The Little Train That Took the Long Way
A fallen tree blocks the track, so Tilly the train has to take the long, slow way around.
Tilly was a little blue train who carried apples from Orchard Town to the big city every single day. She loved being right on time. Choo-choo, 9 o'clock, every day!
But one morning, a big tree had fallen across her tracks. Tilly screeched to a stop.
"Oh no!" she puffed. "I'll be late!"
The station master pointed to an old, twisty track. "You'll have to take the long way around, Tilly. Through the hills and over the river."
Tilly grumbled all the way up the first hill. "Too slow. Too curvy. Too long."
But at the top of the hill, she saw a field of sunflowers stretching as far as she could see. "Oh!" Tilly said. "How lovely."
Next she crossed a tall bridge over a sparkling river, where a family of otters waved their paws.
She chugged past a farm where a little girl was holding a sign that said: "HI, TRAIN!" Tilly tooted her horn — TOOT TOOT! — and the girl jumped for joy.
When Tilly finally reached the city, she was one hour late. She felt worried. But the fruit sellers were all smiling. "We heard about the tree," they said. "We're just happy you're safe!"
That night in the station, Tilly told the other trains about the sunflowers, the otters and the girl with the sign.
"Sometimes the long way," she said sleepily, "is the best way of all."
⭐ The End ⭐
💬 Talk about it
- What did Tilly carry every day?
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Apples. - Why did Tilly have to take the long way?
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A tree fell across her tracks. - Name one thing Tilly saw on the long way.
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Sunflowers, otters, a river bridge or a girl with a sign.
