Chapter 3. The Old Gentleman
At 9.15 the next morning, the old gentleman was on the train. He stopped reading his newspaper. Here's the tunnel. We're near the station, he thought. I can wave at those three nice children again.
The train came out of the tunnel. He looked out of the window but he didn't see three children. He only saw one. It was Peter. Peter had a sheet in his hands. There were some words on the sheet. It said:
LOOK OUT OF THE WINDOW! AT THE STATION!
The train stopped at the station. The old gentleman looked out of the window. Then he saw Phyllis, running to his window. ‘I thought, … I was late,' she said. Then she gave the old gentleman a letter. Soon the train started again and he read the letter.
Dear Mr…We don't know your name,
Mother is ill. We have to buy some medicine, but we don't have much money. Can you help us? Father isn't here and we don't know his address. Father will pay you when we see him. Here are the things that Mother needs.
Thank you so much.
The old man looked at the letter again, then he smiled.
That evening at 6,00 a big box arrived at “Three Chimneys”. The children opened the box. Inside there was some medicine – and some other things they needed. There was a letter to the children.
Dear Children,
Here's the medicine. Tell your mother it's from a friend. She'll be better soon. Don't worry.
The old gentleman was right. Two weeks later, the children made another sheet. On this sheet they wrote:
SHE'S BETTER. THANK YOU FOR THE MEDICINE!
When the old man saw it, he smiled and waved at the children again.
The train passed and then Peter said, ‘Now we have to tell Mother about the old gentleman.' The children went home. They told Mother everything, but Mother wasn't very happy.
‘You mustn't talk to other people about our life. Promise me this.'
The children promised. They were very sorry.
Soon they were happy again. The next day was Bobbie's birthday. On the table there were lots of good things to eat and a birthday cake. Bobbie was very happy. At the end of the party, Peter gave his sister something.
‘It's the toy train,' said Peter. ‘I know it's my train. But now it's also your train. We can play with it together.'
‘Thank you, Peter,' said Bobbie. ‘You're a good brother. This is a really great day. Thank you everybody.'
The next day, Bobbie looked at the train.
It's beautiful, she thought. Peter is really sad because it's broken. But I know what to do.'
An hour later Bobbie was at the station. She waited for the next train. And when it arrived she got on.
‘Excuse me! Driver! Driver! Can you help me?' she said. But the driver couldn't hear her. ‘Please driver, I've got my brother's toy train and it's broken and …'
But then the train left the station. ‘Help me!' said Bobbie. ‘Stop the train!' The driver still couldn't hear Bobbie. Then the driver saw something. There was a little girl. She was very frightened.
‘What are you doing here?' said the driver. ‘You can't stay here. It's dangerous.'
‘I'm sorry,' said Bobbie. ‘I've got this toy train. It's my brother's and it's broken. Can you help me? It's really important.'
The driver looked at the toy train. Then he looked at Bobbie.
She's only a little girl, he thought.
‘Well,' said the driver, ‘I can try. I have a friend. Maybe he can help me, but first we have to take you home.' At the next station Bobbie got off the train. The driver helped her to get another train for her town.
‘Well, Bobbie,' said the driver, ‘I know where you live. I promise to try and help you with your brother's toy train.'
What an interesting day! Now I can do something nice for my brother, she thought.
Two days later her brother had a very big surprise. ‘Peter, come to the station with me,' said Bobbie.
‘Why?' asked Peter.
‘Because I want you to meet someone. It's a surprise.' said Bobbie.
Bobbie and Peter went to the station. At the station there was a man on the platform.
‘Hello, Peter,' said the man. ‘I'm a train driver. I know you want to be a train driver one day. Your sister told me. I have something for you.' Then the driver gave Peter his toy train.
Peter took the train. ‘I can't believe it. A real train driver. My train is new again,' said Peter. ‘Thank you.'
• • •
One day, the children were at the station again. They had to meet their mother. ‘When is Mother arriving?' asked Phyllis.
‘Very soon,' said Bobbie. ‘Let's wait here. She'll be tired, so we can help carry her bags.' Then the children heard a strange noise.
‘What is it?' asked Peter. There were a lot of people on the platform. The children could hear Perks.
‘OK everybody,' said Perks. ‘Please stay back. I need to do my job.' Then the children heard another language. It wasn't English, but what language was it?
‘I want to see what's happening,' said Bobbie. ‘We can help.' The children went near the group of people. They saw a man. He had grey hair, and his clothes were dirty.
‘I can speak a little French,' said Peter. ‘I learnt it at school. I can speak to him.'
‘OK,' said Perks. ‘I don't think he's French. But maybe he understands that language.'
‘Parlez-vous français?' asked Peter. The man stopped speaking. Then he started speaking again, but this time he spoke very quickly. ‘Er …he speaks French, but I don't understand,' said Peter.
‘Don't worry,' said Bobbie. ‘Mother will be here soon. Take him to your room, Perks. We can wait for her. Mother can speak French well and she's on the next train.'
So they waited and when Mother arrived, she went to the room. She started speaking to the man. They spoke for a long time. The children watched and waited.
‘Well, Mother, who is he?' asked Peter.
‘He's Russian,' said Mother. ‘And he can't find his ticket. Let's take him home with us. Don't worry. He's a nice man. He writes books – beautiful books. I know some of them. I read one the other day. He needs to rest, and to be warm. I promise to tell you some more about him tomorrow.'
