Brightseed Burrow...

a cheerful little tune drifted softly through the evening air.