It was a busy day at the quarry. Mavis and I were busy moving cars of stone to the shipping area, and Bill and Ben were being their usual selves. Troublesome.
"Oi Ben, catch!" Bill shouted, biffing a load of empty freight cars to Ben. Ben bashed into them, causing them to stop violently.
"Behave you two! You don't want Sir Topham Hatt to be cross, do you?" Mavis scolded. I chuckled from inside Mavis's cab. I was her care taker. Fueling, maintaining, track switching, and other things were my job. I was also very close to Mavis. The two of us had been working together for years.
"They're just being themselves, Mavis. You can't stop that." I said. Mavis huffed.
"I wish those two would learn to work properly. Its been years, and I've tried so for so long to get them to grow up, but they never change." she complained. I patted her exterior cab side panel through the window.
"Well then you just work your best, and be the really useful engine I know you to be." I said. Mavis heeded my advice, and began to focus on her own tasks again. But, of course, Bill and Ben began to aim their nonsense towards Mavis, as they always did with whomever was trying to get them to behave.
"Come on Mavis, just because you're a girl doesn't mean you aren't allowed to have any fun!" Bill called. I winced. Few things bugged Mavis more than Bill and Ben bringing up her gender, and the two of them knew it.
"I can work just as hard as you can! Better, considering I actually do my job!" Mavis retorted. Bill and Ben chuckled as they wandered off.
"I hate them." Mavis muttered. I frowned.
"Hate is a very harsh word, Mavis. I find it difficult to believe that you're capable of hating. You are one of the kindest engines on Sodor." I said. Mavis blushed.
"But they're so...so..." she stopped as she apparently couldn't even think of a word to describe Bill and Ben.
"Let them be themselves. All you need to do is focus on your job and not let them get under your bonnet." I said. She sighed.
"I suppose so." she said, before the two of us trundled off to another section of the quarry.
. . .
Things did not get better between Mavis and the twins. The twins were feeling particularly cheeky today, and began to push Mavis again later during our breaks. We were sitting in the shed, talking quietly while I ate my lunch and she was being refueled.
"Why do you think I'm one of the kindest engines on Sodor, Anon?" Mavis asked. I thought.
"Well, you aren't usually one quick to judge others. You usually take the time to get to know others before you decide what they're like. You're one of the few diesels that are nice to everyone. Most of them don't like Steamie's in general, but you always treat them with respect. You are always willing to help, and you don't mind doing the dirty work. You even took the time to get to know me, even though most engines don't really converse much with their drivers." I finished.
There was more I hadn't said. I was very fond of Mavis. Over the years I had worked with her, I had developed a little crush on her, being a diesel aside. She was a very good soul, and had a pretty face. But I would never tell her that. Some of the engines on Sodor had relationships with a human, but I didn't take Mavis as one of them to try it.
"You really think I'm all that?" Mavis asked, interrupting my thoughts. I glanced at her, and nodded.
"Of course. You know I wouldn't lie to you." I said, finishing your lunch. Mavis sighed.
"I never really thought of myself as all that. I always remember the trouble I caused when I was first on Sodor. I didn't listen to anyone, and I got in trouble a lot with Sir Topham Hatt and the quarry manager. I got myself stuck in the quarry because I didn't listen to Toby about organizing cars more than once. I'm a very stubborn engine." she said, sulking. I laughed.
"You're strong willed, Mavis. That's not a bad trait to have. It's better to be strong willed than to be a push over. Have a little confidence in yourself." I said, standing up. Mavis watched me as I threw my trash away. She had just opened her mouth to speak when Bill and Ben rushed over.
"Having a nice time, you two?" Ben asked. Mavis raised an eyebrow.
"What does that mean?" she asked. Bill giggled.
"You know, are you having a nice... time?" he said, making a kissy face. Mavis started her engine, black smoke billowing from her exhaust stack.
"Mavis and Anon sitting in a tree, K-I-S-S-I-N-G!" the twins sang.
"SHUT THE FFFF...FFARQUHAR UP! IT'S NOT LIKE THAT!" Mavis yelled, her face a fierce red. Her RPM's raised as she worked herself up. I was shocked as I saw that Mavis was losing her cool. That wasn't something that usually happened.
"Oi Ben! Mavis almost said a bad word! What kind of role model are you Mavis, almost hurting us with your words?! Sir Topham Hatt wouldn't be happy to hear that, would he? Besides, we just assumed as much as the two of you spend time alone, talking with each other that surely something must be happening. It's getting more common for engines and humans to have relationships, you know!" Bill called as they chuffed away. Mavis's engine roared as she suddenly launched out of the shed after the twins.
"You two get back here, I'll teach you to make fun of me!" she hollered as she disappeared around the corner. I watched in silence. Mavis had seemed particularly offended by the suggestion of the two of us being together, further confirming that she would never give a relationship with me a try. The thought didn't bother me very much though.
At least that's what I told myself.
. . .
It had taken a little while to find Mavis after she ran off chasing the twins. I eventually found her in a slow corner of the quarry, yelling at the twins. They didn't look very happy. Mavis could be quite scary when she was mad.
As she yelled, I ran up to her, and put a hand on her side, which caused her to falter her rant.
"Relax Mavis. Relax. I think you've made your point." I said in a comforting tone as I eyed the twins. Mavis looked at me, then slowly backed out of the corner she had confined the twins to, and pulled into a siding so I could get into her cab.
"What is with you today, Mavis? You usually don't let the twins bother you so much. I've never seen you lose your cool like that before. I thought you were going to blow a gasket." I said as she slowly made her way back to the rock loading yard.
