An Average Life: Rail Life

Part 6

"Citrus! Citrus wake up, I have Arby's!"

Citrus gasped, and shot up.

"D-Dad? How'd you find us?"

"I borrowed another mine cart. You guys wrecked my first one." Said Robert.

"Oops.." Citrus replied, sheepishly.

"Don't feel bad.. I'm just glad you're okay."

Citrus looked around. Ripple was sitting on the ground with an ice pack on her head. She was bruised badly.

"Are you okay?.." Asked Citrus.

"I'm fine." Replied Ripple. "That was some ride."

"I'd believe so." Said Robert. "It's not every day you stop a runaway steam engine." He turned to Citrus. "By the way, Ripple told me how brave you were. You're really taking after your pops, huh?"

"Ripple was brave too!" Said Citrus. "She got to be driver for a bit."

Robert helped Citrus to her feet, and gave her a hug. Ripple joined in, and was accepted into the embrace.

"You two would make a great driver and fireman." Chuckled Robert.

"Fireman?" Asked Ripple.

"The one that puts the coal in the firebox while the driver controls the engine." Said Citrus.

"Wow. You're kind of a nerd."

They chuckled for a bit, before looking back at the engine they had just helped rescue.

"We're gonna need to get a crane down here." Said Robert.

A few days later, Citrus was sitting at home when she heard a knock at the door. She stood up, and answered it, smiling as she did.

"Hi, Citrus!" Said Ripple.

"Heya babe." Said Citrus. "What's up?"

"Nothing much. Did you see the paper?"

"Uh.. no, I don't read the paper.."

"Well look!"

She held up a newspaper with her and Ripple's pictures in it.

"Oh no, what's the charge?"

"Just read it, stupid." Teased Ripple.

Citrus obeyed, and read the paper.

"Bla bla bla.. local cat and dog.. bla bla bla.. heroes stop runaway train.. Heroes?"

"You bet!" Said Ripple.

"Wow.. That's pretty cool." Said Citrus. "Why wasn't I told I was being put in the paper?"

"I wanted it to be a surprise. Besides, it was your dad who told the reporters the story. I mean, they were a little mad about losing the dynamite but the railway was happy we saved the engine."

Citrus smiled as her tail began to wag.

"By the way, when's the next time your dad's coming over? He's really cool." Said Ripple.

"Oh, he said he's delivering a train to Ovjecto right now, so he's.."

Citrus trailed off as a car pulled into her driveway. Robert stepped out of the driver's seat, and waved to her.

"Heya." He said. "Is this a bad time?"

Citrus smiled.

"Not at all." Said Citrus. "I'm glad you're here."

"Eh, I needed the day off."

"I'm sorry I thought you weren't there for me.. I didn't know how hard you worked. I enjoy the time we spend together.."

"It's okay, Citrus. I'm sorry for not being there as much as I should. But hey, you got to see a bit of how hard it is to work on a railroad, huh?"

"We sure did!" Said Ripple. "That was a pretty crazy crash."

"I've seen worse." Said Robert. "But that's a story for another time."

Citrus chuckled.

"So.. about that Arby's.." She said.

"Wanna go right now?"

"YEAH!"