Moral: safety first/everyone has special skills that make them unique
Short Synopsis: Sodor is having it's annual railway inspection and Harwick is inspected for the first time. Thomas tours the Railway Inspectors around the line, checking up on his old friend Jack. Jack is is excited about having the opportunity to show the Railway Inspectors how he can demonstrate diversity between jobs. He manages to get through his work, looking up to Oliver and Byron as role models to do their work as well as they do. However, his excitement eventually gets the better of him, and Jack ends up realizing that it's his own special skills that make him who he is.
(Scene begins with a view of the sky zooming over Arlesburgh Junction)
It was a bright sunny afternoon on the Island of Sodor. Thomas was taking Annie and Clarabel to Arlesburgh Junction. Some very important passengers were onboard with Sir Topham Hatt, and Thomas and his coaches were very excited.
(Thomas whistles as he stops at the platform and Daisy pulls in, honking her horn)
Thomas: Hello, Daisy.
Daisy: (widens her eyes in surprise) Oh, Thomas…, (chuckles slightly)…this is an odd sort of surprise. What brings you about these parts towards my branch line?
Thomas: The Island is having it's annual inspection, Daisy, and Harwick is being inspected for the first time. Since all us engines down on the North Western have been inspected, The Fat Controller has asked me to take the Railway Inspectors to tour the line as well as the harbor…(Daisy rolls her eyes)…while Percy uses ordinary coaches to work with Toby on my branch line in my place.
Daisy: Well, I doubt it's as important as my work, Thomas. I'm taking passengers up and down the branch line as usual. (smugly) It's a shame you're not able to work on your own branch line.
Thomas: (cheekily) You're right, Daisy. It may be, but…I think I consider handling a 'Railway Inspection' around to see your branch line to be very important. (Daisy raises her eyebrow with surprise as he whistles and chuffs away) After all, The Fat Controller is onboard the train as well. (chuckles with Annie and Clarabel as they leave the Junction)
Daisy: Hmph! (honks her horn and leaves the station in a huff)
Thomas made his way further along the branch line that ran through Harwick up to Arlesburgh. The Construction Yard was up ahead, and in a minute, Thomas would be able to see his old friend, Jack, who was busy at work with Alfie and Oliver digging up a foundation near an old shed. The three friends have come from the Sodor Construction Company to help Miss Jenny and the workmen with their demolition plans in order to make more space for the sights of the branch line.
Thomas: Hey, Annie and Clarabel, look. It's Jack.
Annie: (confused) Jack?
Clarabel: Oh, my, we remember now. That splendid little front loader.
(Thomas, Annie and Clarabel chuckle as they stop by the site. Jack turns around and looks at them, excited)
Jack: (rolling up beside Thomas) Hello there, Thomas.
Thomas: Hello, Jack. Nice to see you. (jokingly) You've been staying out of trouble lately?
Jack: (chuckles) Quite so, Thomas, old friend. (raising his bucket up and down before stopping in confusion) But…what brings you here to Harwick. (chuckles slightly) Don't you have your own branch line to run?
Thomas: I do, Jack. But today I have an important job, and that's why The Fat Controller and I bring you very special news. (startles in surprise as Annie's carriage door opens)
Topham: (stepping out) Yes, indeed, Thomas. Today is a very important day for my railway. Every year, the Island has a railway inspection…(as the Railway Inspectors step out)…and now, the Railway Inspectors are touring my newest branch line here at Harwick for the first time. (coughs) As agreed with by Miss Jenny of course. (startles at the sound of Miss Jenny chucking and walking over)
Miss Jenny: Pleasure to see you, Sir Topham. The Pack and I are very excited as well. (lending out her hand)
Topham: Oh…(chuckles nervously before shaking her hand back)…, well…, a pleasure's, um, all mine, Miss Packard. (pointing back towards the trio of Railway Inspectors all standing in a line) And these men are the Railway Inspectors. They come every year to make sure my railway is in good working order.
Inspector #1: Mmm, yes. We've been looking forward to viewing the new branch that Sir Topham's been talking about ever since we heard of it.
Inspector #2: The line looks splendid so far, Miss Packard, ma'am…,(confused, looking at Jack, Alfie and Oliver)…mmm, but…do you really need three machines to dig up one foundation?
