(Here we go, guys: The Missing Mail! I know my preview for it was put up like two months ago, but, hey, I've been busy. Now I believe I have a bit more time to write the next story as well. This seemed like an interesting path for Rosie's character to go in, and for Charlie's character to take some different sort of development and growth. Enjoy!)
The Missing Mail
Short Synopsis: Rosie takes pride with her work in the Shunting Yards, but wishes for a bit of adventure. Her wish is granted when Percy breaks down and is due for repair at the SteamWorks, so Rosie volunteers to pull the mail train in his place. However, problems arise as delays occur so Rosie's excitement eventually leads to impatience, resulting in Charlie giving her a wild goose chase around the Island to give her a missing package.
Moral: patience is a virtue/it takes time to learn new things
(Scene starts with a view of the Shunting Yards and Rosie shunting trucks about)
Rosie is a cheery little tank engine, who works as a shunting engine. Most of her work resides in the Shunting Yards where she spends her time pushing and pulling trucks about. Rosie is also a very helpful engine and full of energy, always willing to help out a friend in need.
(Oliver and Toad pass through with a goods train and Rosie witnesses them in the midst of shunting Duck's train)
Rosie: (whistles) Good morning, Oliver.
Oliver: Good morning, Rosie.
Rosie: That sure looks like a big train. Would you like me to be your back engine?
Oliver: (chuckles) It's fine, Rosie. I've carried heavier loads than this many times. But thanks, anyway. (whistles)
Toad: Goodbye, Miss Rosie.
Rosie: (sighs) Goodbye, Toad. (gets back to shunting)
(Next scene cuts to Knapford Station with Gordon waiting at the platform)
Sometimes, Rosie works as a station pilot at Knapford, shunting coaches for the big engines to start their day's work.
Gordon: (whistles, impatiently) Hurry up, Rosie. The express can't wait all morning, you know.
Rosie: (panting while pushing the heavy coaches) Just about there, Gordon. (grunts, and then she finally brings the coaches to the platform)
Gordon: (whistling) All aboard!
Rosie: (gasps) Wow. You must be very big and strong to pull the express, Gordon.
Gordon: Indeed. And very important, too.
Rosie: Amazing. I wish I could have such a special job. It would be nice to leave the yard and see the rest of Sodor.
Gordon: Ha! You? A special job? (chuckles) Nonsense. Pulling coaches requires great strength and expertise. You, Rosie, are a tank engine shunter, so you'll never have enough of that to be in my position.
(guard's whistle blows. Gordon whistles and chuffs away)
Rosie thought about what Gordon had said, and she felt very sad. She wished more than ever that she could have a job that seemed as important as some of the other engines.
(Rosie slowly chuffs further into the station, watching Thomas leaves the station with Annie and Clarabel through Knapford Junction and Percy leave the platform with the mail train. Emily chuffs up beside Rosie)
Emily: (whistling) What's wrong, Rosie? You seem a bit upset this morning.
Rosie: (sighs) I enjoy my work in the Shunting Yards, Emily, and I especially like being a station pilot on occasion. But sometimes I do wish for a bit of adventure.
Emily: (confused) What do you mean by adventure?
Rosie: Well, you know, Gordon has the express; Thomas has his own branch line; Percy delivers the mail; even you have your own coaches, Emily. You engines are all so lucky to have such exciting jobs. As for me, I'm just a shunter.
Emily: (chuckles) I enjoy pulling passenger trains, Rosie. But just remember that I'm a mixed-traffic engine. I also spend some of my time during the day, shunting trucks and pulling them, like you do. Every job on the railway is important, Rosie, no matter how exciting one particular job may be.
(guard's whistle blows and Emily leaves with her coaches)
Emily: (whistling) Goodbye, Rosie.
Rosie thought about what Emily had just said. But she still wished for something exciting to happen, even if it were a temporary change.
(Scene cuts back to the Shunting Yards with Rosie shunting trucks about)
As usual, Rosie spent most of her afternoon in the Shunting Yards. Luckily, the trucks behaved well and refrained from grumbling or causing trouble, and Rosie found them easy to handle.
(Rosie shunts a line of trucks up to Harvey, and the shunter couples them up before he pulls them away.
Harvey: (whistling) Thank you, Rosie.
But Rosie didn't hear Harvey. She still remembered what Emily had said, and felt a little bored, despite realizing how important her job was as much as any other job.
(Rosie lets off a little steam and sighs, still a bit sad)
Thomas arrived through the Yards with Annie and Clarabel.
