A Gentle First Roll

I opened my eyes to the quiet, textured expanse of a green carpet around me. I was sitting neatly on parallel grey ridges beside two blue engine companions. Carefully testing my balance, I gave a cautious nudge against the grooved track beneath my wheels. To my gentle surprise, my wheels turned smoothly forward on their own. I rolled just a tiny fraction of an inch along the plastic sleeper, feeling remarkably steady. Everything was calm, orderly, and exactly where it needed to be.