Willa’s Toot-to-Share Game — Before the valley lamps blinked on, Willa tapped her wheels in the warm engine shed. Tap-tap, toot-toot! Read the full story →
Before the valley lamps blinked on, Willa tapped her wheels in the warm engine shed. Tap-tap, toot-toot! She had invented a game: find three T-sounds, then blow one joyful whistle for everyone. She rolled out past pine trees and silver rails, sniffing coal smoke and cool mountain air.
First came a tunnel: thump-thump. Then a tall trestle: ticka-ticka. At the switch, a twig stuck under her little cowcatcher. Willa had to stop, puff softly, and wait while a track mouse pulled it free. “Thank you, Tiny!” she called. By the time she reached the station, her three sounds had become a whole song. She tooted it once, and every window glowed. Next time you see the big T and little t above the train, can you hear Willa’s tap-tap, toot-toot?