Thomas: (whistling, as he stops on the line across from Rosie) Hello, Rosie.
Rosie: (quietly) Hi, Thomas.
Thomas was a little puzzled. Rosie was usually very excited to see him, but he could see she was upset.
Thomas: What's wrong, Rosie?
Rosie decided to tell her friend Thomas all about it.
Rosie: (takes a deep breath) I just feel a little bored of all this, Thomas. Surely, working as a shunter and a station pilot may be as important as any other job, but sometimes, I just feel I could a bit of adventure. Just for a change. You know, taking trains to destinations far and wide and seeing how exciting life can be out there on the rails.
Thomas: (sympathetically) Pulling trains is not so easy, Rosie. It's hard work and it requires patience. Sometimes, it takes time to learn new things. I learnt that when I first arrived on Sodor. I have my own branch line now, and I've run it for years.
Annie: (chuckles) Only just, Thomas.
Clarabel: (jokingly) Only because we help you stay on track.
(Thomas, Annie and Clarabel laugh and Rosie also gives a slight chuckle)
Rosie: (chuckles) Thanks for the advice. You've cheered me up, Thomas. I feel much better about my work now.
Thomas: No problem, Rosie. I better get going now. A couple more stops and a few more passengers to pick up and drop off. (whistles) Bye, Rosie. (chuffs away)
Rosie: (whisting) Bye, Thomas! (sighs happily)
Rosie always felt better from seeing Thomas. But she also thought over what he had said about patience, and was confident that she would learn it in future when it came to pulling her own train.
(Scene shifts to morning at Tidmouth Sheds. Percy chuffs slowly out of his berth)
One morning, Percy's fire was slow to start as he left Tidmouth Sheds to catch his mail train.
Percy: (yawning) Oh, dear. How ever will I be able to deliver the mail at this pace?
Percy chuffed slowly on his way to the Shunting Yards to pick up his mail wagons. Rosie was there, shunting them into place.
Rosie: (whistling, cheerily) Good morning, Percy.
Percy: (suddenly opening his eyes to a start) Huh? (looks back) Oh, good morning, Rosie.
Rosie could see from Percy's condition that something felt strange.
Rosie: Everything alright this morning, Percy? You do seem a bit slow about things.
Percy: Slow? Oh, that's just me being extra cautious about backing up to my mail trucks. (chuckles slightly) Don't worry. I'll be fine. (whistles) Thanks, Rosie.
(Percy leaves with his mail trucks, leaving Rosie as she sighs a feeling of concern. Scene shifts to Knapford)
But Percy did feel a little funny, and by the time, he reached the platform at Knapford, he felt very strange indeed.
Percy: (halts to a stop, minimum steam emitting from his funnel) Rosie's right. There really must be something wrong with me this morning.
(Gordon whistles as he chuffs in, looking over at Percy with surprise)
Even proud Gordon could see that Percy was not in a very good state.
Gordon: (worriedly) Um, is everything alright, Percy?
Percy: (sighs) I'm not sure, Gordon. My driver and fireman will tell me in a minute. (watches as his crew walk back towards him with Sir Topham Hatt)
Topham: (clears his throat) I'm sorry, Percy. But according to your fireman, there is something wrong with your boiler that brought your firebox to an immediate failure.
Fireman: We've given you enough coal and water to last the day.
Driver: But it doesn't seem to be producing enough heat.
Topham: (sighs) It seems like you'll have to pay a visit to the SteamWorks, Percy. Victor and the workmen will know what to do. Don't worry. I'll send Charlie to bring you there.
Percy: But who will pull the mail train, sir?
Topham: Never mind about that, Percy. I assure that on my railway, no job is ever put aside. I'll find another engine at once.
Percy: (sighs) Yes, sir.
In no time at all, Charlie arrived and buffered up to Percy, ready to take him to the SteamWorks.
Charlie: (whistles) Are you ready, Percy?
Percy: (quietly) I guess so, Charlie.
Charlie: Great! (pulls Percy out of Knapford)
Charlie knew this was no time for jokes, so he brought Percy to the SteamWorks without fuss. Meanwhile, Sir Topham Hatt was making a decision of his own.
Topham: (thinking) Let's see; Thomas and Edward have branch lines to run and I'm pretty the engines over on Duck's branch are busy too. James and Emily have enough mixed-traffic duties on their timetable, Toby is taking the workmen to Ffarquhar, Gordon's pulling the express and Henry is currently pulling goods. (to the stationmaster) I must pay a visit to the Shunting Yards.
