#mr steady eddie...

It was a horrible, stormy day and Edward was feeling it in his joints. The blue tender engine was terribly achy, and his legs felt stiff as stone. Hoping for a bit of relief, he gingerly stretched out two of his back legs. As his tiny toes splayed at the tips, he felt the beginnings of a cramp start to creep through his calf. Groaning with dismay, he quickly retracted his legs, the pain sharply increasing as the cramp festered and grew. The blue engine hissed in response, his furry body failing to contain the discomfort. After what felt like an eternity and then some, the horrid cramp dissipated, and Edward's body relieved itself of its tenseness. Finally and fully relaxed, the tender engine breathed a weary and thankful sigh of relief. Silently, and with a pang of guilt, he bemoaned his aging body. Although his humans and fellow engines truly loved him for who he is, he couldn't help but feel a sort of sadness at how his body betrayed him in his twilight years. Truly, he thought to himself, making his way across the floor, it was tough getting old.