As has been well-covered, China took a giant step in enhancing its business relationship with the U.S. by dousing Thomas & Friends toy trains with lead paint.

While we were playing with said trains (duh, the non-lead ones) with Little G, something struck us. The “character card” (think, baseball card for trains) for “Henry” made me wonder what Henry knew prior to the revelation that lead paint was used on the trains.

Reads the card: “[Henry’s] vanity and temperament were made famous when the tunnel he refused to leave, for fear of ruining his coat of paint, was bricked over so that he could not get out.”

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[Yes, we realize that’s Thomas images in back to back days.]

Here’s the theory: Henry knew he’d been painted with lead paint, and took one for the team by refusing to leave the tunnel and subjecting himself to the curious mouths of small children all over the world. He sentenced himself to life in a brick tunnel to prevent children from brain damage.

Granted, it’s a longshot. But if it’s the case, well, Henry is a hero in our book.