Stationmaster: Splendid idea, sir.
(Scene cuts to the Shunting Yards with Charlie pulling in between Rosie and Stanley, lined up across from Samson, Harvey and Phillip. Sir Topham Hatt walks up)
Sir Topham Hatt brought together a meeting with the engines working at the Shunting Yards, hoping to find an engine who would willingly take the mail in Percy's place. He came as soon as Charlie returned from the SteamWorks.
Topham: (clears his throat) Good morning, my fellow engines. I've called you all here on short notice for an urgent reason as you might guess: a state of emergency.
Phillip: (confused) State of emergency, sir?
Topham: Yes. Well, I'm afraid that Percy has engine troubles that have caused an immediate failure for his firebox and is in need of repairs. So I need an engine to pull the mail train for the next couple days in his place? Any volunteers?
Rosie was thrilled.
Rosie: (whistles, excitedly) Me, sir!
Topham: (surprised) You, Rosie?
Rosie: Yes, sir. Please, can I pull the mail?
Topham: Well, I did ask for a volunteer, Rosie. But wouldn't this be the first official goods train you've ever pulled?
Rosie: Yes, sir. I know all about pulling the mail. To stop at every station and wait as mail is loaded and unloaded before heading off again.
Topham: Um, very well, Rosie. But I may warn that there could be a delay…
Rosie: Oh, I can handle delays, sir. Thank you very much.
Topham: Well, okay. If you say so, but, um…
Samson: Pulling a train isn't as easy as you might think, Rosie. I've learnt that when I first arrived here.
Rosie: (confidently) Don't worry about me. (whistles and chuffs away)
Rosie was very excited to pull her first official train. She had been doing ordinary jobs for all her time on Sodor and she was ready to face an even greater challenge, learning patience.
Rosie: (backs up to the mail train as James chuffs in with his coaches. whistles) Hello, James.
James: (startled) Oh, hello, Rosie. What are you doing here at Knapford? All the trains are out and about by now.
Rosie: (chuckles) I'm not here to shunt, James. I'm pulling the mail train today.
James: (gasps) The mail? But…isn't that Percy's job?
Rosie: Percy is at the SteamWorks for repairs, James, and Sir Topham Hatt has accepted my volunteer to pull the mail train in his place.
James: Sounds very exciting. I get the same feeling pulling coaches, you see, but have you asked Percy how to do it?
Rosie: (chuckles) I'm a strong engine, James. No job is ever too hard for me. (guard's whistle blows and Rosie pulls the mail wagons slowly out of the station, panting)
But pulling the mail wagons was a lot heavier than Rosie thought. She wasn't used to pulling such heavy trains but she decided not to give up as he hauled the mail wagons out of Knapford towards her first destination.
(Scene cuts and zooms in to Wellsworth, Rosie at the platform with the mail wagons)
Making her first delivery to Wellsworth Station, the porters unloaded the parcels that were needed for passengers to pick up. However, the stationmaster had bad news.
Stationmaster: (sighs) I'm sorry, Rosie. I'm afraid the holdup this morning means that Charlie is going to be running a little late with the post.
Rosie: (confused) What post, sir?
Stationmaster: The post from Brendam of course. New shipments arrive every morning and an engine usually delivers it from station to station, ready for Percy to come pick it up.
Rosie: It's all right. A few minutes is definitely worth the wait.
But it turned out that the wait time took a bit longer than expected. Rosie grew more and more excited, and a bit impatient for that matter. At last, Charlie arrived.
Charlie: (whistling) Sorry for the holdup, Rosie. But…better late than never in a state like this, don't you think?
Rosie: (chuckling) It's okay, Charlie. I still can make up for lost time, you know.
It took time for the men to finish loading up the mail wagons with the parcels that had just been delivered. Charlie and his driver stayed just to make sure that none of the parcels had been forgotten. The porter stood against the side of each wagon to make sure none of the mail had fallen off. At last, the job was complete.
Porter: (to the stationmaster) I do believe that's all the mail we've loaded up in those wagons, stationmaster. Rosie is ready to go.
Stationmaster: (looking at his list) Not quite yet. There is still one package yet to be delivered for The Earl. The shipment arrived late this morning and I just spoke with Harold's pilot. The poor lad's had a few engine troubles but he's on his way now.
But Rosie and her driver weren't yet notified of Harold's delay nor The Earl's package. As soon as the last door banged, Rosie was ready to go.
