Mick McArt - The Garden Train of Wordishure

This is a work of fiction. Except in references to the Lord Jesus Christ, the events and characters described herein are imaginary and not intended to refer to specific places or living persons. The author has represented and warranted full ownership and/or legal right to publish all the materials in this book.

Tales of Wordishure: Book II: The Garden Train of Wordishure

All Rights Reserved

Copyright 2013 Mick Art Productions

V1.0

This book may not be reproduced, transmitted, or stored in whole or in part by any means, including graphics, electronic, or mechanical without the express written consent of the publisher except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles and reviews.

Mick Art Productions, LLC

www.mickartproductions.com

ISBN: 978-1-62209-758-6

PRINTED IN THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

And let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works: Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching.

Hebrews 10:24-25

It was a busy Sunday morning onboard Fellowship Church. While Pastor prepared his sermon and the chef prepared the mornings remembrance meal, the church mice were doing their part as well. Colby, Pepper, and Jack readied their little Garden Train for its daily journey throughout the large boat. The brightly painted, wooden train ran on tiny tracks delivering vegetables throughout its many rooms. Although it was small, the train served a great purpose by supplying food to others. Everyone would smile whenever they heard Colby, the Engineer, announcing the trains arrival by blowing into the Stickwhistle he wore around his neck.

In the remaining two cars, Colbys sister, Pepper, tended to the small vegetables and herbs, which she planted. She loved to plant seeds and watch them grow, and even though she worked hard, she knew that it was God who provided the harvest.

Jack, the youngest of the mouse siblings, was the Garden Trains Sharecrow. He would bounce from car to car, picking ripened vegetables to share with anyone who beckoned them to stop. He loved to dress up, and his Sharecrow costume was one of his favorites! Its dark, patchy jacket smelled of fresh Summerberries (which Jack always picked for breakfast), and his pants were held secure by a piece of bright orange kite string that a friend had given him.

Today, Colby stopped the train outside Pastors window, so they could say good morning. Colby made sure to never blow the whistle here. He didnt want to disturb the Pastor, in case he was praying or writing a sermon. Colby climbed out of the Garden Trains engine and waved back to Pepper and Jack. Colby loved the train. His friend, Gideon the Tree Scout, had made it for them. Gideon had lots of spectacular ideas, and this train was no exception! The engine was built with a running wheel inside that Colby would run on to propel the train forward. To inspire the mouse, cheese hung from a hook in the front window, just out of his grasp. Gideon always liked to say, The squeaky wheel gets the cheese! The stickwhistle was Colbys own idea, he had found it by an old wagon near Whittlewood Forest, and had held onto it ever since.

Colby loved being the engineer. He discovered his blue and white vertical striped engineers uniform on a doll that he found in the childrens nursery toy box. It was buried under an old Totterwheel, next to a Beulah hoop, and around some Stumblingblocks.

We have a good crop today, remarked Jack, as he patted a pile of Springbeans near the rear of the train.

Every day can bring a good harvest when youre farming for the Lord! exclaimed Pepper as she grinned, pulling off her tiny gardening gloves.

She tucked them neatly into the pocket of her orange gardening dress, which weas decorated with little heartshaped buttons. She accepted Colbys hand, as he helped her onto the windowsill. Wheres Pastor? Colby asked, looking through the open window.

Pastors office was neatly kept and had lots of books, which lined the many shelves. On his desk sat the most important book of all, his Bible. It was well worn from much study, and its pages were covered with notes from scripture comparison. Pepper liked to take notes too, but Pastor didnt dot his is with little hearts like she did.

Look, Jack spoke up. He left us a note on the sill.

Tacked on the frame of the window, was a small note that read, Good morning, church mice. I went to get juice from the grapevines for this mornings Remembrance Meal. Will be back shortly.

Well have to say good morning this afternoon, Pepper noted, because we have to get this shipment of Springbeans to Fellowships chef.

Springbeans were a popular dish in Wordishure, because they were crunchy and sweet. But Springbeans were difficult to pick, because although they were long and green, they had a coiled stem on top that made them bounce when you dropped them. Jack and Pepper never noticed that Colby snuck back to where the Springbeans were and grabbed one from the unsteady stack.

By the time they realized he wasnt there, they heard a gasp, followed by tumbling boings coming from the rear of the train. Colby! Pepper shouted, climbing down the window sill.

The Springbeans! Jack shouted as he was almost knocked off the sill by a springing bean.

The two mice could see their brother, Colby, sitting next to the train, holding a half-eaten Springbean. He was watching most of the Springbeans bounce off in almost every direction. Colby looked up at his younger siblings as they approached and shrugged his shoulders. I should have grabbed one from the top... he mumbled.

It wasnt long before all three mice were scrambling to catch the runaway beans. When the Pastor finally returned and saw what happened, he joined in the chase. Others showed up as well; the chef, the Sunday School teachers, and even some of the toddlers from the nursery. The church mice decided to get back on the Garden Train to chase down the bounciest of the Springbeans.

Colby was running the wheel at full steam, guiding the train around the maze-like tracks that ran throughout the ship. Pepper and Jack leaned over the sides of the boxcars, grabbing Springbeans as they went. Theres one more up ahead! Jack shouted, as the Garden Train careened around a corner, entering the churchs main service hall.

The bouncing bean had made its way between the pews and back into a shadowy corner, then disappeared. Colby stopped the train and they all scurried to see where it had gone. Under the pew, in the nearby wall, was a small, partially opened door; one they never noticed before.

I wonder where this goes? questioned Colby as he cautiously approached it.

Jack, although the littlest of the mice, was not nervous at all. He pulled his pants up firmly over his round furry belly, rolled up his shirt sleeves, and began stepping toward the door.

Pepper knew that darkness was nothing to sneeze at, so she grabbed onto her little brothers shirt sleeve. Hold on, Jack, she said, there is some kind of writing around the door. It may be a warning!

On either side of the sign were colorful markings that ran down the length of the doorway. I like the colors, Jack commented, as ran his paw over one of the markings. I wonder what they mean?

Lets just pass over this whole situation and g-g-get back to the train, Colby stuttered. Whos going to notice one missing bean?

Pepper was just about to explain how important even the smallest of things can be, when the three mice saw a light flicker through the doorway. They could hear the tumbling boing of their missing bean.