Miss Jenny: (chuckles) Well, I suppose, good Sir. Here in The Pack, my machines are all part of a team and it does indeed take one team of diggers to handle so much around here. In fact, it takes the entire crew. You'll be able to see that when visiting Cronk later, where the Sodor Construction Company resides.
Inspector #2: Hmm, very well put. Yes, couldn't agree more. I was just asking after all.
Inspector #3: (looking at his gold watch, sighing heavily) Yes, yes, this line looks far more promising than we thought and exceeds our expectations greatly. But we really should get going, gentlemen. We still have all of this…Arlesburgh Harbor to view after all.
Topham: (surprised, a little dismayed) But…but…we haven't even how these machines can demonstrate, inspector. I'm sure a little more time here won't hurt.
Inspector #2: Not to worry, Sir Topham.
Inspector #1: Mmm, yes, Thomas will take us down to the quarry when we're done with the harbor and that…um, Arlesdale railway…
Inspector #3: (clearing his throat) Gentleman? (gives them a sharp look)
(The three Inspectors board Annie, followed by Sir Topham Hatt, who hops on board and looks back at the site in concern. Miss Jenny and the machines smile at him as he walks onboard. Thomas whistles and puffs away)
Thomas: See you later, Jack. Great seeing you again.
Jack: (raising his bucket up and down) Goodbye, Thomas. (watches as Miss Jenny heads back to speak with the foreman. to Alfie and Oliver) Wow, can you two believe it? This entire branch line having it's very first railway inspection…as well as our very own quarry. That makes for a double inspection, doesn't it?
Alfie: It…does sound rather exciting, Jack. And digging the foundation is what we can do best to prove to them how useful we are.
Oliver: Better still, you two had best mind how you go. Neither of you wouldn't want to make a mistake in front of the Railway Inspectors, would you? The Fat Controller nor Miss Jenny would want that.
Jack
And (chuckling) Of course not, Oliver. (roll quickly around back to work, Oliver
Alfie: slowly and cautiously doing the same)
As Jack and his friends set back to work, Thomas took the Railway Inspectors aboard Annie and Clarabel along the coastal route of the branch line. (Thomas and Ryan whistle as they pass by each other) In a moment, Thomas would pass Calles Cavern where the view of Captain Calles' pirate ship stood in plain sight from the harbor miles away.
Thomas: This is Calles Cavern, Annie and Clarabel, where Captain Calles' ship was first discovered. It was found as a result of my accident of course.
Annie: Very interesting discovery, Thomas.
Clarabel: Found…by accident, you might say. (chuckles with Thomas and Annie as they continue along the branch line)
Back at the Construction Yard, Jack, Alfie and Oliver were still digging up dirt near the foundation. They were having lots of fun.
Oliver: Easy does it, you two. This job require lots of digging, but mind how you go about it, now.
Alfie: More digging means more dirt! More dirt means more fun!
Jack: And all three mean more for the The Fat Controller and the Inspectors to be proud of!
(Alfie turns around and shoots him a weird look. Jack quickly turns around and scoops up a load of dirt, but drops it in surprise when he sees Miss Jenny and the foreman walking)
Jack: (startled) Oh! Pardon me. Excuse me. Sorry. (groans)
Miss Jenny: (sighs, a bit agitated) Jack, please…(sighing and calming down a bit)…be careful. The Railway Inspectors wouldn't want to see you in such a state now, would they?
Oliver: (chuckles nervously) I tried warning him of that, miss.
(Miss Jenny sighs as the foreman speaks up, wiping dust off his clothes)
Foreman: Yes, well, couldn't agree more, Miss Jenny. Just a small slipup. Easily fixed by a bit of hard work.
Miss Jenny: (nodding, with a fixed expression towards Jack) Mmm…yes. Quite right. Well, anyway, you three, the foreman and I are very impressed with the work you're doing here, and The Fat Controller and the Inspectors would be very proud of you all. But I'm afraid this is going to take a bit more time before you can head down back down to the quarry and be ready for your official demonstration for the Inspectors. That's where I'm headed at the moment.
