Saturday, January 2, 2010

I Found Some New Model Railway Trains

By David Blackburn

I do not know quite when it began. I was just a little boy when I first laid eyes upon it. My childhood with model railway trains was so very exciting. I was able to escape to so many different places right there in my grandpa's home. My grandpa loved his models and so did I. He taught me everything he knew and we both learned a few things along the way.

According to my daddy, grandpa had been building model sets since daddy was a little boy. Daddy told me of all the Christmases they had with a train running around the tree. My ears could not stop listening to how thrilled my daddy was to watch the locomotive spin around and around. My father would imagine that he was the engineer.

My grandfather would spend his free time working with his model trains. He was so committed to keeping an ambiance of nostalgia that he worked for hours. Grandma used to lightly scold him for "playing" with his toys so much. But, grandma understood that this hobby was something grandpa loved and she did nothing to pull him from it.

One day, one of daddy's co-workers came to tell mum there had been a bad accident and just like that, my dad was no longer with us. I was twelve and Michael was six. I think Michael loved daddy more than even mum and me. He never sobbed but, tears flowed down his dirty face. I did not know how to comfort him. But, on that day, there was a change in Michael.

Anger built in my brother. A rage so thick, we did not know how to stop it. Michael would trail off on his own only to return late at night. mum was so busy with trying to keep the roof over our heads and food in our bellies, that she just could not find out how to help Michael. He kept getting in trouble and stealing became a way of life for him. I did not tell mum. I was overwhelmed and felt helpless.

It always enthralled me to touch and see all the tiny railway cars. Grandpa was never afraid to let me touch because I took great care not to drop or break anything. I saw the love he had in his eyes anytime he got a new railway carriage. No, it was not the love he would have for a person, it was the pride he had for an item he treasured.

Michael did as mum said. She went with him. Mr. Bradford had a simple train set in the back of the store where the older gentlemen sat. After the apologies, Mr. Bradford asked mum if he could show my brother something. When my brother saw that little train set, his eyes glowed with tears.

I have never forgotten all the times we shared working on this adored hobby. It was not work to us. It was something we could do as we relaxed and told each other about our days. My grandfather and I went fishing but, we spent more time with those trains than anything else. He left precious memories to me and I thank him for taking time to give me what no one else could, his time. - 16887

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