"I really don't want to talk about it, Anon. It's embarrassing." she said. I nodded.
"I'll respect your privacy, but if there's ever anything you want to say, I'll always listen." I said. We finished the trip back to work in silence.
. . .
An hour later, a load of stone was ready to be taken to the Sodor Search and Rescue Center. Mavis was coupled up to the long load of freight cars, then she honked her horn as she slowly eased the load forward.
"Maybe a set of deliveries will help you relax, huh?" I suggested. Mavis remained quiet.
After a while, Mavis stopped at Knapford Station for a brief rest. Belle the fire engine was sitting on the other track, looking unhappy.
"Mavis, I'm going to check on the cars while you're resting, and make sure they're still coupled up properly. Why don't you have a chat with Belle?" I suggested, climbing out of her cab. I walked back, inspecting each coupling assembly, until I reached the last car. Suddenly, I heard Mavis gasp.
"How can you even work with you!?" I heard her ask. I straightened. That certainly didn't sound like a nice thing to say, but I didn't know the full extent of the conversation, so I wasn't going to judge what she had said based off that alone.
Once I climbed back into Mavis's cab, a man sitting on a nearby bench climbed into Belle's cab. I had never seen him before, but he didn't look like he was enjoying his day. Belle herself had a blush on her face, so the girls most likely had been talking about something intimate.
As Mavis left the station, you spoke up.
"What was all that about?"
"What?" Mavis asked.
"How can he even work with you?" Mavis slowed.
"Oh, you heard that. I was trying not to talk very loud. Belle's new driver doesn't like her because of an accident a while back. I don't think she'd like me to specify, but he really hates her. I hope that eventually he'll come to like Belle. She likes him a lot." she said. I nodded.
"Ah. Makes sense." Mavis and I eventually arrived at the Sodor Search and Rescue Center, and dropped off the load. It was nearing evening, so it was time to head back to the quarry.
On the way, Mavis seemed pretty quiet. She was normally more talkative, but I chalked it up to her being tired from the delivery, and dealing with Bill and Ben. I watched the sunset out Mavis's cab window as she trundled along the coastline, before stopping at a red signal.
"Ugh, I just want to get back and get in my shed." Mavis grumbled.
"There's nothing better than a good nights sleep after a hard days work." I agreed. Once Mavis was safely tucked into her shed, I would have to make the journey across the Island to my apartment. It was a long ride, but the pay for the job, and getting to work with Mavis was worth it.
. . .
Mavis arrived at the quarry just before night fell, which was good, because she did not have a headlamp. The quarry was always lit however, so it was rarely an issue. Mavis reversed into her shed, and as her engine RPM's slowed, I climbed out of her cab, and stretched.
"Tomorrow will be a new day Mavis. Never forget that. There's always an opportunity for a fresh start." I said, walking towards her shed door. She smiled at my words.
"I guess you're right. Good night, Anon. Sweet dreams." she said.
"Sweet dreams, Mavis." I said, before quietly closing the door. I let out a breath, and walked over to the quarry building to punch out for the day.
. . .
Once I had boarded Bertie the Bus, the long trip home began. Bertie made several stops along the way, so it took longer than usual, but I didn't mind.
At one particular stop, a man boarded, and sat next to me, because Bertie was getting full.
"Hello there." he greeted. I nodded towards him, deep in thought about Mavis. Before I could continue, the man interrupted my thoughts again.
"I've seen that face before. Had it myself, actually. You're thinking about someone, aren't you?" he asked. I sighed, and nodded. Maybe talking about it would help?
"Yep. The engine I work with." I replied. The man's face changed to one of surprise.
"Small world we live in, huh? My girlfriend is an engine. I don't work with her, but we still make it work. I work at the Steamworks, and she works at Ulfstead Castle." he said. I looked at him.
"Really? What's it like, being in a relationship with an engine?" I asked. His face turned sorrowful.
"Someone special told me that being in a relationship with an engine is a very serious thing. When an engine falls for someone, specifically a human; the two of you will start an unbreakable bond. An engine will love you for life, if you just let it happen. If you take the engine for granted, or discard him or her, anything could happen." he said. I let his words sink in.
"Experience?" I finally asked. He shook his head.
"Nope. As I said, someone special told me that. She's... no longer around." he said quietly. I sensed the man had been put in a bad mood, and decided not to reply.
As Bertie bumped along the country road, eventually the man got off, leaving me alone with my thoughts once again.
Finally, my stop came, and I got off, making sure to thank Bertie and his driver.
You always thank the bus driver. It's just polite.
I walked along for a few minutes before my apartment building came into view.
Once I had gotten inside, I let out a loud sigh, and flopped onto the couch. The first thing I always needed to do when I got home was take a shower. After all, quarry work was dusty. So, after a few minutes of rest, I headed towards the bathroom to get myself cleaned.
. . .
Dinner and shower now finished, it was getting to be time for bed. I opened my bedroom window to let the cool night breeze flow into the room, and sat on the bed with a book. A good story was always something I enjoyed.
As I read, I saw a train go past in the distance through the window. I had a faint view of the mainline, it just sitting on the horizon. It was most likely the Flying Kipper, the night freight train.
I finally closed my book, and got tucked in for the night. Before I drifted off, I stared at the picture on my dresser of Mavis and I. The photo had been taken after the two of us had won the quarry employee's of the month award. It was a nice photo. I was leaning on Mavis's cow catcher, her smiling brightly behind me.
"Someday Mavis. Someday I'll tell you how I really feel."