*Billy Squash*

billy is a bright orange tank engine that works on the island of sodor. but sometimes he can be a bit silly. which is why all the other engines give him the nickname 'silly billy'. one day billy was shunting in the yard when the fat controller arrived on winston.

'the special train of exotic fruit is waiting at brendam docks billy i would like you to collect it and then take it to lower tidmouth station where it will be taken to market' said the fat controller.

billy was excited.

'another special for me oh thank you sir' said billy.

the fat controller frowned. 'just remember billy no silly accidents this time' he said.

'don't worry sir i will deliver the fruit safely' said billy.

the fat controller drove away.

'winston watch out for the milk tankers!' said the fat controller.

'the what tankers sir' said winston.

but it was too late. winston bashed into the milk tankers and milk exploded everywhere.

'not my trousers again' said the fat controller.

'sorry about that sir' said winston.

billy giggled and puffed away. soon billy arrived at brendam docks. there in front of him were five trucks full to the brim with fruit. there were oranges, apples, lemons, grapes and bananas all ready to be taken. billy liked the colours.

'they look like rainbow trucks' said billy.

'yes and it took me about twenty five minutes to load them too!' said cranky.

just then porter came over.

'careful with the fruit billy you don't want to ruin it now' said porter.

'of course i will porter goodbye now' and billy zoomed away.

cranky was cross. 'he is heading for trouble again' said cranky.

porter chuckled. 'he will be fine cranky... i think' said porter.

soon billy was puffing along the mainline. but he was not happy about his speed though. it made him feel slow.

'i will never deliver the fruit with this speed i am going to speed up that way the quicker i deliver the fruit the quicker i will be a really useful engine' and billy sped up.

he darted down the line as fast as he could. up ahead james was waiting at a red signal. he was taking the brass band.

'what a splendid day to show off my paintwork' said james.

but it wasn't. suddenly billy whooshed past him. fruit went flying from his trucks and splatted and squashed all over james and the coaches. now james looked like a fruit salad.

james was cross. 'billy slow down will you just look what you did to my paintwork!' said james.

billy just ignored him.

'sorry james but i'm in a rush!' said billy.

james crossly watched him puff away. further up the line toby was filling up on water with his coach henrietta. they were taking the vicar's sunday school.

'i can't wait to get to the seaside henrietta' said toby.

'me as well toby but hang on a second who is that' said henrietta.

but she didn't have time to say. suddenly billy whooshed past them. fruit went flying from his trucks and once again splatted and squashed all over toby and henrietta. now they both looked like a fruit train.

toby and henrietta were cross. 'slow down billy will you!' said toby.

'you have made a very serious mess on us!' said henrietta.

but billy didn't listen to them.

'sorry toby but i am very busy in the moment!' said billy.

toby and henrietta crossly watched him go round a bend. further up the line edward was carefully puffing along pulling flatbeds with new cars on them.

'what a wonderful sunny day with no interruptions' said edward.

but he was wrong. suddenly billy shot past him. fruit went flying from his trucks and again splatted and squashed all over edward and the new cars. edward was so surprised that he screeched to a stop and the flatbeds bumped and jolted behind him. luckily the cars hadn't toppled over but they were very messy. and so was poor edward. edward was cross.

'billy slow down will you, you nearly caused a serious accident!' said edward.

but billy didn't listen to him.

'sorry edward but i'm in a bit of a hurry today!' said billy.

edward crossly watched him race away into the distance.

'that silly tank engine' said edward.

meanwhile billy was still racing along. he was enjoying himself now.

'woo hoo this is very thrilling!' said billy.

then there was trouble. up ahead paxton was just coming onto the mainline from blue mountain quarry. too late billy noticed that he was on the wrong track and that paxton was heading straight for him!

'billy watch out!' said paxton and slammed on his brakes.

'oh no watch it Paxton!' said billy and slammed on his brakes.

both engines stopped just in time. but billy stopped so suddenly that the trucks rammed into the back of him with a mighty bump. the last of the fruit went shooting into the air like cannon balls.

'oh my' said paxton.

'oh bother' said billy.

the fruit splatted all over paxton and billy. both engines were in a horrible mess.

'hey where did all this fruit come from' said paxton.

'oh bother all of the fruit is ruined and it's all my fault!' said billy.

billy was upset. paxton felt very bad for him.

'i'm very sorry billy but maybe you can pick up more' said paxton.

'but where can i get more fruit from' said billy.

paxton smiled. 'from the docks of course they have more fruit there now' said paxton.

'oh really thank you paxton' and billy raced away back to the docks.

'anytime billy' said paxton.

back at the docks cranky was still loading. just then billy dashed in. porter was surprised.

'hello billy back so soon' said porter.

'porter i need another train of fruit now' said billy.

'what happened to the other train' said porter.

billy blushed.

'i uh had a bit of an accident' said billy.

'what!' said porter.

cranky smirked. 'see i told you he was heading for trouble' said cranky.

billy was cross.

'be quiet you silly crane!' said billy.

'i'm not silly' said cranky.

porter sighed.

'cranky haven't you got more crates to load' said porter.

'what? oh yes the crates uh don't mind me just getting back to that' said cranky.

porter then turned his attention to billy.

'i'm really sorry porter but it's important that i get more fruit' said billy.

'don't worry about it billy the other train of fruit is over there' said porter.

'thanks porter' said billy.

soon billy found the other trucks of fruit and was coupled up.

'thanks again porter' said billy.

'anytime billy just be careful this time' said porter.

'i will this time i promise' said billy.

and with that he puffed away. then porter went back to cranky.

'as for you!' said porter.

'oi what did i do!' said cranky.

'teasing other engines what do you think!' said porter.

cranky groaned and went back to work. meanwhile billy was racing along the line as fast as he could.

'i must deliver the fruit to lower tidmouth station otherwise the fat controller will be very cross with me' said billy.

at lower tidmouth station the fat controller, farmer mccoll and farmer finney were waiting for the fruit.

'what on earth is taking billy so long this time' said the fat controller.

just then an orange tank engine puffed into the station.

'sorry i'm late everyone' said billy.

farmer mccoll and farmer finney were pleased to see him.

'billy what took you so long!' said the fat controller.

'i ran into a bit of trouble sir or you could say it was a bit of a squash but don't worry sir i'm here now' said billy.

'well at least the fruit is here now good work billy' said the fat controller.

'yes good work billy' said farmer mccoll.

'now let's get to the market come on mccoll the fruit won't unload itself' said farmer finney.

'ok ok i'm a coming' said farmer mccoll.

soon the fruit was unloaded and the two farmers drove away to market.

'i have learnt something today sir' said billy.

'yes billy and what might that be' said the fat controller.

'that the only way to get the job done is to be quick and careful at the same time' said billy.

and the fat controller agreed. and billy smiled knowing that he was right about that. but we all know how much of a silly engine he can be now don't we.