Rosie: (whistles) Goodbye, Charlie. (chuffs away)
Porter: (running over) Wait, Rosie!
Stationmaster: (running before stopping and waving) Wait!
Charlie blew his whistle loudly to warn Rosie, but she was too far out of sight to hear it.
Charlie: (sighs, to the stationmaster) I'm sorry, sir.
Stationmaster: (sighing) Not your fault, Charlie. At least you got the rest of the mail here on time.
Porter: Harold will be here with the Earl's package any moment I presume. I've just received a call from his pilot.
(A whirring sound zooms overhead. Charlie, the stationmaster and the porter look up to see Harold landing down)
Harold: Good day, chaps. Sorry, I'm a little late, Charlie. Had a few engine troubles this morning and it wasn't till I was halfway through repairs that my pilot got the call.
Charlie: Not your fault, Harold. But Rosie's taking the mail train this morning. She left just now.
Harold: (gasps) She did? (stuttering) B-b-but, that can't be right. I've got more mail here and…
Stationmaster: (sighs) Say no more, Harold. You've done all you could. We just need an engine now to catch up with Rosie and give her that package.
Charlie: (confidently) I'll go, sir.
Stationmaster: (surprised) You, Charlie?
Charlie: Yes, sir. I believe I can catch up with Rosie before she gets to Ulfstead. I've nothing else to do in the Yards besides odd jobs after all.
Stationmaster: (sighs) Very well, Charlie. But be quick now. There's no time to lose.
The porter handed The Earl's package over to Charlie's driver, which he placed inside his cab. Then Charlie set off.
Charlie: Ready or not, Rosie, here I come.
Harold: (hovering back up and zooming overhead) Good luck, old chap!
Charlie was very much aware that this was the time to take things seriously and not make haste for fun and games. So he chuffed in pursuit along the branch line as fast as he could.
Charlie: (panting) I must catch Rosie. I must.
Charlie was almost catching up with the mail train as Rosie pulled into Maron Station. The men got to work right at unloading mail from the wagons as Rosie waits at the platform. The stationmaster walked up.
Stationmaster: Good morning, Rosie. Pulling the mail train, are you?
Rosie: Yes, sir. It's my first official job on the Island. Percy's at the SteamWorks for repairs so I'm pulling the train in his place. I've never felt such responsibility.
Stationmaster: (chuckles) Well, I must say, Rosie. It is a big surprise. But watch how you go with it now. You can't be too careful when pulling a train for the first time to get it all right.
Rosie: I will, sir. And thank you for the warning.
Soon, all the mail for Maron was unloaded and as the guard's whistle blew, Rosie was ready to go.
Rosie: (whistles) Goodbye, sir.
(Stationmaster waves as Charlie rushes into the station)
Charlie: (whistling loudly) Wait, Rosie! Wait! (halts to a stop and sighs)
Stationmaster: (eyeing Charlie, concerned) Is everything alright this morning, Charlie?
Charlie: Could be better, sir. I just must catch with up with Rosie before she gets to Ulfstead…(whistles and rushes away)…or else she'll be in trouble with the Earl. (worriedly) Or worse…Sir Topham Hatt.
(The stationmaster expresses a look of concern as the scene fades out and shifts to Charlie hurrying along the branch line)
Without intention, it seemed as though Rosie was leading Charlie on a wild goose chase across the Island…
(Scene shifts from Rosie pulls into Dryaw and then pulling out with Charlie chasing after her)
…from Dryaw…
(Rosie arrives at Maithwaite Station and pulls out after the mail is unloaded, Charlie in pursuit)
…to Maithwaite…
(Rosie rushes to leave the station at Arlesburgh Harbor with Charlie pulling in moments afterwards)
…and all the way through Arlesburgh. No matter how far Charlie traveled, he never seemed to grab Rosie's attention. He felt puffed out.
Charlie: (sighs) Looks like I might not be able to catch up with Rosie after all.
Stationmaster: (walking up) Don't be so sure, Charlie. I've just had a chat with Rosie's driver. They're headed for Ulfstead next. Who knows, this time you may get lucky.
Stephen: (whistling as he pulls into the opposite platform) Yes, indeed, sir.
Charlie: (gasps) Stephen?
Stephen: I believe I know a shortcut to the castle. I've taken it just this morning. You'd barely make it given the chance. But why are you chasing the mail train again?
Charlie: Rosie's left The Earl's package around. I must hurry. There's no time to lose.
