Seleke Station

One day there was a girl named Seleke (sell-a-key) who lived in a house with her mother, not at the bottom of a cliff, and not at the top, but half way up. At the cliff's top lived Snarling Wolves, and below, near the ocean, lived the Ugly Giants.

Today Seleke's mother showed her a letter.

"It is asking whether we want a steam train station near our house. We can check 'yes' or 'no'. What should we do?"

Seleke thought about it. "Lets check 'yes'!", she said.

About a month later Seleke was outside milking the goat. Far away she heard "clink clink clink, clang clang clang."

Seleke didn't know what was making the noise! It was very faint. She started walking towards the sound. Then she heard it again. "clink clink clink, clang clang clang" Soon she came to a place in the cliff where she could hear the sound loudly. She pressed her ear to the rock. "clink clink clink, clang clang clang." Whatever it was, it was coming right through the rock, and it was coming her way.

Seleke stepped away and "clink clink clonk!" a hammer broke through the rock. The a head poked out. It was a little man with a bushy beard and a tall, conical hat.

"Are you Seleke?" asked the little man.

Without waiting for an answer he hammered open a bigger hole, until it was about the size of a person.

Seleke ran back home and got her mom. When she returned there was a brand new door in the cliff wall. It opened, and the little man said, "Please do come it, and see the new station."

Inside the cliff had been hollowed out into a big cave. There were torches on the walls. A railroad track ran to a huge turntable. A big brass chain hung from the ceiling. Just then Seleke saw a light far down the track. She heard "chuff-chuff chuff-chuff chuff-chuff chuff!" An engine was coming!

When the engine pulled up Seleke could see that it was a brightly colored steam engine about as tall as the door. Fresh paint of red and green gleemed on the engine, and all its brass was polished to reflect the torch light. There was only one passenger car.

"This is Paul," said the little man, "and you can call me The Conductor."

"Nice to meet you!" said Paul.

"Very nice to meet you!" said Seleke.

Gears creaked and metal groaned as the great big turntable began to spin. Soon Paul and his passenger car had turned completely around, ready to race down the track.

"Since this is a brand new station," said the conductor, "you are entitled to a free ride so that you can see what our service is like."

Then he pulled out two large, brass tickets and gave them to Seleke and her mom.

"All aboard!" he shouted, and they all climbed on.

"Chuff... chuff... chuff... chuff chuff-chuff chuff-chuff" Paul began to move. Soon they were racing down the tunnel, the wind whipping through Seleke's hair. Paul's steam flew overhead. They could feel the heat of his mighty engine.

As they chuffed along Paul blew his whistle in a merry tune, "Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds"

Ahead in the dark tunnel they saw a light. Seleke smelled ocean salt in the air. The train raced past giant windows, carved in the cliff wall. Outside, they could see the beach and the ocean. Whales in the water sent spray high into the sky. Then the windows were gone, and the train was wrapped in the darkness of the tunnel again.

Soon they returned to the station. Chuff chuff Sssssssss, said Paul as they came to a stop.

"Thank you for the ride!" said Seleke.

The Conductor said, "If you ever need to go someplace, just pull this brass chain."

Then he fished a big key out of his pocket. It was as long as Seleke's hand.

"Don't forget to lock the door on your way out!"

Seleke and her mom waved good bye, then went out the door in the cliff. Using the big key, Seleke's mom locked the door. It had been a big day.

The End
(c) 2008 Ken Demarest