Foreman: Yes. Oh, and one reminder: this building does need to be knocked down eventually. Which means, Oliver, that pretty soon you should probably have your wrecking ball fitted at once. The workmen will be ready soon, but for now, it's best you finish the work that needs to be done here.
Oliver: Yes, sir.
Foreman: Great. Carry on. (turns and walks away with Miss Jenny)
Jack, Alfie and Oliver went back to digging. Jack began to watch Oliver with curiosity as he scooped a large bucket of earth dumped it aside.
Jack: (rolling up alongside) Wow, Oliver. You really must have a talent for performing different tasks. Is that why the men need your help with the demolition process?
Oliver: (chuckles slightly) Quite so, Jack. But I'm very careful about it too. My wrecking ball helps to knock down old buildings when they are of no use, and my shovel helps me to dig up dirt. It is very useful in a way that I am able to dig up an entire foundation in one day.
Jack: Amazing. The Railway Inspectors will be proud of that.
Oliver: That's what makes me proud of who I am. Everyday, I am able to multitask in a way that Miss Jenny likes to call diversity between jobs.
Jack: (curiously) Diversity? What's that?
Oliver: 'Diversity', Jack, means that I am able to handle a great deal of variety in the work that I do. I haven't really been acknowledged for a certain job in particular though, whether digging or demolishing, and it makes me very different from most members of The Pack, but I don't mind. As long as I'm really useful. Maybe, one day, young Jack, you can be just as diverse as I am.
Jack: Maybe, that day…(excitedly)…is today. (rolls around and begins digging up the next hole)
Oliver: Wait, Jack. I'd be careful if I were you. Safety First, remember?
But Jack was too excited to listen, as he and Alfie dug up the rest of the foundation. The two friends were having lots of fun, and Oliver's story about diversity between jobs really encouraged Jack to help have work progressing all on schedule. The workmen were very impressed, and Alfie and Oliver were amazed…though they did share slight concerns.
Alfie: (rolling up alongside Oliver) I just hope Jack doesn't get himself into trouble again. He seems more enthusiastic today than ever.
Oliver: He is being really useful, and he seems inspired by the discussion I had with him earlier. But you're right, Alfie. You can never be too careful about handling so many jobs at once. That's why I always take it slow and steady
Alfie: But Jack seems to be in an awful hurry today.
Oliver: (thinking) Mmm. Yes…
A little while later, the foreman returned to the Construction Yard to see how the three machines were getting on.
Foreman: A fine piece of work from all three of you. Miss Jenny has returned to her office down at the Sodor Construction Company, but she and I are both very impressed and so would the Railway Inspectors. (pauses for a second, thinking) But…now, Max and Monty have just come up from the quarry; I'll need a volunteer to load them up with rubble so they can take it back down to the quarry.
Jack: (turning around and quickly lifting his bucket up and down, excitedly) Me, sir! I'll do it!
Foreman: (thinking hard) Hmm…
Jack: Oh, please, sir, can I go? Please?
Foreman: (sighs) Oh, alright, Jack. But please be too long. Oliver has to start the demolition process soon, and you and Alfie still have work to do here in the site.
Jack: Yes, sir. I promise. I'll be back right on time, sir. You can count on me.
Foreman: (chuckles) That's the spirit, Jack. Off you go then. (watches as Jack rolls quickly away)
Alfie: (sighs, to Oliver) I just hope Jack is true to his word. Even if he isn't, I think you and I both know it isn't by intention.
Oliver: You're right, Alfie. But you needn't worry too much. Jack's really been on top of things lately and Miss Jenny is just as proud of him as she is of all of us.
That made Alfie feel a tad bit better, but he was still quite concerned for his friend.
Meanwhile, Max and Monty were waiting impatiently by the cliffside. Their operators kept an eye on them and had them under control, so they couldn't race around the site to pass the time.
Max: Pfft! Typical. Miss Jenny sends us up here for an important job, and the workmen can't arrange for another machine to load us up as soon as we get here.
Monty: You'd think, in spite of the speed we go at, that those loader or lifter machines would get over here any quicker. (startles at the sound of Jack's horn)
Just then, Jack came trundling along the roads. Max and Monty were very surprised yet amused.
