Another request from tate310, this time it's "Middle Engine" from Season 6. Enjoy and comment.
Sir Topham Hatt' engines love to work. Gordon likes pulling the express. Thomas likes his branch line, and Percy likes taking the mail.
But none of them like being the "middle engine" It's no fun being stuck in the middle.
One morning, Percy was cheerfully collecting coal cars from the smelters yard, where 'Arry and Bert worked. They like to pull tricks on steam engines. Percy didn't want to be tricked again, but before he knew it, he was stuck in the middle! A coal car bumped right into him.
"Bother!" chuffed Percy crossly.
"Little green piggy in the middle!" 'Arry teased.
Percy's driver was very cross. They steamed slowly away with coal cars in front and coal cars behind.
James was in the yard when Percy steamed slowly by him
"It's slowcoach Percy!" he whistled gleefully.
"You wouldn't be laughing if you were stuck in the middle!" Percy yelled, as he set off to the coaling plant.
One by one, Percy shunted his coal cars onto the tippers loading ramp as the coal was unloaded. Percy was not allowed to cross the loading ramp until the tipper had been turned off. It was against the rules, but as soon as his driver and fireman left, there was trouble.
Just then, Henry arrived at the coaling plant to pick up some coal trucks to take to the shunting yard. He accidentally bumped into the trucks, who bumped into Percy. By the time Percy was pushed onto the ramp, Henry was gone!
"Help!" cried Percy.
Percy was hoisted up the loading ramp, tipped over, got covered in coal, and was then brought down again.
After Percy was lowered back down, the manager was BEYOND angry.
"You have caused so much confusion and delay!" he said crossly. "I am telling Sir Topham Hatt!"
That night, Sir Topham Hatt arrived to talk to Percy. He was very cross and spoke in a severe tone.
"I am very disappointed in you Percy!" he said. "You have broke the rules! What do you have to say for yourself?!"
"I'm sorry sir." apoligized Percy. "But it's not my fault. The Grim Messengers of Doom tricked me into being a middle engine. Then Henry bumped the trucks, so that's how I ended up on the ramp."
"Neverless, you will be shunting freight cars until further notice Percy."
"PUGH!" said James, thinking nobody could hear. "I could handle those diesels with buffers in a busted boiler!"
"Well James." said Sir Topham Hatt. "For using language like that, you will do Percy's run to the smelters.
"Yes sir." said James sadly.
The next day, James arrived at the smelter. He was determined not to be tricked by 'Arry and Bert.
"Hello James!" said 'Arry, "Come to learn a thing or two from those who know?"
"Just get my freight cars and stay out of the way!" huffed James importanly.
"Yes sir!" bursted Bert.
James cheerfully backed up to his freight cars. He was certain he had fooled "Arry and Bert, but he was wrong.
"Little red piggy in the middle!" chortled 'Arry.
"Just like Percy!" jeered Bert.
"I am NOT like Percy!" puffed James. "I'm not a middle engine, and I'm not moving!
When Sir Topham Hatt heard the news, he sent Percy to fetch James. This made Percy very happy. He coupled up to James, and took him, along with all the freight cars, to the docks.
"Right on time!" said the manager. "But what's that big red engine doing in the middle?"
"Learning!" Percy replied.
"Learning what?" asked the manager.
"Learning to be a middle engine!" Percy laughed, but James was cross and red in the face. Everyone knew that there was only one big red engine on the Island of Sodor, and his name is James!
