ARTHUR THE FISH-FACE
Arthur enjoyed life on Sodor. Everything was good and he loved working in the Fishing Village. One day he was taking some passengers from a fishing tournament into the station.
"Well done Arthur!" Sir Topham Hatt said "You are a very quick and reliable engine." Arthur smiled as some more coal was placed in his bunker. Then Sir Topham Hatt pulled out a paper. "Hmm..." he mused "I think it's time for a change. You will take a train of fish to the docks at the shores tonight." Arthur smiled. He always liked a change.
He pushed some trucks around the yards but while he was taking a rest, he felt a rain drop. "Oh dear, it's raining!" he said. Percy puffed up to him. "I hear you're taking the fish train on the shore line." he said. Arthur said yes, for that was the line he was taking. "Well," Percy continued "I'd watch out for the bridge. The river rises high during the rain!" Percy then puffed away. Arthur was now depressed.
He arrived at the docks to pick up his train. While he was waiting, he decided to have a talk about the line with Toby.
"That line is quite creepy." Toby said. Arthur started to feel worried. "And that bridge...I just don't think it's that safe." Toby warned. Then Arthur felt a bump against him. "C'mon!" his driver yelled as he started up. "Be careful!" Toby called as Arthur puffed off.
Arthur saw that he was now entering the forest. And it was still raining. The tree's shadows made it seem like a ghost was near him. "Oh!" he shivered. Then he heard a loud crash and a tree fell on the enbankment near him. "We better go slow." his driver said as he reduced the steam.
They were still puffing. Arthur didn't feel safe at all. "I just want to go home...Toby was right...this is too dangerous!" he shouted. Then he felt the tracks move under him. His driver quickly stopped the train. "What was Sir Topham Hatt thinking? This line looks like it hasn't been used in 10 years!" he said as he slowly started Arthur up again.
But the trouble wasn't over yet. They passed a sign that told them that the bridge was ahead. "Go slow." Arthur told himself "Go slow..." Then they saw the bridge. It was long and narrow and the water was only about 4 feet from overflowing. His driver paused. "We have to go on!" the fireman shouted. They started up again.
Then it happened. Arthur was doing quite well as he puffed across. "Good...good..." he assured himself. He was halfway across when disaster struck. The bridge was made of wood and the wood was old. Very old. The rain had weakened the wood and Arthur's train was just too heavy. The wood on the bridge snapped, and the tracks which had no support, gave way under the train's pressure. When Arthur opened his eyes, he saw fish...right in his face. And the train: It had all de-railed over the edges. Arthur was rescued later that night.
He felt very silly when he saw Toby and Percy waiting for him. "I guess you were right." he said "That line is plain bad. I'm never going on it again." Toby and Percy smiled at eachother...then they started laughing. "What? What are you laughing at?" he asked. "You've brought home a friend!" Percy said. Arthur looked up and saw a small yellow fish laying on his funnel. "Well, I'll be!" Arthur said "I guess I really am a 'fish-face!"