Woolley Bear
Based upon the story by Rev. W. Awdry
Adapted by Rachel Ravens
Takes place between TIOP and TE
Just short of two weeks had gone by since Rheneas' grand return to service, and even now, the engines were still in high spirits about it.
"It's so good to have Rheneas home again," smiled Percy as he was halted at a red signal near Terence's field; he had empty trucks coupled behind him. "The Skarloey Railway now has all it's engines together, the whole family."
"That is wonderful news indeed," agreed Terence from his field. "Oh, Percy, could you bring some of the hay down here when you go to collect it this afternoon? Some of the animals will need it for their winter stock later on."
"Not a problem, Terence," Percy replied. He then caught sight of something on the far side of the field. "Terence, what's happened to the henhouse?" he cried.
"Oh," Terence sighed. "Farmer Finnley's henhouse got a hole in it in the storm last night. I'm not sure what's going to happen to it."
"Wait a minute," Percy started to realise something. The henhouse seemed to be elevated, where wheels once stood, and on the side seem to be where buffer beams used to be. "It used to be a railway coach. Maybe not as big as our railway, but definitely a coach no less."
"Hmm," Terence said thoughtfully. "I wonder if Farmer Finnley can build a new henhouse, and you can give the coach as a present to the Skarloey Railway. We still have lots of spare building materials from the massive storm that partly destroyed Henry's forest last year."
"Oh, the little engines will love it!" said Percy; by now the signal clunked down. "First Rheneas comes home, now this. Thanks, Terence."
"My pleasure, Percy."
The green tank engine continued on his way, heading down the line until he got to where the gangers were cutting up some hay.
"We'll need lots of hay for the farmers," said Percy. "Terence said the animals on Farmer Finnley's farm need lots of winter stock food."
"Not a problem, Percy," said one of the gangers. The gangers slowly started to load his trucks, and covered them with tarpaulins so it wouldn't blow away.
"Thank you," said Percy, and he was away.
Eventually, he came to Toby, who was, unfortunately, looking rather tired.
"Are you okay, Toby?" asked Percy when he drew alongside.
"Oh, hello, Percy," Toby sighed. "You wouldn't believe how busy the quarry is lately. There's so many trucks I can barely keep up."
"Oh dear," Percy said worriedly. "I've got my run to the harbour and my run to Barrow after this, so I'm not much help I'm afraid."
"That's alright," said Toby.
"I'm also keeping one of the trucks for my return goods, as Terence's farm needs some hay." Percy explained. "And maybe Julie or Katie can help you at the quarry. I'll pass the message when I get to the next station."
"That's very kind of you," smiled Toby. He and Percy arranged the trucks accordingly, and Percy took Toby's loaded stone trucks down to the harbour, while Toby took the rest of the hay to the farms across his tramway.
On Percy's return journey, Thomas was waiting with Annie and Clarabel.
"Where is he?" Thomas muttered to himself. "Percy's running late."
"It is that time of year, isn't it?" Annie remarked. "You know, where the gangers cut hay for the animals?"
"Well, yes, Annie, I'm aware of the schedule change," Thomas admitted, "but even so, we were supposed to leave five minutes ago."
Clarabel glanced over at the clock anxiously. "You're right, Thomas. What's keeping Percy?"
"Sorry, you three," Percy panted as he puffed through. "Toby's had a bit of trouble keeping up with the shunting at the quarry. Tell the stationmaster to call up for Julie or Katie to help Toby in the meantime."
"Cinders and ashes…" gasped Thomas. "Poor Toby. I know Katie or Julie would be willing to help, but it's a pity we wouldn't be much help ourselves."
Annie and Clarabel were quick to agree, especially as they and Henrietta wouldn't be any help in terms of shunting.
Later on, Percy had collected the coach from Terence's field on a flatbed, and was coasting down the main line with his goods train to Barrow. He eventually came to Crovan's Gate, where he heard Rheneas and Henry talking to each other.
"So, Douglas saved Oliver and Toad from scrap?" Rheneas said in awe.