Max: Are you sure the foreman couldn't have sent ol' Ollie over here instead of him?
Monty: Huh! Fancy that. Some small fry loading up two big dump trucks like us?
But Jack paid no attention to Max and Monty; he had learnt not to give in so much to their jokes by now, and he set to work at once. (Jack continuously loads rubble into his bucket, turns around and pours it into Max and Monty's buckets) But Max and Monty were far from impressed.
Max: Oi! Hurry up there, won't you, small fry?! (startles and groans as the rubble is dumped coarsely into his bucket)
Monty: And be careful too! Our buckets are very fragile!
(Jack pours the last load into Monty's bucket and stands aside)
Max: More!
Monty: More!
But Jack didn't budge. He smiled instead, as he slowly lifted his bucket down.
Max: Oi! What's the holdup?! More!
Jack: (kindly) I think you two have quite enough.
Monty: More, and hurry! (startles, as his operator climbs over and starts him up, Max's operator doing the same)
Max and Monty were headed back to the Construction Company once their operators started them up, but neither said thank you to Jack. Jack didn't mind. He still had a crowd of workmen cheering for him instead.
Workman #1: Well done, Jack. You've been quick.
Workman #2: Indeed. Max and Monty are now able to return to the quarry all in good time.
Workman #3: Ah, yes. And since the foreman told us you were coming following your performance in the Construction Yard, it's amazing how you were able to commit this task too.
Workman #4: The men and I took a vote on it, Jack. You have demonstrated multiple jobs at once today, something that the Railway Inspectors would be pleased about. You are, what we like to call "A Jack Of All Trades".
Jack: (confused) A Jack Of All Trades?
Workman #4: (chuckling) Why, yes. Just a common idiom for someone who can skillfully handle multiple jobs at once. Digging and loading are quite consistent skills with you, Jack, so it's hard determining which one you're better at.
Workman #5: Quite so. A Jack Of All Trades, Master Of None.
Jack: (to himself) A Jack Of All Trades, Master Of None. (quietly) That means, I can multitask by doing many jobs at once…just like Oliver.
Workman #6: (clearing his throat, reminding) Um, Jack. Perhaps the foreman would be waiting for you back in the Construction Yard by now.
Jack: (gasps, remembering) Oh, right. Um…, I guess I'll be off then. So long. (rolls quickly away with the workmen waving after him)
Jack: (chanting, as he rolls back down the hill) A Jack Of All Trades, Master Of None. A Jack Of All Trades, Master Of None.
Jack had so much excessive pride from the praise he had been given by the workmen that he forgot he still a had a job to do down at the Construction Yard. Then he saw Byron plowing a field nearby.
Jack: (gasps, excitedly) Byron! Oh, he's sure to need my help with plowing, now, won't he? (rolls speedily down and stops inches before Byron, startling him) Hello, Byron. Wow, you look busy. Do you need any help?
Byron: Woah, now. First of all, Jack, slow down. What's got you racing these parts anyway?
Jack: I just came back from loading Max and Monty and I really need another job to do. So what brings you up here to Harwick then?
Byron: Oh, nothing personal, really. Miss Jenny said that the men need me to plow this field, and that it's essential I have it finished and return to the quarry before Thomas arrives with the Railway Inspectors.
Jack: Hmm, well perhaps we can finish the job…together then.
Byron: Together?
Jack: Well, of course. After all, two bustling buckets are better than one, eh?
Byron: (chuckling, with pride) I don't think so, Jack. Not for this kind of work. Plowing fields of brown earth is usually no bother for me. I can usually manage it all on my own.
Jack: But…but…(thinking, then remembering)…helping you, Byron, is a way I can demonstrate diversity between jobs for the Fat Controller and the Railway Inspectors.
Byron: (widens his eyebrows in surprise) Say what now?
Jack: Diversity between jobs. I was able to help Oliver and Alfie dig up a foundation near the site by the Construction Yard, and I was able to load up Max and Monty all in the quickest of timing.
Byron listened carefully.
Byron: I see now. Go on, Jack.
Jack: That's why I've been called A Jack Of All A Trades?
Byron: A what?
Byron couldn't believe what he had heard.
