🚂 Sam the Station Cat

At the little railway station in the village of Puddleby, there lived a cat named Sam. He had a tiny cap and a very important job: saying hello to everybody.

Every morning, Sam sat on the platform bench. When the first train came chugging in, he stood up and gave a polite meow. The passengers smiled and waved. Some of them even said, "Good morning, Mr. Sam!"

One day, a little girl named Rosa stepped off the train holding a big suitcase and looking worried. "I'm visiting my grandpa," she said. "But I don't know where his house is."

Sam knew everybody in Puddleby. He sniffed her suitcase. It smelled of lavender and peppermint, just like Grandpa Tom's garden. "Follow me," said Sam's swishing tail.

Off they went, out of the station, past the bakery that smelled of warm bread, over the little stone bridge where the ducks were splashing below, and up a winding lane.

At the very top stood a cottage covered in purple flowers. On the porch, an old man was waiting, looking at his watch. "Rosa!" he cried, and held out his arms.

Rosa ran into her grandpa's hug. Then she turned around to thank Sam, but he was already trotting back down the lane. The afternoon train would be arriving soon, and someone had to be there to say hello.

That evening, a little parcel arrived at the station. Inside was a drawing of a cat in a cap, and a note: "Thank you, Sam. You're the best station cat in the world."