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!
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(Sunset zooming over the quarry near Harwick with Miss Jenny's machines at work)
It was nearing the end of a busy day at the quarry near the Harwick branch line. Miss Jenny's machines were just finishing up their loads for the day. But Jack and Alfie were still digging up dirt near the construction site. This was a fun job after all.
Jack: (lowers his bucket and stops) We've dug up every last hole at the site today, Aflie.
Alfie: (turns with a bucket full of dirt) More digging means more dirt, Jack.
Jack
And (together, chanting) And more dirt means more fun! (chuckle)
Alfie:
(Alfie stops but jumps when he sees Isobella roll by, dropping the dirt from his bucket)
Alfie: (gasps) Whoa!
Isabella: (rolling out of the way just as the dirt hits the ground) Oi! Careful, Alfie. Mind my paint, will you?
Alfie: Sorry, Isobella. Got a little distracted, that's all.
Isobella: Accidents happen, Alfie. But that gives no need to make a mess, especially of my paintwork…(rolling around to face Alfie, smiling)…which you're lucky you didn't dirty after all. That's what's important.
Jack: (rolling up beside Alfie and across from Isobella) Isobella, why are you always so concerned about keeping yourself clean?
Isobella: If either of you had a smart shiny paintwork like me, then I think you'd both realize how important being clean is.
Alfie: (sighs) But that's just it, isn't it, Isobella? We love digging so much that we don't even bother to fuss about our paintwork.
Jack: You're a lorry who hauls loads so that's the difference. Besides digging dirt is a fun job. Perhaps you'd enjoy it once given the chance.
Isobella: Better still, it's all about appearance as far as I'm concerned. Mark my words, the only reason Miss Jenny assigns to the work I do in this quarry alone is because she knows how important it is for me to keep myself shiny and clean. (honks her horn and rolls slowly around) Good day, you two. (rolls away)
Jack: (puzzled, jokingly) Hmm, I wonder what sort of fuel she's taken this morning. Getting dirty is all the benefit we receive from from working in The Pack. But for Isobella, it seems different.
Alfie: Never mind her, Jack. Isobella has her own perspectives of working with us, and like the rest of us, she is a credit to the crew; in her place. (raising his bucket) Just we have our place working here at the site. (rolls around and lowers his bucket to lift the next load, leading Jack to do the same)
And with that, the two friends set back to work.
(Kelly and Miss Jenny are in the yard when Isobella arrives)
Isobella returned to the yard where she met Kelly and Miss Jenny were waiting.
Kelly: (honking his horn) Good evening, Isobella.
Isobella: Sure is, Kelly. I managed to maintain my record of keeping myself clean all day.
Kelly: So I see. No other machine in this quarry has been able to hold that after all.
Isobella: (proudly) I know.
Miss Jenny: (clearing her throat) Indeed. Very useful. Once again, Isobella, I am very impressed. But keep in mind as long as you're in The Pack under my leadership that usefulness comes far in your line of work here in the quarry before cleanliness.
Isobella: I'm aware. And I don't need a load of gravel or a large bucket to prove it. (jumps at the sound of Max and Monty's horns)
Just then, Max and Monty raced speedily down the hillside, full of mischief.
Max: I'll get to the yard first!
Monty: No! I will!
Max: I will!
Monty: I will!
Max: I will!
Monty: I will!
Kelly: (as the twins reach the yard) Max! Monty! Look out!
(Max and Monty groan to a hard stop, blowing dust everywhere)
Miss Jenny: (coughing as the dust flows by) Well, I never!
Isobella: (qucikly reversing from the dust) Watch out, you great clumsy roadhogs! You could've spoilt my paintwork!
Max: Ooh. (sarcastically and tauntingly) Sorry, Isobella. (revving his wheels with Monty doing the same, blowing more dust)
Miss Jenny: That is quite enough! Max, Monty, return to your sheds now!
Max: (turning around) I'll get there first!
Monty: No! I will! (racing by Isobella) Later, "Your Cleanliness." (races out of sight)
Kelly: (sighs) Twins will be twins, Isobella. But with Max and Monty, you'd wish there was a prime exception.
Isobella: (coughing and spluttering) Say that again. My paint was nearly ruined.
Miss Jenny: (sighs) Well, you're lucky the day's work is over then, Isobella. Now it's best that both of you get a good night's sleep, ready for a hard's day work tomorrow.
Isobella
And (laughing) Yes, Miss Jenny. (head out of the yard, Miss Jenny waving after
Kelly: them)
(Scene continues with nighttime over the quarry, Isobella fast asleep in her shed)
Later that night, Isobella went happily to sleep, dreaming of how clean she had kept herself all day and how she would continue doing so in the day's work that followed.
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