Shinbobu's Journey on the Polar Express

Chapter 5

Twists and Turns

Shinobu managed to find her way back to her seat just as the train had entered the tunnel, so she didn't expect to see anything on the outside. Su made a huge leap and landed right beside her.

"This is getting to be fun Shinobu", said Su.

"Yes", said Shinobu her face a little quiet. Her experience with the abandoned toys car and with the hobo had left Shinobu with a lot to think about. Had she really let the fact she was no longer with her parents this Christmas make her forget what the holiday was really about? Possibly the people around her?

Her thoughts were suddenly interrupted when Su jumped over her and opened the window and peeped out. They were out of the tunnel now so she could see valleys and mountains.

"WOOO HOOO!" shouted Su. "We are way over everything now! It's like it's a flying train!"

Su was right they were really high almost as if, as Su just said, they were flying. But then it started to dip down a huge canyon.

"YEEEEEEEEEEHAAAAAA! HI HO!" exclaimed Su as they headed on down the steep slope.

"Su", said Shinobu a bit fearful for her friend. "You may want to put your head back in here, Conductor-san will not like it."

But Su, as usual, didn't listen to her pleas. In fact she crawled out through the window and onto the roof of the car, getting the attention of most of the children in that car.

"YIPPEEE TI YAY!" shouted Su. After riding on top she started leaping ahead from car to car.

"Oh my", said Shinobu. She quickly got up from her seat and once again chased after the hyperactive young girl.

Shinobu ran fast after Su, not even minding going through that wrecked toy car again, though the marionettes did give her a bit of the creeps, she finally reached Su who was riding at the top of the engine.

"WOO WOO!" she shouted.

Shinobu could hear clamoring from the engine's cab, most likely the people driving the train wanting Shinobu to get off the top.

Shinobu frantically ran over the top of the coal tender and into the cab. Inside she saw a huge, really round balding man, and with him a tall, thing man with red hair and a really really loooong beard.

"Um ano", said Shinobu getting their attention.

"Woah miss", said the huge one, "You wouldn't happen to know the one riding up there?"

"Yes, she's a friend of mine. I came here to stop her though", said Shinobu.

"Would you mind trying to get her down", asked the redhaired one.

"Of course just get me up there", said Su.

Su was so busy on top of the train's boiler that she didn't notice the top of the cabin sliding open and Shinobu sticking her head out.

"SU-CHAN! SU-CHAN!" she shouted.

"Oh hey Shinobu!" she shouted and waved, "Want to ride with me?!"

"No in fact the Engineer would like you to come down now. They are afraid for you and for the engine so. . pretty please", asked Shinobu, hoping Su would listen.

"WOO HOO! DOWN WE GO" she shouted.

She didn't.

"Su please, come on back in pretty please!" said Shinbu.

"Can you make it fast", asked the red headed man, "We are almost to Carabou Crossing, we need to stop the train to ensure no caribou are in the way."

"Oh I see them" shouted Su. And he started making a moaning noise through here hands.

The Carabou looked up and started backing from the track. "ALL CLEAR!"

"Well I will be. .' said the balding man. "Uh slow gear ahead."

Su noticed the train slowing down. "OH slowing down. . .going back!" she said.

Shinobu gasped. "Su wait!"

Shinobu gave chase to Su again and this time managed to catch up to her. However just as she did the train started tilting through a lot of different curves and such. Shinobu then fell back onto the Conductor.

"Oh sorry Conductor-san", said Shinobu.

"Don't you two ever stay put", he said partially joking.

"This was so much fun", said Su.

"Will you two please get back to your seats before.. " said the conductor but then he looked out the window. "What the. ."

He opens the window and looks out. "Jimminy Christmas! The ice is frozen over the tracks!"

He heads on towards the front. As he did Shinobu and Su managed to get back to the main car, where they were literally thrown into their seats by an impact. Shinobu looked outside and to her. . surprise the train was moving across a sheet of ice, a frozen lake.

"OH MY", gasped Shinobu.

"WOOHOO!" shouted Su watching this.

The whole train clamored as the train skidded moved across the ice like a out of control car.

The whole skidding seemed to go on for minutes on end each moment changing direction. But then thankfully it hit tracks and was right on track again (no pun intended).

Shinobu gasped in relief.

"With all this, I wonder if we will survive getting to the North pole", she wondered.

To be continued.. . .

AN: Not my best chapter but I hope you like it. A belated Happy Holidays to you and a Happy New Year.