27/12/2023
A Christmas story
Jake Thomas and The Lady in Black
The summer season at Shibden Park had come to a close and Jake Thomas the number 1 train engine was feeling a bit sad. All the baby animals had grown up, no more the sound of children’s laughter and joy as he took them for a ride around the park. His sister Emily Grey was sleeping and snoring, although she says she definitely doesn’t snore. Jake sighed and closed his eyes, if only he could have an adventure.
‘Oh good lord, now look, I’ve caught my skirt on the railway track’. Jake opened his eyes as the muttering continued. He knew it was dark outside and wondered who was wandering around, and getting tangled in his tracks. He called out ‘Who’s there, this is a private park and it’s closed’. The voice replied, ‘No it isn’t and it’s my park’.....and appearing as if by magic in front of Jake, the shadowy figure of Miss Anne Lister of Shibden Hall carried on to say that she still needed to check her estate. ‘Anyway what’s the matter with you Jake, it’s not like you to be grumpy’.
Jake told her he was sad that the park was closed. Miss Lister reminded him that it always closes for the winter so everything can rest. Even the tree’s and plants rest, some animals sleep all winter too. Jake gave another sigh and told her he wished he could have an adventure, and even wished he was a ghost like her, because she can go wherever she wants, even scare people.
Looking at Jake quite sternly she said ‘Jake Thomas it is certainly not my intention to scare people. Sometimes I just like to pop in and say hello, as I did to the children in your carriages’. Jake apologised saying ‘I know, and I’m sorry’.
Looking at Jake’s sad face she shook her head, ‘Hmm you really are a glum chum aren’t you’. Then tapping her hat with her cane, told him she too may enjoy a little adventure, and with a quick remark of ‘I will be back soon’ she simply vanished.
It seemed to Jake that no time had passed at all before Miss Lister appeared in front of him again, and took a small bottle out of her pocket. She shook the bottle and said Jake was not to worry as it was special dust a friendly wizard gave to her. Gasping Jake blurted out ‘What, a real wizard?’. Smiling at him she said ‘I’m going to sprinkle it on us both and we’ll go on an adventure’. As she opened the bottle and began sprinkling the contents, Jake just wasn’t sure how this would work as too much dust made him sneeze.
At that moment they were both surrounded by sparkling dust of every colour Jake had ever seen. Anne told him ‘Just stay close to me Jake’. As the dust began swirling and dancing Jake suddenly felt very light, and he thought they must be floating in the multi coloured swirling dust.
Soon, he felt his wheels were on the ground but it felt soft, not hard like the railway lines he ran on. The dust settled, it was very bright everywhere with lots of snow. Looking at Miss Lister he asked where they were, and giggling she said, ‘The North Pole’...... ‘The North Pole’, Jake gasped so hard it made his whistle blow which made Miss Lister laugh even more. ‘Come on let’s explore Jake’. ’But there’s no track for me, I’ll be stuck here and my wheels will freeze’....’No you won’t, you don’t need a track here, come on’ and she set off walking. Jake, slowly at first, tried moving, but very soon called out, ‘Hey Miss Lister it works’ and happily followed Anne’s brisk pace, asking her why were they at the North Pole as he can see snow at home.
Anne turned to look at Jake, ‘It’s a very special time of year at the North Pole and also very busy. Christmas is not very far away. When I was alive 200 years ago, we didn’t really celebrate it like people do now, but we did go to church. Father Christmas’s village and workshops are here somewhere so let’s get on’. Jake was beginning to think he was dreaming when Anne pointed saying, ‘Look over there Jake’, and sure enough appearing through the trees he could see buildings coming into view.
Look out for the next part of the story ..................................
