Bear's Bear
By 01Salty
BEAR is a diesel engine who works on the main line on the Island of Sodor. He does odd jobs, and works wherever he is sent. He mostly works on the main line, and on Duck and Oliver's branch line. When an engine is sick or can't work, he fills in. This means he sleeps in many different sheds, and makes many different friends. One night, he was sleeping in the yard shed, with BoCo and Diesel.
"Tell us the time when you came to the railway," said BoCo, "I was away at the time."
"Well, I came here on trial with another diesel called 199 Diesel, but I just called him 199. He was planning on taking over the railway, but I disagreed with him."
"He was a real steamie hater," muttered Diesel, "I wish he was here. We could have really taken over."
"Shut up!" said BoCo, "Continue, Bear."
"Well, one day he broke down pulling tankers, and a signalman called him 'Spamcan'. He now has that nickname, and between you and me, he hates it! Anyway, Henry rescued him, and then rescued me, after I had broken down with a passenger train. Henry and I became friends, and the other engines started to like me. I was then to stay in the railway, whereas 199 was sent away in disgrace. I think it served him right."
"I agree," said BoCo.
"Now, I work mainly on the main line, and on Duck's branch line, the 'Little Western'."
"Pah!" scoffed Diesel, "Can we go to sleep now?"
"How do tolerate him?" asked Bear quietly.
"Just," replied BoCo bluntly, and they settled off to sleep.
The next morning, the Fat Controller came to see Bear.
"Bear," he said, "Henry is ill again."
"Pity," sympathized Bear.
"He has to go to the Repair Yard. I need you to work in the forest, until he feels better."
"Anything to help an old friend," said Bear cheerfully, and went to work immediately.
When he arrived at the forest, Thomas was waiting at a signal with Annie and Clarabel.
"Morning Thomas!" said Bear.
"Hello Bear," replied Thomas.
"Lovely day," added Bear, "Hello girls! You look splendid today!"
"Oohh!" twittered Annie and Clarabel, "Such a nice diesel!"
The signal dropped.
"Well, by Bear!" said Thomas, and chuffed off.
"See ya!" called Bear, and went to collect the logs trucks.
That morning, he helped Trevor and Terence collect logs and fallen trees. He took them to the sawmill, and made good time.
"Well done!" said Toby as Bear arrived, "You're early!"
"I'm just doing my job," Bear replied, and went to pick up more trucks.
A few days later, he had to take some old tree trucks to the scrapyard, which were left in the forest for Henry to take. He coupled up, and set off.
But he didn't realize they were old Flying Kipper Vans, and had old fish left in them. As he passed the Sodor Zoo and stopped at a signal, a big brown bear smelt it, and climbed out of its enclosure. It climbed into the last van to eat the fish. Bear was unaware of any of this.
He delivered the vans to the scrapyard, and went back to his shed. He was to have a rest before other work. The big bear followed Bear to his shed, and then lied down beside him. Bear had no idea, and went to sleep.
After his rest, his driver came up.
"Come on Bear," he said, "We're late!"
"Oh dear!" said Bear, and he raced out of the shed. He didn't even see the bear because he was in such a hurry. The bear just kept on sleeping, unaware of anything.
Bear went back to the forest. Trevor and Terence were there.
"Henry's coming back tomorrow," said Trevor.
"Oh," said Bear, "That means this is my last day here."
Bear worked very hard that day, shunting log trucks and vans, and helping clearing logs and fallen trees. When they had finished, the forest looked splendid.
"Now I know why Henry likes the forest," said Bear to himself.
That evening, Bear backed into the sheds. BoCo and Diesel soon followed.
"Hello Bear!" said BoCo, "How were your days in the forest?"
"They were grand," said Bear, as his driver turned his engine off. All the drivers walked home, as the sun was setting.
"Bear, stop growling," muttered Diesel.
"But I'm not growling," replied Bear, "My engine's turned off."
"Then what's that growling coming from?"
They all looked around the shed.
"Bear!" cried BoCo, "Look! Beside you!"
Bear looked, and saw a big brown bear sleeping right beside him.
"Well," cried Bear, "How did that get there?"
"Why don't you ask the bear?" muttered Diesel.
"Ha Ha," said BoCo sarcastically.
The bear woke up, had a wander around, and sniffed at Diesel.
"Ah! The bear's going to get me!" Diesel screamed, and shut his eyes.
"Diesel," said BoCo, "The bear will not eat you. It eats fish, and other things. Not diesels!"
"I knew that," said Diesel, relieved.
"I'd better take it back to the forest," said Bear.
The next day, he drove to the forest. The bear followed him all the way. Luckily, the forest wasn't very far from the Yard.
"I wonder why he's following me," wondered Bear.
When he arrived at the forest, Henry, Trevor, and Terence were there.
"Hello all," Bear said, "Glad to see you're better Henry. Look, I found this bear. He must have been following me."
"Ah, that bear," said Henry, "I remember him. He lives in the Sodor Zoo, and once followed me home. Driver says he likes the bright green colour. Maybe that's why he followed you."
"This bear is a real follower," said Terence.
"Does he have a name?" asked Bear.
"No," said Henry, "The Zoo had never got around to it."
Bear thought for a moment.
"I know!" he said, "This bear can be called Followed-By."
"What a good name!" said Trevor.
"I agree," said Terence, "'Followed-By' the bear!"
"Hello Followed-By," said Henry.
The bear growled, and rubbed its back along the side of Bear, as his driver led him into a van to go back to the Zoo.
"I think you just made a new friend," said Henry.
Bear laughed, and started off towards the Zoo. He dropped the Followed-By off, and the manager agreed to Followed-By's name.
That afternoon, he was talking with BoCo in the shed.
"So, I made a new friend today," said Bear.
"Everyone wants to be your friend," chuckled BoCo.
"I don't," moaned Diesel.
"Well, at least everyone who knows how to work on railways, and not scrap steam engines," retorted BoCo.
Diesel stayed silent.
"I am to go and work on Toby's branch line tomorrow," said Bear, "I'll be over there for a few days."
"This is your last night then," said BoCo, "Goodnight Bear."
"Goodnight BoCo," said Bear, "Night Diesel."
"Hmph," grumbled Diesel.
Bear and BoCo laughed, and settled off to sleep.
THE END
