WIPE-OUT FOR THE COUNT

Based on Blue Crushed by Kate Leth

Written by Scrubb1910

It was a beautiful day on the Island of Sodor. At Harwick Beach, Ryan and Mavis were invited to surf with Donald and Douglas.

"Hello, Twins!" chirped Ryan. He was wearing a pair of purple swim-shorts with yellow trim.

"Hey, boys," smiled Mavis. She was wearing a black and yellow lycra swim t-shirt and yellow bikini briefs.

Donald and Douglas were wearing wearing black and blue swim shorts.

"Hullo, there!"

Douglas had finished waxing his board.

"Dinna mind him," said Donald, "He's finished waxin' his board hoo he calls Roxanne."

"Really?" asked Ryan. Donald nodded.

"Roxanne's nae jest any board," Douglas spoke up, "She's verra special tae me!"

"Y'know whut the trouble with ye is?" asked Donald. "Ev'ry time ye name somethin', ye always get attached tae it! Folks might think ye're looney."

"Me? Looney? Ah'm not looney!" objected Douglas.

Just then…

"HEEEERRRRREEEE'SSSSS JAMES!"

Up rushed James wearing black sunglasses and red square-leg trunks.

"Well, hello-hello to you guys! How do you like my new surfboard?" He presented before them a big red surfboard.

"I didn't know you can surf, James," said Mavis.

"Who says I can't?" James smugly replied.

"Um...you do know how to surf, don't you James?" asked Ryan.

"Oh, of course," James answered instantly, "I've seen the twins do it so it's not that hard."

"Nae that hard?" asked Douglas, "it takes experience."

"Aye," agreed Donald. "Provided ya doon't lose yer shorts, right?"

"Dinna remind me!" snorted Douglas indignantly with embarrassment, "That can happen tae anybody!"

"What are we waiting for? Let's hit the waves!" James crowed and made his way to the beach. Mavis and Ryan decided to follow James with their own surfboards in case something went wrong.

The three friends all were enjoying themselves. Ryan and Mavis were doing alright, but James was struggling. He managed to keep himself balanced on his surfboard.

"Are you alright, James?" asked Ryan.

"Yeah, I'm fine, thank you," said James trying to sound confident but was a bit embarrassed.

Mavis squinted her eyes and saw something in the distance.

"Looks like a giant wave coming toward us," she said.

James' eyes widened. "A giant wave...?"

"No mistake about that," said Ryan, "but as long as we all stick together, we'll be alright."

"Uh, yeah, good idea, Ryan" agreed James. Mavis could sense that James was sounding rather timid all of a sudden.

Ryan and Mavis were surfing under the biggest wave they could have ever imagined. Ryan, who was behind Mavis, was puzzled.

"Where's James?" he asked.

"He was here a minute ago," said Mavis.

But they soon found out!

"YO!"

They both looked up and saw James - he was having the time of his life.

"Woo-hoo! Here comes JAMES!"

"James! Are you alright?" called Ryan.

"Doing splendid, thank you!" James called back.

"I hope you know what you're doing!" called Mavis.

"I'm fine!" replied James. "Don't worry - I have everything under con- Whoa, hey! Ahhh!"

James suddenly lost his balance, fell off his surfboard, landed in the water and disappeared under the crashing wave much to Mavis and Ryan's surprise!

When James emerged to the surface, he hung onto his surfboard.

"Where am I? Ryan? Mavis? Hello…?" he called, but there was no reply. He was lost in the middle of the ocean miles away from his friends and Sodor.

"Oh, this is dreadful," sighed James miserably, "How will I ever get back to Sodor, now? They'll be wondering where I went. They probably think I'm dead and nobody will ever remember me..."

"There you are, James."

James suddenly looked up. "Who said that?" he asked without a moment's hesitation.

"It's me, Belle."

James turned around and it was Belle.

"Belle? How are you doing that?"

"Doing what?" asked Belle.

"Get so tall," replied James.

Belle laughed. "I'm not tall. I'm standing on the sea-bed and you're not too far from shore."

James stood up and turned around. Then, he blushed with embarrassment, his face red as his swim trunks.

"Oh! Yes, I wondered where I got to," he answered sheepishly.

"Ryan and Mavis were worried about you, so they asked me to look for you," explained Belle.

"Gosh! I am lucky to have good friends who care about me," smiled James.

"I should think you do," said Belle, "now, let's get back to them and let them know you're safe."

Later, James with reunited with Mavis and Ryan.

"Thank goodness you're okay, James," Ryan sighed in relief.

Mavis was stern with James. "Why on earth would you try and hack it out there without knowing how?" she asked, "You could've gotten yourself hurt!"

"I did," moaned James, "my dignity, of course."

Donald and Douglas felt rather sorry for James.

"Actually, I think ye did alreet oot there," said Donald.

"Aye," agreed Douglas, "e'en though ye did nae know hoo, ye really had brillig guts 'n' nerves to surf the biggest wave up yonder."

"Thank you," smiled James, starting to cheer up.

"I tell ye wut," said Douglas, "me 'n' Roxanne," he pointed at his surfboard, "we can give yez some tips. Wut dae ye say?"

"That would be a good idea," said Ryan.

"Yeah, you'll surf like a pro," added Mavis.

"They're right," put in Belle, "you could learn a lot from Douglas."

James thought for a moment, then he put out his hand and said, "You've got yourself a deal!" And he shook hands with Douglas.

"Put it there, man!" smiled the Scottish Twin.

Everyone all smiled and agreed.

"Wait - who's Roxanne?" James suddenly asked.

"Och, nae-one in particular," whispered Donald, pointing his thumb at Douglas and winking at him. James understood what he meant.