"That's correct," said Henry. "Douglas was incredibly brave that night."
"Seems like our controllers have a habit of purchasing engines to save them," chuckled the old engine. "A good habit to have indeed."
"It sure is," said Percy when he pulled in. "Hello you two."
"Hello, Percy," said Henry. "What's that on your train?"
"It's an old coach found on Terence's farm," Percy explained. "It was a henhouse, but Farmer Finnley's going to build another one, and I can give this coach to the Skarloey Railway."
"Oh, thank you, Percy," said Rheneas. "That's most kind of you."
"What's going on?" asked Sir Handel as he came in with some trucks. "Oh, bust my buffers!" he cried. "That's a coach from mine and Peter Sam's old railway."
"First Cora, Gertrude and Millicent, now this one?" gasped Rheneas. "How many coaches from your old line are there?"
"I'm not sure," said Sir Handel. "But I think we had about eight of the saloon coaches sold off when our old line shut down."
"Well, if there's one coach that was found," said Rheneas. "There could very well be more."
"Good point, Rheneas," Percy smiled. "Henry, we'll have to let the other engines know about this."
"I'm right on it, Percy," said Henry, and his train departed when the guard's whistle blew; Percy shunted the flatbed with the coach onto the siding at Crovan's Gate.
"I'll have to tell Peter Sam about this," sighed Sir Handel. "It's good news, but this could potentially put a damper on the plan with the railway's time and money to restore these…"
"Plan?" asked Rheneas. "What plan?"
Sir Handel didn't say anything more, and darted away to shunt his trucks before Rheneas could get any answers.
"What else have I missed out on since my overhaul?" asked Rheneas to no one in particular.
At Barrow, Percy saw Jinty, Pug, Arthur and Rosie again.
"Hello you four," Percy greeted warmly.
"You're late!" cried Arthur, "what's going on?"
"It's the hay," sighed Percy. "I had to stop and collect it for the farmers before I went to the harbour. And then I…"
"You crawled around in it, didn't you?" smirked Jinty.
"No I did not!" snapped Percy. "I was stopped at a signal and spotted-"
"You're a green caterpillar with red stripes." Jinty retorted. "And you crawl around like one too. I swear, you're going to be late all the time this week. Time's time, and we've got to keep up with the schedule."
"That's enough, Jinty." snapped Rosie.
"Yeah," sighed Pug. "But even so, Percy, you were a bit late with the timetable change."
"That's because Toby needs help at the quarry and it delayed him." Percy explained.
"Oh…" sighed Rosie. "Poor Toby. If one of us can help him, that would take some weight off his buffers."
"That would be nice," said Percy. "I'm sure Sir Topham Hatt has Julie or Katie helping Toby about now."
On the way back, the trucks however, had overheard Jinty's comments.
"A green caterpillar with red stripes," one of them laughed; it was the same orange truck who deemed leadership over the trucks since Scruffey's demise.
"Oh, wait until we tell everyone about this!" said the teal truck.
"This will be a riot!" laughed the Burnett and Co. truck.
"Stop it you lot!" Percy bumped the trucks as he puffed down the line. He grunted. "Everyone says I'm handsome - at least, mostly everyone. Besides, I'm sure people would enjoy a saddletank engine like me more than a side tank like Jinty." he then blinked. "Oh, no offence to my other friends, of course."
Percy then started to shunt the trucks back into their sidings at the harbour.
"I sure hope Julie or Katie get to the quarry soon," Percy said to himself. "This is getting to be a worry."
"Don't worry, ol' boy," said the driver. "I'm sure we'll think of a way to fix this mess."
But before Percy or his driver could say anymore, they heard a slow creaking noise from above them.
"What's going on up there?" asked Percy curiously.
"I'm not sure," shrugged the driver. But the fireman looked up.
"Uh oh!" he cried. "That crate's about to fall!"
Percy was about to move out of the way, but it was too late. The crate of treacle was upset all over Percy.
