. George Friar had been working hard all day, and he was ready to enjoy his lunch break. He was currently working on the work's first steam locomotive. It was simply a box on wheels, with an boiler being constructed for its use, and also a funnel on top of it. George had laughed when his boss Mr. Todd had given him the plans. Mr. Todd had just shrugged at the laughing man. "This is just from head office. They want to test it to see if it'll be useful for the new railway" he explained. "Just get it done!" Mr. Todd added as he walked away. George laughed as he nodded, and he began to make the arrangements. Now 30 days later almost finished, it laid on the tracks, without any power. George's friend Stephen(who also worked there), came over to him, and he laughed. George barely glanced at him as he continued to work. "Something funny Stephen?" George asked."Yeah. That stupid project. You've been working on it for ages, it's not going to run. You and I both know that". George shook his head. "I swear it will. The designer clearly didn't notice his design flaws. That's why, I'm fixing that" George explained. Stephens eyes widened. "Isn't that illegal to tamper with the designs?" he asked. George nodded. "Yes it is, but I should be able to give this baby life" George said. "George, I love you like a brother, but I don't want to see you fired, or imprisoned! You worry me!" Stephen whispered. George just let out a chuckle. "Stephen my dear friend, it'll be okay. Besides I do have freedom to choose what I do. I'll take the consequences, whatever they may be". Stephen shook his head, and he began to walk away to resume his work. "Stephen wait!". Stephen stopped, and faced his friend. "Meet me here tomorrow morning early, I have a key. I'm going to go shopping after work for some parts I need for this. Lets finish this together". Stephen looked hesitant to say yes. "Please?! if It doesn't work, you can report me. If not, we'll take for a spin" George said. Stephen sighed, and nodded. "Fine! But you get all the blame for this!" Stephen declared. George smiled at his friend. "Excellent". The next morning, Stephen met George at 5:00 back in the works, and dawn was just coming to the island. Stephen let out a yawn. "George, this is dumb, let's go back". "Come on Stephen, we're almost done. Hand me that wrench!". Stephen let out a sigh, and he gave George the wrench. George grabbed it, and he gave the engine one final adjustment, and then he gave a small cheer as he closed the hatch. "Come on, let's get it going!" George said. The two men got onto the engine with heavy, and dirty coal buckets, and they poured it into the coal hopper. Stephen was more experienced with coal, so George shoveled in the coal, while Stephen prepped the fire. The attempt was unsuccessful at first(much to an amused Stephen, and a discouraged George), but then out of nowhere, a magnificent fire roared into existence, and the engine was ready to move. George cheered, and he pressed the controls to make it go forward, and the strangest thing happened. There was a small explosion of heat inside the boiler, and a yawn came from nowhere. George looked at Stephen, and he shrugged. "Not me". George lept of the engine, and he looked around for the source of the noise. "Hello, I'm Clive. What's your name?". The sound came from behind him, and he turned around to find a strange sight. In front of him was his engine, expect for it had a face, and it was perfectly able to speak. "Is there something wrong with my paint?" the face asked. George shook his head hesitantly, and he stuttered. "No, your fine. Just fine". Next thing George knew he was in shock, and he fainted onto the hard cement. "George!". Stephen jumped off the engine, and he ran to his unconscious friend. "Somebody come help! Man down!" he called. Later that morning, the leaders of the various railways were sitting in Sir Topham Hatt's dining room eating some nice food, while also going over plans for the railway. Sir Topham Hatt was a stern, but fair man who was posed to become the new director of the NWR(North Western Railway). The businessmen had come to discuss business, and Sir Topham had some designs on the table. "Sir Topham these are excellent designs. How did you make these?". The Fat Controller chuckled and shrugged. "I just used my brain Jeremy. Simple as that" he said. Then the telephone went off, and his wife Jane picked up the phone. "This is Jane". She listened Carefully and she nodded. "Yes he's here. I'll go and fetch him". She set down the phone on the nearby table, and she walked into the dining room. "What is it Jane?" Sir Topham asked. "It's the Crovan's Gate workshop, the manager would like to speak with you". They walked back to the phone, and the fat controller picked it up. "Hello?". "Sir you've got to come over here! I can't really explain how this happened, and you wouldn't believe me even if I told you!". "Okay calm down John, I'll be there soon! I have a meeting though, I'll come in a half hour" he replied. "Sir I really think that you should see this now" Mr. Todd said. Sir Topham sighed and he looked his wife, and she pointed to the nearby coat rack. "You go, I'll take of things here. John sounds very panicked" Lady Hatt said. "Thank you Jane, what would I do without you?". he gave his wife a quick kiss goodbye, and he grabbed his top hat and his coat, and he left out the door. The gentlemen were surprised and confused with the Fat controller, and they faced Lady Hatt. "Where is he going?" one asked. She shrugged. "I have no idea" she admitted. The Fat Controller sighed as he came to Crovan's Gate, but what stood in front of him when he arrived shocked him. "Good day sir! I'm Clive at your service" |