Stephen: (surprised) Oh, I see now.
Soon, Charlie's firebox was relit and stoked up with coal. Then he was ready to go.
Charlie: (as he rushes out of the station) Thank you, Stephen.
Stephen: (chuckling) Any time. All of in servitude of the Earl himself.
(Scene fades out on Stephen and cuts to Rosie chuffing up the hill towards the castle)
It wasn't long before Rosie reached Ulfstead, ready to drop off the mail at the castle's platform. But Charlie had taken a shortcut down the branch line, which led into the castle area. However, soon as he arrived, he noticed something up ahead.
Charlie: (gasps) Oh, no. A red signal. (stops) The signal must holding this line to make way for the mail train. How will we ever get to Rosie now?
Charlie's Driver: Don't despair, Charlie. The line crossing here connects with the entrance sloping up to Ulfstead. Rosie will be along any minute.
Charlie: (sighs) I sure hope so. (gasps as he hears Rosie's whistle) Rosie!
Rosie: (crossing the line over Charlie's. excitedly) Charlie! (whistling)
Charlie: (whistling loudly, wailing) Wait!
But once again, Rosie had no idea that Charlie was summoning her.
(Charlie sighs. The signal drops to green and Charlie whistles as he rushes away)
Soon the signal dropped and Charlie was ready to go again, determined to get to Ulfstead Castle before her.
(Rosie rushes into the platform at Ulfstead)
But, unfortunately, he was too late as Rosie hurried into the castle platform. The Earl was waiting anxiously for her.
Rosie: (whistling cheerfully) Good morning, sir!
Earl: (chuckles) Good morning, Rosie. I trust you have my package then.
Rosie: Well, I suppose, sir. Even if it was late and…
Earl: Oh, don't mind about the delay there, Rosie. The dock manager told me everything. I'm just glad the mail is here at last. Harold did deliver it after all, didn't he?
Rosie: (puzzled) Um, no, sir. Not really.
Earl: (confused) What's that you say, Rosie? Please speak up.
Rosie: Charlie delivered the rest of the mail to me at Wellsworth. Harold wasn't in sight.
Earl: (thinking hard) Hmm. Rather strange.
Porter: (walking up with a pen and paper in hand) Excuse me, sir. But the men and I have finished unloading the mail here for Ulfstead.
Earl: Brilliant! We shall sort it right away.
Porter: Except for one though, sir.
Earl: (surprised) What? Which one?
Porter: (sighs) I don't believe your package has made it here, Sir Norramby. They've must've been left behind.
Rosie: (gasps in shock) What?
Earl: (groans) Oh no! I needed that package. They were flowerbeds for the best dressed station competition at Ulfstead.
Rosie: (sighs, sadly) Oh, god. It must've been left in Harold's net. He probably arrived after I left the station. Now what will I do?
Earl: (sighs) I don't suppose there's much you can do at this moment, Rosie. Unless a miracle can get it over here in time a day before the competition…(jumps as his speech is interrupted by Charlie's whistle)
Just then, Charlie pulled in, tired but triumphant.
Rosie: (gasps) Charlie!
Charlie: (panting heavily) Hello, Rosie. (coughs and splutters, Rosie giving him a concerned look)
The Earl was indeed surprised by all the commotion as well.
Earl: What is going on here? Are you alright, Charlie?
Charlie: (coughs quietly) Now that your package is here, sir, everything is fine.
Earl: (surprised) My package?
Charlie: Yes, sir. Harold had engine troubles and arrived late at the station. So that's why we were late to deliver your package.
Earl: Oh. I see. Well, I might've known that. But…if Rosie pulled the mail train, then…
Rosie: I'm sorry, sir. I must've left the station before Harold could arrive. And I'm sorry too, Charlie, that I made you travel all the way across the Island for all this.
Rosie's Driver: (hopping out of Rosie's cab with the package.) The guard's whistle blew after all the mail was loaded. We assumed it was time to go. (handing the package to the Earl) We're truly sorry, Sir Robert.
Earl: (chuckles) All in good time now. 24 hours of planting will sure fix things up for the competition with these flowerbeds. Thank you, Charlie. And thank you too, Rosie.
Rosie: You're welcome, sir. (chuckles slightly) I still feel bit foolish though for forgetting your package.
Earl: Oh, nothing to worry. Everyone make mistakes at times, especially where you're trying something new. (looks over at Charlie, concerned) But I'm afraid poor Charlie is short of puff.