Jack: A Jack Of All Trades. That's what the workmen have recently come to refer me as, for being multitasking between two jobs consistently. It's like they say, A Jack Of All Trades, Master Of None.
Byron: (chuckling, surprised yet impressed) Alright, Jack. You win. Perhaps we could get these fields cleared in time for the quarry's inspection after all.
Jack was amazed. He couldn't have felt happier to help his good friend Byron.
Jack: That's settled then, Byron. Off we go to work then. (places his bucket into position and begins plowing)
Byron: (chuckling) Oh, alright, alright. But mind how you go, Jack. Plowing fields can be very messy work, and you must handle it cautiously.
But once again, Jack was too excited to listen, as he and Byron set to work at once.
Jack and Byron worked together plowing fields and in no time at all, all the work was finished.
Byron: Thank you, Jack. I couldn't have done this quickly without you. You were right. Diversity between jobs surely is a triumph and something the Railway Inspectors would be proud of. But don't you have your own job to do as well here on the branch line?
Jack: Mmm, not really. Not that I know of…or remember in that regard.
Byron: Mmm, well I appreciate your help, Jack, as long as the foreman gave you the permission to do so, but…didn't Miss Jenny want you to work up at the Construction Yard with Oliver and Alfie?
Jack thought for a moment…then he remembered.
Jack: (gasps, realizing) The foreman! Oliver and Alfie! The Construction Yard! (turns around) Sorry, Byron. No more time to chat. Bye, now. (races away, leaving Byron in a state of bewilderment, as he turns around and heads back towards the Yard)
Back at the Construction Yard, things were no better. Oliver and the workmen had begun to knock the building down, but Alfie was growing more and more restless from all the digging. Eventually, the foreman spoke kindly to him.
Foreman: You've done your part here in the Yard very well, Alfie, and as a demonstration, you would definitely for the Railway Inspectors. But I believe it's best you return to the quarry now. Jack should know better than wonder off the way he did, and he can handle the rest of this in your place.
Alfie: (dumping off his current load before turning around and stopping) Thank you, sir. But Jack and I are best friends and I want to help him no matter what.
Before the foreman could reply, Jack's sounded his loud horn as he raced back into the Construction Yard.
Jack: (racing under Oliver's wrecking ball, startling Oliver) Sorry. Coming through. Excuse me.
Oliver: (as his wrecking ball hits the ground and bounces from side to side) Jack! Be careful now!
Alfie: (worriedly) Stop, Jack!
Jack's operators applied his brakes, which brought his wheels to a screeching stop…(Jack stops right before the hole, looking at the solid ground in view before his eyes)…just in time.
Jack: Phew! That was a near encounter, wasn't it, Alfie?
(Alfie shoots him back a weird look, as the foreman walks over in a huff)
Foreman: I couldn't agree more. (stops, hands over his hips as he shoots Jack a stern look, raising his eyebrow)
Jack: (gasps, startled) Oh. Sir. I-I-I…(sighs, taking a deep breath) I'm sorry, sir. I broke my promise. I guess I was so busy trying to demonstrate diversity between jobs for the Railway Inspectors, that I gladly volunteered to load the twins, and then I got ahead of myself by helping Byron plowing fields of brown earth. It was successful, sir, but I do feel bad for breaking my promise to you and leaving Alfie and Oliver to do all the work here in the Construction Yard.
Foreman: I accept your apology, Jack, and I appreciate it very much. You've been really useful by helping Byron and the twins, but that's no excuse to leave poor Alfie to handle all the digging here in the Yard like this. (sighs) I've excused Alfie to return to the Construction Company, and you, Jack, will have to clear the last quarter mile of this foundation to make up for lost time.
Alfie: Oh, I don't mind helping him, sir. Really.
Jack: No, Alfie. The foreman's right. This sort of work completes who I am as a member of The Pack, and instead of being A Jack Of All Trades, I can be a Jack in my own way. And I can start by digging up the rest of this foundation on my own.
The foreman was surprised, and so was Alfie, but he agreed anyway to return to the quarry and let his friend manage the rest of the work on his own. Jack was happy to return to the job he favored amongst all others, and even though his best friend Alfie to help him, nor Oliver who was still busy with the workmen knocking down the building nearby, he figured that digging was his own special skill…in spite of the ability to multitask he was able to demonstrate through diversity between jobs.
