Creative Non-Fiction Collection

A Train Set

As far back as I can remember, my youth was a just an obsession and or fascination with trains. As much as I loved trains I never got one until I was five years old. My family knew about my passion for trains. The days leading up to Christmas, one day a huge present appeared. On the wrapping paper had my name on it. It was from my Papa. He didn't bother putting from Santa or any of that nonsense. He wanted the satisfaction of giving it to me personally and not hide behind some myth in case I didn't like it. I would not consider myself a patient person in any way. The anticipation was killing me. This mysterious object twice my size hidden behind jolly green wrapping paper that had Santa going

¨HO HO HO¨ splattered across about it, scared me a bit. At the time before Christmas day I had no idea what it could be. My Papa knew that I would love the train set. I did, in fact love it. I'm pretty sure you can imagine a five year olds big toothless smile as he opens up the biggest present under the christmas tree. I wasn't one of those crying kids, when they open up a present and they start crying like it's the best thing in world. I did the normal thing and walked up to my Papa, gave him a hug, said "Thank you and I love you." I still do that to this day. I never really cared about the gifts I got, as long as I got to be with my family it was all good. This train set that I got is the best thing ever made. I immediately set it up. I got help setting it up. It wasn't because I couldn't figure it out, why do something when you can get other people to do it for you. Just act like you don't know what you are doing and someone steps in to help. My family eventually got smart and my tricks don't work anymore.

With the train set up and all of it's little accessories placed around the circular track, to keep it going. When i turned it one, it was the best thing ever. It came with a remote to change the direction, forward and backward. There was a third button, which would become my favorite button to press at anytime of day. This would become music to my ears, I will always remember the first time I pressed that button. The dogs barked, my family groaned because they knew that they would be hearing these beautiful sounds that came about with a press of the button a lot. It started with a "Chuga chuga chuga choo choo!" you know what trains actually sound like. Smoke blowing out of the top of the engine. Still going "Chuga chuga chuga choo choo!" it made it seem to go faster with the smoke getting pulled backwards against the force of the train. Then the most amazing sound came from it, something I still remember to this day. The conductor yelling "All aboard!" with the train still going "Chuga chuga chuga choo choo!" It is still the best gift I have ever received. I played with it for weeks, putting lego people on the tracks and running them over with the train, which would result in derailing the train. While constantly pushing the magical button, to hear that beautiful, blissful, series of sounds that is music to my ears. I eventually had to put it up so it couldn't get ruined.

I have put it up during christmas every year. It became my own family tradition. After I got blessed with this amazing gift from my Papa, he died a few years after that. Complications with his health and all that, old age, the circle of life, you know how it is. When that Christmas arrived it was morbid to say the least. My father's father died. He didn't want me to put up the train set. This would be the first time where I defied my father, wasn't the last time but it certainly was the first time. No one helped me that christmas. It's understandable now with all the sad emotions in the air. I had to go in the shed myself and retrieve it. I set it up around the tree for the first time alone. My dad went in the back while I was setting it up. I have put up my train set every year, to hear that glorious sound and to remember.