The first train of Christmas had left for the farm.
Sheepscot was quiet, no sounds from track or barn.
Families were riding in red and green chairs
Expecting St. Nicholas would be greeting them there.
The children were nestled on each parent’s lap,
While the narrow gauge train cried “clickety clack”.
And I back at Sheepscot, was left nearly alone,
As echoes of whistles traversed new-fallen snow.
When my phone went a buzz, creating a clatter!
I slid it right open to see what was the matter.
“Santa has Covid” the message exclaimed!
Now we had a crisis more dire than trains.
We must find a helper, my mission was clear.
But Santa’s quite busy this time of the year.
Who can help Santa? It couldn’t be me.
Or Brendan, or Stewart, but maybe JB!
JB was at Sheepscot just moments ago.
But somehow he’s missing! Where? Nobody knows.
“Why don’t you just call him?” young Cody exclaimed.
(You know that kid’s smart, and uses his brains.)
“Can you be our Santa? We’re quite in a bind!”
“I’ll be there at once! I really don’t mind.
But who will fire the afternoon trains?”
“I’ll figure that out”, (a rather bold claim).
No Jason, No Roger, No Dan (dressed too dapper).
No visitor either (though one kindly offered).
Bryce! He should be here, he told me last night.
But calls went unanswered - giving me fright.
Would we be stuck running ol' 52?
A DIESEL for CHRISTMAS? That simply won’t do.
“I just got the message - from you and from Dan.
I’m on my way”, Bryce - Fireman!
With crisis averted I went back to my work.
Greeting each passenger in jokes with my quirks.
Those back from SeaLyon, fresh off the train,
“What a wonderful Santa”, each family exclaimed.
JB saved Christmas! (and Bryce did so too.)
Both of them filling some rather big shoes.
And I heard them exclaim as sun set over Alna,
“Merry Christmas to all! (But Ed, too much drama!”)