By the end of the afternoon, the entire foundation was dug up, and Oliver had finally succeeded in bringing down the old ruined building. The foreman was very impressed.
Foreman: Well done, Jack and Oliver. You may both return to the quarry. Thomas should be along there anytime soon with the Railway Inspectors, so it's best that you hurry. We may need you help here again with planning on the empty space being used for this site first thing tomorrow morning.
Oliver: Yes, there. We'll be there.
Jack: (determined) You can count on us, sir.
Oliver: (chuckles) Come on, young Jack. Let's go home.
And so the two friends set off back to the quarry. On the way, Oliver spoke kindly to Jack.
Oliver: It was amazing how many jobs you were able to handle all at one time, Jack. I could never focused on so much in the course of one afternoon.
Jack: Ah, well. Your work resides all around the quarry as you switch between tools, so that explains it. I do digging in particular and that's the job that Miss Jenny knows me best for doing, so there's a difference. But I guess that what I've learnt today is that diversity between jobs is most useful when the time calls for it, otherwise you're just biting off more than you can chew, really.
Oliver: Oh, but not necessarily, Jack. You were handle to handle many ordinary tasks at once, and the jobs that I switched are nothing out of the ordinary. Surely, digging is one of them, which we both, but demolishing and being able to knock buildings down is only a special talent of mine. You have one for switching many smaller tasks at once, and that's what everybody acknowledges you for…(stopping as they return to the site)…as far as I know, of course. (chuckles nervously along with Jack, as Miss Jenny walks over)
Jack thought Miss Jenny was going to be cross with him. After all, he had jumped in once again, AND broken his promise to the foreman. But to his surprise, Miss Jenny had a slight smile, as she beamed at them both.
Miss Jenny: Spot on, Jack and Oliver. And Alfie too for that. You'd all make a mother proud with the work you've gone through up at Harwick today, and Thomas should be along wiht the Railway Inspectors any time now to see how really useful you all are. A fine achievement…(glancing over at Jack, raising an eyebrow slightly and making him nervous)…in spite of a tad bit of confusion of course.
Jack: (sighs) I'm sorry, Miss Jenny. I did break my promise to the foreman, and I did leave Alfie to work there in the site all by himself. I'm very sorry…
Miss Jenny: Oh, say no more. The foreman told me all about it, and all is forgiven…ahem…since you've made up for your errors by handling the rest of the foundation on your own. But before we put this matter aside, I just want to know what motivated you so much that you had to be away from the Yard so long and forget about the work that needed to be done.
Jack: I was trying to demonstrate diversity between jobs, Miss.
Miss Jenny: (surprised) Oh, I see now.
Jack: I thought that if I did that and helped Max and Monty as well as Byron, that I could be what…the workmen liked to call, um….a Jack Of All Trades?
Miss Jenny: A what?
Jack: A Jack Of All Trades, Master Of None. That WAS the nickname they gave me after all.
Miss Jenny: (chuckling) Oh, Jack, you are more than just that. You demonstrated that you could handle several jobs at once and I appreciate that, but in the end, you're really useful in your own way and that's as a digger.
Jack: (sighs) Yes, Miss Jenny. I figured that by now. (widens his eyes at the sound of Thomas's whistle, gasping) Thomas! (anxiously) The Railway Inspectors. They're here!
And so they were. Thomas had brought Annie and Clarabel over from Harwick and by the pavement that led into the site. The Railway Inspectors got out, followed by Sir Topham Hatt, and walked further down to inspect the quarry. To their amazement, all the machines were busy bustling about and finishing up their jobs for the day. The Railway Inspectors were very impressed.
Inspector #1: My, what a splendid pair of machines.
Inspector #2: Very useful.
Inspector #3: (gazing closely, a bit amazed) Mmm…yes. Exceeds my expectations by the greatest. (looking at his watch) And all in good time, too.
Miss Jenny: I'm glad you gentlemen are pleased by what you're seeing here. Once you get to know them better, you'll find that they are a cracking crew, and all the better for having the opportunity to work as a team.