"Yuck!" cried Percy. "I feel all sticky."
"Let's try and get the worst of it off," said the fireman, and he and the driver went to look for the cleaning supplies.
Unfortunately, this caused the trucks to laugh at poor Percy.
"Oh, Percy's in another jam!" laughed the teal truck.
"How is jam related to treacle?!" snapped the orange truck. "You do realise they are completely different things."
"Well," said the teal truck, "they are both sticky, right?"
"It's a pity we lost Scruffey," sighed the Burnett and Co truck. "This would have been fun to make up a song about."
"Yeah, and it would be wise to forget that song we made up about Oliver…" muttered a fourth truck named Old King-Coal; he was transferred to Sodor following Scruffey's demise.
It took quite a while for Percy to be cleaned up, and even then, he still felt a bit sticky.
"This will be a real struggle to get home," sighed Percy. He puffed away down the line, light engine, to get back to the sheds in time for his passenger service for the evening.
Eventually, Percy made it to where the gangers were cutting hay. They had finished work, but the wind was blowing fiercely.
"Oh, glory!" cried Percy. "Look at that!"
The wind caught the hay, tossing it up and over the track.
"We've got to get through this," sighed Percy. "It's just like when I was caught in the flood, only… not wet."
"Let's see what we can do here, ol' boy," said his driver.
Percy charged forward, though unfortunately, he kept getting caught in the hay.
"Oh, come on!" groaned Percy. "This is going to make me…" some hay got in his mouth. "Phuff! Ugh… why do horses and cows like eating it?"
"Your guess is as good as ours," admitted the fireman.
"Let's get a good run at the hill, Percy," said the driver. "Go as fast as you can."
Percy got a grim look of determination and did exactly that. But his wheels kept slipped.
"Got to make up time!" Percy panted. "Come on. Thomas' passengers will be late if I keep this up."
At last, Percy made it over the hill.
"Finally," he sighed. "Alright, Thomas, here I come!"
Down at the station, Thomas glanced at the clock.
"Ten minutes late," he worriedly. "What's keeping Percy?"
"I hope he hasn't crashed somewhere," said Annie.
"Perish the thought," shuddered Clarabel.
"I may need to get Judy and Jerome if…" Thomas broke off to see Percy panting coming into the station. "Oh, there he is."
"Sorry, Thomas," panted Percy. "First there was treacle and then…"
Thomas burst out laughing. "Well, it was worth it to be late to see you."
"I've never seen anything like it," laughed Annie.
"Would you look at that," giggled Clarabel. Even the passengers burst into laughter to see Percy.
"Goodbye, Percy." Thomas puffed away, leaving Percy completely confused.
"What, what did I do?" he asked. "Thomas, Annie, Clarabel, you completely lost me…"
Down at the sheds, Percy's driver pulled out a mirror to show Percy what he looked like.
"Bust my buffers!" Percy exclaimed. "No wonder everyone laughed. I'm just like a woolly bear. Please clean me up before Toby comes."
Later on, Thomas had been at Elsbridge with Annie and Clarabel, when the trio heard the weary 'ting-a-ling' of a bell.
"Evening… Thomas… girls..." panted Toby as he puffed in.
"Whoa, Toby!" gasped Thomas. "What's happened to you?"
"Julie and Katie… were too busy to be... at the quarry…" Toby sighed. "Can't… keep up…"
"Oh dear," sighed Annie. "We'll need an engine here as soon as possible."
"No wonder you've been late with the shunting," added Clarabel.
"Do you mind if I go back with you three?" asked Henrietta. "Toby needs a rest for a while."
"Of course, Henrietta," Thomas said calmly. The old coach was carefully marshalled onto Thomas' train, and just as that was done, Thomas' guard's whistle sounded out. "Back to Ffarquar everyone. I'll go slow so that Toby can keep up."
"Thank you… Thomas,"
Thomas and Toby started to trundle back to Ffarquhar.
"So, Toby, Henrietta," said Thomas. "Annie, Clarabel and I saw the strangest thing further down the branch line."
