Victor was the Narrow Gauge Engine in charge of the Steamworks.
He was very wise, and took pride in helping Steamies.
He has an assistant named Kevin, who's a crane, and sometimes he goofs up.
Kevin calls it a "slip of the hook," and Victor has learned to live with it.
All in all, Victor likes his Steamworks, and plans to keep it running smoothly.
But one day, Victor woke up to his firebox feeling funny.
He was worried.
"No. I can't take the day off, not when there's a lot of Engines to fix."
But his voice only came out as a croak.
Victor cleared his smoke box, woke up Kevin, and waited for the workmen to come to the Steamworks and start it up.
Soon, the Steamworks was bustling with activity.
10 minutes later, Emily came in.
"Ah, welcome Emily, what can I do for you today?" wheezed Victor.
"Victor, are you...feeling all right?" asked Emily, puffing forward.
"Perfectly fine," coughed Victor.
"What's the matter?"
"My funnel is blocked. Can you clear it?"
"Of course, my friend! Just puff over there and the workmen will be with you."
After Emily was fixed, Thomas shunted Percy in, and Thomas was carrying Sir Topham Hatt.
"Victor, Percy has a special, but he's popped a piston! Please fix him by lunchtime, because that's when his special is supposed to leave," said the Fat Controller.
"Yes sir," wheezed Victor.
And with that, Thomas and Sir Topham Hatt chuffed away.
Kevin hadn't noticed that his boss was acting strangely.
"Hey, boss! Gordon chuffed in! Aren't cha going to ask what's wrong?"
"Kevin, please! I have a funnel ache, and your yelling won't help!" wheezed Victor.
"Oops. Sorry boss. Slip of the hook," said Kevin quietly.
Victor puffed forward to ask Gordon what was wrong.
"It's about time!" boomed Gordon.
" Ease your axles, and calmly tell me what's wrong!" said Victor.
He winced. His firebox was buzzing, and his funnel ache was getting worse.
"Victor, are you okay?" Gordon asked.
"Yes, my friend, now what do you need?" wheezed Victor.
" I'm pulling the Express today, and I need a polishment."
"Okay Gordon. Please puff forward."
Gordon did...right into a coal car!
Coal dust flew everywhere!
Then, it flew down Victor's funnel, and into his smoke box!
Victor began to cough and wheeze uncontrollably, not to mention his firebox was still bothering him.
By then, it was eleven o' clock.
There was only one hour until lunchtime!
By the time the coal dust cleared, Victor was covered with it, AND he couldn't puff an inch!
Victor knew that all the engines needed to be fixed, but he couldn't bring himself to ask for help.
So all he could do was sit there miserably.
When lunchtime rolled around, the Fat Controller appeared!
He was cross.
"Victor, I thought I told you to fix Percy, but you hadn't, and now you've caused confusion and delay. I am very disappointed in you."
Victor was sad.
He tried to speak, but his voice came out as a raspy croak.
He had lost his voice.
"Sir," he said weakly, and coughed some more.
Sir Topham Hatt was surprised.
"Victor, are you ill?" he said.
Victor knew he had to tell the truth.
"Yes sir, I am ill, and I am sorry I didn't ask for help."
"Victor, you know you can always ask for help if you aren't feeling your best. Now, I'm going to get the workmen to fix you," said the Fat Controller.
Soon, the workmen were working away.
"What's wrong Victor?" they said.
"Well, I need a polishment, my firebox feels funny, my funnel is blocked, I have a funnel ache, and I've lost my voice," said Victor.
It took a while to get Victor fixed, so the other engines had to wait.
After he was fixed, Victor felt much better, and he helped the other engines.
And so he did for the rest of the day.
The End