Christmas. The most magical time of the year. And this particular upcoming year, one long since passed in the present day, may just become the most magical of them all. At twelve, some of the childhood magic has left and a new kind of magic has come, especially with this year being one of exploration. Colin is in a new town with his mum, being old enough to do some exploring of his own and young enough to have the comfort of returning back to mum.
This costal town they have come to is far from the city, and after all which occurred within the Lighthouse earlier in the year, wouldn't it be a nice treat for mother and son to go into the city to watch the Christmas lights being turned on? And no better way to do it and build excitement at the same time than to take the train into town.
And even the train itself is getting in on the festivities going all Polar Express like. An old and specific train has been specifically put on for the evening whether or not each passenger has boarded because of the festivities, everyone who boards does so having purchased a golden ticket. The ticket itself goes a long way with that excitement ensuring it is there before anything at all happens.
All this even goes as far to ensure the train itself has a title. The buzz of anticipation at the station is electric long before the stream train begins coming down the line. The chill in the air, breaths stretching out ... freezing in the instance each breath leaves the body. This is natural magic at its best.
On the platform, off to one side and away from the arriving populous a caroling choir of children sing: -
O come, all ye faithful,
Joyful and triumphant!
O come ye, O come ye to Bethlehem;
Come and behold him
Born the King of Angels:
Could it get any more magical? ... The train pulls in, steam releasing, whistle tooting, smokestack easing. A conductor soon gives the shout: ... All aboard ... soon to be followed by tickets please, once all have boarded.
The Yule Tide Train was warm and bustling, a narrow bubble of light and anticipation cutting through the cold December night. At the far end of one carriage, young Colin pressed his forehead against the frosted window, watching the blurred darkness race by as the train sped toward the city.
His mother sat beside him, her gloved hands folded in her lap, excitement and exhaustion mingling in her eyes. Outside, nothing stirred but passing shadows, yet inside, Colin caught a flicker in the glass ... a shape that seemed not to belong, pale and indistinct, standing near the old conductor at the back of the car.
No one else looked up, no one else reacted, not even the conductor himself. Colin's heart began to beat a little faster as the figure's eyes met his in the reflected gloom, its mouth moving as if to speak, though not a sound could be heard above the train's gentle rattle. If there ever was a time he didn't want this then that time would be now.
This may not necessarily be a problem; the change in atmosphere did not need to stick or replace what was. It may just be a matter of let's just wait and see though, take nothing for granted. Christmas so happens to be in close proximity with All Hallow's Eve, ... that does not necessarily mean that there may be something to fear in the here and now.
'Colin ...' the voice spoke gently, having closed in upon him. Odd it is, the hopeful despair, reaching for empathy in one so young.
Colin looked up and listened to what would be said, without judgement, without fear and the genuine tone which came with every word received well and true. Mum looked at her son, she had seen this look in him before and she also saw the calmness which came with it. She knew better not to interfere or interrupt. She would wait until Colin was ready to divulge whatever he may have to divulge and not judge anything until then.