"Oh?" asked Toby. "What did you see?"
"It was Percy, covered with hay!" Thomas chuckled. "He looked just like a woolly bear caterpillar."
"Really now?" laughed Toby. "That is pretty funny!"
"I've never heard of an engine covered in hay before," added Henrietta. "How did that happen?"
"Something about sticky treacle I think," chuckled Thomas. "Ah well, at least we were able to make up time on the way."
Down at the shed, Percy's driver and fireman were still removing hay from Percy.
"Oh, come on," sighed Percy. "Why did I have to get so much all over me?! Toby will be back any minute."
Much to Percy's dismay, he heard the sound of a whistle and a bell.
"Oh no…"
"Well, well, well," laughed Toby. "So this is what happened."
Thomas gently marshalled the trio of coaches into the coach shed, and joined his friends at the engine shed.
"Hey, Toby," said Thomas. "I have a joke. Okay, so, what does a caterpillar do on new years day?"
"Hm, I dunno Thomas," Toby wondered. "What does a caterpillar do on new years day?"
"Turn over a new leaf!"
Toby and the coaches burst out laughing.
"Here's one," said Toby. "How do caterpillars order the latest fashions?"
"They don't have clothes on," Percy grunted.
"No, no, Percy," laughed Thomas. "You're supposed to say. 'Okay, I give up. How do caterpillars order the latest fashions?'"
"Caterloges!" Toby delivered the punchline.
"Ooh," groaned Percy. "First Jinty makes a comment about my appearance being like a caterpillar, now this!"
That seemed to make Thomas and Toby stop laughing.
"Was this before the hay got stuck or after?" asked Toby.
"Before," sighed Percy. "He said I was a green caterpillar with red stripes."
"That's it!" snapped Thomas. "I'm taking the goods to Barrow tomorrow! Percy, you take Annie and Clarabel."
And so it was arranged. The two tank engines swapped jobs and Thomas went straight up to Barrow.
"Jinty, where are you?" Thomas called. He saw a saddle tank engine coming in. "Excuse me, you haven't seen a tank engine named Jinty, haven't you?"
"He's over there," said the other tank engine. "My name is Pug by the way."
"Nice meeting you, Pug," said Thomas as he shunted his trucks into the siding.
"Ah, hello Per-... oh, you're not Percy." said Jinty.
"No, but I am Thomas!" huffed the blue tank engine. "Now, what was that comment you said to Percy yesterday?"
"Oh, I was only teasing," said Jinty.
"Percy was very hurt by that!" snapped Thomas. "He takes pride in being a saddle tank engine."
"Oh…" Jinty said quietly. "I'll apologise to him tomorrow when he gets here."
"You'd better," growled Thomas.
The next day, Jinty said a hasty apology to Percy.
"I guess I did take things a bit far," sighed Jinty.
"It's alright, Jinty," said Percy. "There's no real harm done. Thomas is like… my older brother, in a way. He can just react to these kinds of things."
"Sounds like you've got a good friendship going," said Jinty. "I just wish my first impressions on him were better."
"Things will get better," smiled Percy. "Just you wait and see."
The End
This was yet another tricky one to kick start, mostly because of the whole business with the Ghost Train story not being a joke. In a twist, this story has absolutely no connection to Ghost Train whatsoever. I gave the role of Percy being mocked to Jinty instead of Thomas, again, due to the adaptational nice guy thing. Thomas isn't above teasing Percy however, and I think this fits his personality a bit more. It's just that when Percy is teased about his actual appearance rather than a little mishap he had is when he got cross.
I also included the saloon coach being found at Terence's farm. I know the books say the first coach was at Harwick, but I think this would help fit the story, not to mention give Sir Handel and Peter Sam another reason for holding back on their word about Duke. (Budgets for the railway and all that.)
Mavis' appearance is also foreshadowed here, as Toby is getting swapped with work at the quarry.
Next up, we are jumping back over to the Little Western. Catch you there.