Inspector #1: Hmm…yes. Much agreed, Miss Packard, ma'am.
Inspector #2: Thanks for bringing us down here, Sir Topham. We've gotten the chance to see smoothly things run along your newest branch line, and it was nice seeing how this Sodor Construction Company can manage on it's own.
Inspector #3: (looking at his watch) Yes, but we really should get going soon. I'm certain the lads and I over here will make sure this railway gets a glowing report, and that the branch line running from Arlesburgh through Harwick will get a special mention.
Topham: It's been a pleasure, gentlemen. And I hoped you all enjoyed your journey tremendously…ahem…as Thomas and I have enjoyed touring you around on this annual occasion.
And after a while more of inspecting the quarry by Cronk, Sir Topham Hatt led the Railway Inspectors back into Annie's carriage, and Thomas was ready to go.
(Miss Jenny watches as Thomas whistles and continues on his way)
Jack: (quickly lifting up his bucket) Bye, Thomas. Great seeing you again.
Thomas: (whistling) You too, Jack. Take care.
And Thomas returned home that evening, certain that he was ready to tell his friends all about his experience leading the first Railway Inspection tour of the Harwick-Arlesburgh branch line. And Jack was just happy to have ended up being really useful in his own way, no matter how much a specialty he had for multitasking between ordinary jobs.
Alfie: (racing up alongside Jack) Come on, Jack. I'll race you back to the shed. First one there gets to dig up the first load of dirt in the morning.
Jack: (chuckles) You're on, Alfie. (turns around and races away, Alfie doing the same after him.
Oliver: Now, now, be careful, you two. Don't go racing at any dangerous speeds.
Byron: (rolling up alongside, chuckling) I guess it takes a team of big guys like us to put those two in place. Eh, Oliver?
Oliver: (sighs) I guess, Byron. But I don't see how either of us are of much use. Besides, they're just playing, and they not speeding that much. Just a wee bit of a friendly competition. That's all.
And that was exactly what Jack and Alfie were capable of. The two best friends raced off into the sunset, ready for the hard day's work that followed. But Jack, who had a very valuable lesson in the day's experiences, had vowed to be cautious in future to remember the quarry motto Safety First and not to rush in where he wasn't really needed…at least until the next Railway Inspection, that was!
Phew! Well, there we have it guys: A Jack Of All Trades. I had loads of fun writing this one; I found it to be a huge improvement over my last entry and I took my time with it too as I will with the Halloween story coming next at the end of the month of course. I was planning a little subplot with Percy and Alfie bonding and working at Ulfstead, but it was ending up feeling rather convoluted and didn't fit in with the plot at all, so I'm very glad I took it out. I found an equal balance between Pack characters; Jack, Alfie and Oliver was a fun trio to do. Having Jack be used to Max and Monty's pushy behavior was something different than how he stood up for himself in his debut, and as powerful as that was, I decided to have Jack be more used to it here since he's been in the Pack long enough now to know what the twin dump trucks can be like. It was Jack/Byron dynamic that ended up feeling rather refreshed to me, and I took out a part where Jack learns his lesson the hard way while trying to help Ned. That's sort of an easier way to prevent a typical scolding scene feeling forced into the conflict so I kept the resolution with Miss Jenny and the foreman to a minimum really and gave them a forgiving yet firm nature instead. It is my fall break so for my Adventure Begins sequel fans, I bet you know what that means. Adventures Of Edward! I'm hoping for the first chapter to be tomorrow night at the latest, and it WILL progress as I look through the book and take my own liberty from it. But at the same time, stay tuned for…
Ryan's Ghostly Tale
Moral: nobody's brave all the time/overcoming your fears
Short Synopsis: it is Halloween night, and the Arlesdale Railway engines tell a ghost story about the Ghost Ship of Arlesburgh and all the clues that lead up to it's presence. Ryan laughs and seems confident not to believe in it. However, the route darkens along his evening journey, and as things constantly go bump in the night, Ryan's fearful instincts kick in, as he realizes that bravery isn't always such an easy thing to handle after all…
A preview will be up before you know it, so keep your heads up, and I hope you enjoy this story. I know I enjoyed writing it.