"𝕎𝕖𝕝𝕔𝕠𝕞𝕖 𝕥𝕠 𝕆𝕔𝕥𝕠𝕓𝕖𝕣"

"October".

That's all the website said that popped up on my screen, and the address to a train station I didn't even know existed, about an hour away.

When I got there, it was a tiny terminal and the ticket lady seemed happy to see me. Her name tag said Cinnabonnie and she had deep red hair and green eyes, and she was wearing a red and brown plaid scarf. I liked her instantly. I explained that I was there because of a website that had popped up on my computer, and she laughed and said, " sweetheart, that's how it all starts, isn't it?"

She leaned over the counter and stared into my eyes and proceeded to tell me that it's an hour ride on the train and that it's free for people who mention the ad that I had seen. She smiled when she saw my skeptical face. "It's safe, trust me, I've ridden that train many times myself. You're going to love it."

1. And with that, I heard a train whistle split the air, and it sounded oddly familiar. I thanked Cinnabonnie and stepped out to the platform, and stopped in my tracks. A steam engine!

I climbed the steps into the cabin and the conductor smiled and pointed to a spacious seating area, and disappeared. The train whistled and off we went, and the sound of the tracks soon lulled me into total relaxation. The hour went by in what seemed like just a few minutes.

The conductor returned with a large gift bag in his arms, his face beaming as he said, "this is from Emma". I took it and asked, " who is Emma?" "She's the engine", he winked and disappeared. I started pulling things out of the bag- a plush fleece jacket, a pair of fleece-lined Fatbaby boots in my size, and thigh-high cream-colored socks! I excitedly donned my new accoutrements, and just then Emma whistled. We were there!

I stepped off the train and the first thing I noticed was the chilly air, and I looked back and mouthed a " thank you" to Emma for dressing me warm, and when I looked back there were autumn leaves everywhere, perfect for jumping in , but the trees still looked full of leaves dancing and falling everywhere like little ballerinas. There stood a log cabin straight ahead, next to a fire pit with a large stack of wood close by. There was a sprawling pumpkin patch near the cabin, and did those pumpkins just wave at me? I opened the cabin door and smelled pumpkin, and my eyes beheld pumpkin pie, pumpkin cookies, pumpkin coffee and creamer, pumpkin everything! I looked around and there was no- one there, but there was a note in a little menu holder on the counter that said " Welcome to October".

I took a large mug and filled it with the hot pumpkin coffee and lavishly added pumpkin creamer, and then took a pumpkin donut. It was getting dark, and when I looked out the window I saw a crowd of people laughing and making s'mores around a roaring fire in the firepit! I went out there, and they all greeted me warmly and introduced themselves as the Autumn family, the owners of October. I received several compliments on my outfit and everyone smiled when I said, " Emma".

I spent the next several hours listening to the family's stories around the campfire, so very thankful to be there.

And all too soon, I heard Emma's whistle.

Author's Note: Emma is the steam engine in the movie "Jim Button and Luke the Engine Driver" who delivered in their epic adventures, so I knew I wanted her to be in this adventure.