Polar Express Read Aloud
Description
Vocal Characteristics
Language
EnglishVoice Age
Middle Aged (35-54)Accents
North American (General)Transcript
Note: Transcripts are generated using speech recognition software and may contain errors.
on Christmas Eve many years ago, I lay quietly in my bed. I did not rustle the sheets. I breathe slowly and silently. I was listening for a sound. A sound friend had told me I'd never hear the ringing bells of Santa's sleigh. There is no Santa, my friend had insisted, but I knew he was wrong. Late that night, I did hear sounds, though not of ringing bells. From outside came the sounds of hissing steam and squeaking metal. I looked through my window and saw a train standing perfectly still in front of my house. It was wrapped in an apron of steam. Snowflakes fell lightly around it. Ah, Conductor stood at the open door of one of the cars. He took a large pocket watch from his vest, then looked up at my window. I put on my slippers and robe, tiptoed downstairs and out the door. All aboard, the conductor cried out. I ran up to him. Well, he said, Are you coming? Where I asked why? To the North Pole, of course, was his answer. This is the Polar Express. I took his outstretched hand and he pulled me aboard. The train was filled with other Children, all in their pajamas and nightgowns. We sang Christmas carols in eight Candies with Newgate centers as white as snow. We drink hot cocoa as thick and rich has melted chocolate bars outside, the lights of towns and villages flickered in the distance as the polar expressed raced North Ward. Soon there were no more lights to be seen. We traveled through cold, dark forests where lene wolves roamed and white tail rabbits hid from our train. As it thundered through the quiet wilderness, We climbed mountains so high it seemed as if we would scrape the moon. But the Polar Express never slow down faster and faster. We ran along, rolling over peaks and through valleys like a car on a roller coaster. The mountains turned into hills, the hills to snow covered plains. We crossed a barren desert of ice. The great polar ice cap lights appeared in the distance. They look like the lights of a strange ocean liner sailing on a frozen sea. There, said the conductor, is the North Pole, the North Pole. It was a huge city, standing alone at the top of the world, filled with factories where every Christmas toy was made. At first we saw no elves. They are gathering at the center of the city, the conductor told us. That is where Santa will give the first gift of Christmas. Who receives the first gift? We all asked? The conductor answered. He will choose one of you. Look! Shouted one of the Children, the elves. Outside, we saw hundreds of Alves. As our train drew closer to the center of the North Pole, we slowed to a crawl so crowded where the streets with Santa's helpers.