Dispatch From Disneyland
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John pulled the special ticket from his pocket. He was only 9 years old the last time he had been to the park. Now, twenty years later he was at the park with his own kids and his grandmother.

His grandmother had a special affinity for trains. As a young adult she was a waitress in the Vanderbilt's private car. John had read on the Internet how Walt Disney had a special private car that was part of the Disneyland Railroad. On a whim, he wrote the park and asked if his grandmother could have a chance to relive her youth and ride in Walt's private car. He was very surprised when a letter came back with a special white ticket that would allow his grandma and 5 passengers one trip around the park.

Now, he handed the special ticket to the cast member dressed in railroad attire. The cast member asked his family to stand to one side while the rest of the passengers loaded. Then using a special key the cast member opened the private car and let John's family in.

The cast member quickly explained that Walt named this private car 'The Lilly Belle' after the model train that used to run in his backyard. The model train was named to honor his wife, Lillian. Lillian herself had done the decorating in the car and very little had been changed since then.

For John it was an amazing experience. The whole trip around the park he checked out every nook and cranny in the car. In the background he heard his grandmother telling stories from her youth, even how she met Walt Disney when she worked as an Usher during the premier of Snow White. John had never heard that story. I guess you learn something new everyday, he thought.

•  •  •

It was going to be a long trip home. Lillian sat back in her seat and uncharacteristically kicked off her shoes. Walt looked up from his sketch pad long enough to inquisitively raise one of his eyebrows at her. "It's nothing. I'm just settling in," she assured him.

She admitted to herself she was a little worried about what the future held for them. Walt had just had his big project ripped out from underneath him, and even worse, most of his friends and fellow animators had switched sides to join that Mintz idiot. But as usual, Walt didn't seem bothered at all. He was already onto his next project, which he assured her would be even bigger than Oswald.

She knew in her heart that all would be worked out. Walt's confidence in himself was one of the things that had attracted her to him. It would steer them clear of any troubles. In a few minutes she had talked her anxiety down to a murmur and she fell into a light sleep aided by the rhythmic sounds of the train.

"Honey wake up. Wake up!" Lillian heard Walt cry out excitedly. "I think I've got it."

"Got what? Is it time for dinner?"

"No. It's a mouse. It's got to be a mouse." Walt slid across the seat and pushed his sketch pad in front of her still tired eyes.

What Lillian saw was a rough sketch of a mouse. It looked similar to Oswald the Lucky Rabbit, but had larger eyes, and round ears. His nose was more mouse-like and his tail whirled out a long ways behind him.

"So what is his name?" Lillian asked her husband.

"I've been thinking about Mortimer, Mortimer Mouse."

"So he's a bad little guy then? Mortimer sounds like a tough guy."

"No. He's meek. But personable. He always gets the girl, but maybe not the way he expected."

Lillian sat up and looked at Walt. "I don't think Mortimer says that. Why not use Mickey."

Walt looked Lillian in the eyes for a long hard moment. "Thank you. That's perfect. Mickey Mouse it is."

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-- Indigo

-- Posted October 4, 2001