Charlie: My fireman stoked up the rest of my coal, sir. I do believe I'm on water shortage too.
Rosie: (chuckles) Don't worry, Charlie. I'll help you to the next water tower. And then to the next coal bunker.
Charlie: (surprised) Really? But what about your train, Rosie?
Rosie: Oh, that's all under control, Charlie. As soon as I'm done helping you, I'll finish my deliveries as quick as I can. You'll find that I am pretty quick after all, and besides, I do owe it to you.
So Rosie pushed Charlie to the nearest water tower where his tanks were completely filled up. Then she helped him to the nearest coal bunker where he took a large supply of coal. He felt as good as new.
Charlie: (whistling) Thank you, Rosie. I'd best get back to work now. (chuffs away)
Rosie: Thank you, Charlie. I never would've learnt from my experience without you.
Rosie spent the rest of the morning shifting through destinations all over the Island and dropping off the mail at each and every platform. And she never made another mistake once. At last, she made her final delivery. The door banged shut, the guard blew his whistle and Rosie was ready to go.
Rosie: (whistling) Delivering the mail is a fun job after all.
And she headed over to the SteamWorks to tell Percy all about it.
(Scene cuts to the SteamWorks with Percy and Rosie conferring)
Percy: I'm glad you learnt your lesson about pulling the mail train, Rosie. Even my first official job on the Island was a challenge. But I'm a fast learner, I guess.
Rosie: So am I, Percy. I'm just happy to have gotten the experience of pulling a train. It's so exciting, especially when you come to learning it.
Percy: It takes to learn new things, Rosie, and we all make mistakes in doing so. Even I've made mistakes with the mail sometimes.
Rosie: That's understandable. I guess mistakes are easy to learn from after all, and I'll get the hang of pulling trains eventually. It will take time. (whistles) Goodbye, Percy. Hope you're mended soon. (chuffs away, leaving Percy smiling with a sigh of relief)
(Scene shifts to the Shunting Yards with Rosie returning her mail trucks and then zooms slowly in through Knapford Junction with Thomas and Rosie at the platform with Sir Topham Hatt)
Rosie returned her mail wagons to the yard, and then headed back to Knapford Station. When she got there, Sir Topham Hatt was waiting on the platform. Rosie was afraid he'd be cross with her for forgetting the Earl's package.
Rosie: I'm very sorry, sir. It was fun learning to pull an official train for a change, but forgetting the Earl's package must've been too much of a mistake, even for my first day…
Topham: (sighs and silences Rosie by raising his hand) Enough, Rosie. There's nothing to be sorry about. I'm proud of you.
Rosie: You are, sir?
Topham: You made all your deliveries on time, and that's the important thing. And at least the Earl got his package on time. You, Rosie, have learnt a lot from your experiences with your first official train on the Island. You knew just where to go and where to stop at, and made up for lost time too. And that's why I believe you deserve to pull the mail train for the rest of the week.
Rosie: (gasps) The rest of the week, sir? Really?
Topham: (coughs) Well, at least until Percy is repaired, that is.
Thomas: (whistles) Congratulations, Rosie!
Rosie: Thanks, Thomas. Thank you, sir. I best be heading back to work now.
Thomas: Me too. I can't keep my passengers waiting.
Annie: Good thinking, Thomas.
Clarabel: Indeed. Especially if one of them is an Earl, of course.
(Sir Topham Hatt chuckles slightly and Thomas, Annie, Clarabel and Rosie chuckle as they leave the station and stop at the signal)
Rosie: It's back to shunting for me now, Thomas. Until the mail tonight of course.
Thomas: I'm heading back to my branch line, Rosie. (signals turn to green) But make sure not to follow me this time, eh?
(Thomas, Rosie, Annie and Clarabel all chuckle as the scene zooms out on them leaving Knapford Junction and fades to white smoke)
Up Next: Stick-In-The-Mud
Moral: usefulness comes before cleanliness/a change is as good as a rest
Short Synopsis: Isobella enjoys staying clean and avoiding all the dirty work around the quarry, and even when Miss Jenny sends her to collect fuel drums, she still manages to stay clean. Isobella feels very pleased with herself, but when Jack gets stuck in the mud, Isobella comes to his rescue and gets more than she bargains for in the process!
(I love writing stories about The Pack! Very simple story procedures to follow and fun to do as well. I promise that I will get to work at it right away...or at least when I get the time of course. Stay tuned, guys. A preview will be up before you can say Safety First)