Farewell Mrs. Kindley

Mrs. Kindley has been a friend of the North Western Railway for many years. She always waves to the engines that pass by her cottage and they whistle, honk or ring a hello back. She always tours the island with her husband and visits her daughter and granddaughter on the mainland, allowing her to get rail tours on the famous Flying Scotsman. But time goes on in life and just like with the engines, age comes. Mrs Kindley is starting to have weak bones around her legs. But she keeps on living life to the fullest, even going so far as to visit the Blazing Swordsman himself in his home country, The United States of America.

One cool summer evening, Thomas was simmering in the top station on his branchline. Suddenly he heard and ambulance wailing on the road right past him. It made a sharp turn and sped out of sight. Thomas looked worried.

Thomas: Whats going on? What's with the ambulance?

Thomas' Driver: I don't know, Thomas. I've seen plenty of ambulances in my life, and its not usually a good sign.

Thomas: Oh no! Mrs. Kindley! *Dashes off*

Thomas' Driver: Slow down, Thomas!

Thomas: I can't! Mrs. Kindley is in trouble! I got to help her!

Thomas' Driver: *sees something* Stop!!!!!!!! *slams on the brakes*

Thomas screeched to a stop just before the tunnel. A man waving a red flag was there.

Thomas' Driver: What's going on?

Man: There was a car accident near the Kindley cottage. Mrs. Kindley was driving with Blaze when she suddenly had a heart attack and spun her car out of control, crashing down near the other side of the tunnel.

Thomas: NO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! GOD'S SAKE NO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Thomas slowly puffed through the tunnel and when he reached the cottage, the full accident scene appeared before him. Mrs. Kindleys car was in a terrible state, and the ground where it tumbled was covered in bits and pieces of it. Amazingly, the cottage remained where it was. However, there were emergency service crews surrounding it, on the rails, road and the air. Mrs. Kindley was in a terrible mess with paramedics trying to revive her. Blaze suffered extensive injuries all over his body.

Mickey: Harold, you need to get going! Blaze needs medical attention, STAT!

Harold: Understood, Mickey! *Flies off*

Thomas: Oh my god, No!

Mickey: Thomas, what are you doing here?

Thomas: I saw an ambulance rush towards here and I came worring about Mrs. Kindley. How is she? A-and Blaze! And Mr. Kindley!

Mickey: To be honest, not good. Mr. Kindley suffered a couple of injured feet due to the unexpected crash. Mrs. Kindley is unconscious with injuries all over the place. Blaze has several broken bones and a severe concussion.

Thomas: Bust my Buffers. What did they do to deserve that?

Mickey: Do yourself a favor Thomas, don't ask those kinds of questions. You'll never get a satisfactory answer.

Thomas: Understood Chief.

News of the accident soon spread all over Sodor and the Mainland. Everyone was sad and worried about Blaze and the Kindleys.

The next day the Fat controller gathered his engines at Tidmouth for news.

Sir. Topham Hatt: I am pleased to say that Blaze is alive and expected to make a full recovery.  However I deeply regret to say that Mrs. Kindley has died last night as a result of her heart attack. I advise you to show respect to Mr. Kindley as well as her daughter and granddaughter.

All of the engines were silent as they went about their work. Thomas stood alone in a siding. And a few small tears went down his face.

Soon all of the engines were reminiscing about the Kindleys. 

Toby: Or the time in which Isabella mixed dirt and water and told Blaze it was chocolate milk!

James: Oh yeah, I still can't believe he fell for it!

Henry: Yeah, Blaze is always playing jokes. It's only natural karma will get back to him.

Daisy: There's the time in which Percy brought Mrs. Kindley a good luck package for her daughter.

Percy: Yes, it was an honor.

James: Hey Thomas, do you have good memories of the Kindleys?

Thomas just sighed and puffed sadly away.

Later Gordon was talking to Thomas at Tidmouth.

Gordon: I know how you feel Thomas. I felt that way when I found out about the fate of all of my LNER siblings.

Thomas: I know Gordon, I just feel like I try to hope as hard as I can but I just failed! I failed the Island and Great Britain!

Gordon: Rubbish! You were right to hope. Fate just took Mrs. Kindleys away from us. Things like this happen. Remember the day Blazes parents were killed in that horrible car accident? Fate left him completely traumatized! He was never the same after that. We must move on and honor the  memory of our deceased loved ones.  Mrs. Kindley is always with us in our minds and thoughts though, Thomas.
Gordon soon puffed away.

Spencer took the Duke and Duchess of Boxford to visit Mr. Kindley. He too was sad and decided not to boast. 

The next day, Thomas was woken up by the Fat Controller.

Sir Topham Hatt: Thomas, I need you to pick up Jessica and Emily Kindley from Dryor Airfield.

Thomas: *yawn* Yes, Sir.

Thomas coupled up to his coaches and puffed to Dryor. When he arrived on the air field he met with Isabella and Emily Kindley who were looking sad about their beloved family members passing.

Thomas: I'm sorry for your loss. I was hoping she'll survive too. But fate has a way unfortunately. She might be having a chat with Blazes parents and The Thin Clergyman, as she's in a better place now. Life always goes on when fate catches by surprise. but she's always in our minds and thoughts.

Isabella and Emily knew that Thomas was right.

When Blaze recovered he talked to Thomas.

Blaze: You see Thomas, when someone dies, its the end. Their past, present, future, all the dreams they once had; they disappear along with them. All ties that bind them to the living are severed. All but one the most important of all, people. Parents, siblings, children, aunts, uncles, cousins, friends and lovers; all bound together in a circle by their shared memories of him. It's hard to explain, we remain in the circle together, we have no choice. I learned that when my parents were killed in that car accident at Merritt Parkway all those years ago.

Thomas felt a little better.

The funeral ceremony was to take place at the big station. The Flying Scotsman came with important dignitaries from all over the world. Queen Elizabeth II, U.S. President Barack Obama and even Elton John himself. The Mayor of Sodor eulogized Mrs. Kindley with a heartwarming speech.

Mayor: Now I invite the Blazing Swordsman to say a few words.

Blaze went up and said the same thing he told Thomas. Thomas was then given the honor of being the funeral train. As he departed Knapford the engines honked whistles and rang as a last salute as Thomas remembered the past of Mrs. Kindly.

The End