Once a tramp attached to a train, was afraid of a few drops of rain.
It was a dark day on the Island, and rain beat down hard, onto the soft, clean gray fur that Henry had so happily fixed just for Gordon.
It went into a tunnel, and screeched through its muzzle, and wouldn't come out again.
Henry refused to move until the hard storm ended. Henry and Gordon had special plans tonight, and he had wanted his pelt to be perfect for him. Besides, the rain was so hard it hurt.
He heard a loud whistle as he laid down. The man blew his whistle until he had no breath, and waved his flag until his arm ached. But Henry still stayed in the tunnel, and spit through his teeth in a hiss at him.
"I'm not going to spoil my pelt for you!" He hissed, fur spiking.
Then, along came Sir Topham Hatt in his little car. The man in charge of all the dogs in Sodor. The man who threatened and never went through with plans, no, he'd make his workers do it for him.
They called him, as an insult, the Fat Controller or the Fat Dictator.
James was dragged with the Controller.
"We will pull you out." He told James.
James scoffed, "Why can't you? Henry's not that heavy." