Csilingi was a yellow tram with a shiny bell: ding-ding! He lived in the depot on Depot Street, where the rails glittered in the morning like fresh puddles. Csilingi loved the city, the curves, the bridge, and the smiling passengers.

One day, Lili, the conductor, stepped next to him. "We have a big task today, Csilingi" – she said, and pulled the schedule out of her pocket. "We must deliver the giant spotted blanket to the Riverside Picnic! Without us, the big spread cannot start."

"Ding-ding! We can go!" – chimed Csilingi, and was already rolling into the yard. Tibi Forklift arrived puffing, and carefully put the huge, red-white spotted roll into the first car.

"Ready!" – nodded Tibi. "Just watch the tracks, my friend."

Csilingi started towards the city. At the corner, Zsófi Green Bus waited in a striped cap. "Toot-toot! Where are you rushing so happily?"

"To the picnic! I carry a spotted blanket!" – answered Csilingi.

"Go for it!" – honked Zsófi, and let him go through the intersection.

Next to the park, the rails drew a tunnel from the shade of trees. The wind rustled, leaves danced. Suddenly... screech! Csilingi braked. In the middle of the road, a big, crooked branch lay.

"Oh, I can't jump over this" – sighed Csilingi.

"Can I help?" – rolled Pöfi, the sweeper truck, there. His brushes spun, buzzed, but the branch was too thick.

"Let's call Kata the Crane!" – suggested Lili. On the other side, on the edge of the park, Kata Crane lifted her arm, her long, yellow boom stretched like a giraffe's neck. "I'm a bit far, but I'll try!" – she shouted.

The hook clinked, but even so, a bunch of roots remained that pressed against the rail.

"Hey, I'm here!" – puffed back Tibi Forklift. "Let's count!"

"One, two, three!" – they shouted, and together they lifted, pushed, tilted the branch. Pöfi's broom swept the leaves, Kata lifted the heavy part, Tibi held the balance. Csilingi waited patiently, ding-dinging for encouragement.

The branch finally plopped softly onto the grass. "Track clear!" – laughed Lili.

"Ding-ding!" – sang Csilingi, and started again. The city became loud: bicycles dinged, cars honked, pigeons flew up. Soon he reached the big bridge. In the middle of the bridge, Béla, the bridge master, stood with a whistling whistle.

"You have to wait until the drawbridge rises" – he shouted. "Panni Steamboat and Vili Sailboat are arriving!"

The bridge rose slowly, the river glittered. Panni Steamboat puffed: "Puffer-puffer!", Vili Sailboat's white sails flapped. Panni spun her whistle: "Toooo!", and waved to Csilingi.

"Safe trip!" – dinged back Csilingi. He didn't rush. He watched as the ships passed through. Lili smiled. "This river is beautiful, isn't it?"

As soon as the bridge lowered back, Csilingi rolled across and soon reached the Riverside Picnic. The children cheered. "The spotted blanket has arrived!"

Tibi Forklift helped again, Lili undid the buckles, and the blanket, like a giant pancake, rolled slowly-slowly off the car floor. Only one more pull was needed when a mischievous wind picked up. "Whoooosh!" – and the corner of the blanket twirled up, fluttered, and started towards the water.

"After it!" – shouted Béla, the bridge master, and started running. But Panni Steamboat got there first. Panni puffed a big one, and the push of waves steered the corner back to the shore. Meanwhile, Kata Crane's boom reached over the railing and grabbed the tip. Zsófi Green Bus opened her side compartment on the side of the road, and Lili quickly took out clips.

"Just hold it!" – said Kata. "Got it!" – answered Lili, and clip-clip, she fixed the blanket to the grass.

"It went together!" – laughed Tibi, and flicked his fork in a friendly way.

The children clapped. The blanket spread out among the trees, dots danced on it like red bubbles. Baskets came out, apples, croissants, cucumbers, jam breads. The musician uncle's hurdy-gurdy purred, and seagulls circled curiously above the water.

"Taste this apple, Csilingi!" – said a little boy, and touched the tram's door. Csilingi didn't eat, but the red peel of the apple shone brightly in his mirrored window.

"Ding-ding!" – he answered, which meant: "I brought it very gladly!"

By afternoon, the blanket became full of laughter. Panni Steamboat boomed once more on the river, Kata Crane fanned with the end of her boom, Zsófi Green Bus honked a melody softly. Csilingi stood on the rail and felt that the whole city smiled with him.

"Do we go tomorrow too?" – asked Lili.

"Ding-ding!" – rang Csilingi. And this meant: "Of course! The rails, the bridge, and our friends wait."