Why Baby Express Shares Hearts — Behind the roundhouse broom closet, Lottie kept a tiny tin heart whistle in her pocket. Read the full story →
Behind the roundhouse broom closet, Lottie kept a tiny tin heart whistle in her pocket. She wanted to hear its peep-peep all by herself before the Baby Express made its first trip, because it had been her baby brother’s first toy, smooth as a pebble and warm from her hand.
Then the nursery platform filled with waving children, squeaky lunch pails, and the sweet smell of orange peels. The engine smiled, but its smokestack only made plain gray puffs. Lottie leaned close and whispered, “All right, but this is our secret.” She blew the little heart whistle into the stack.
Pop! Up floated one heart, then another, then a third, soft as soap bubbles. Every child laughed so loudly the rails seemed to giggle. Ever since that day, Baby Express shares heart-shaped steam whenever joy gets too big to keep—can you spot all three before they drift away?
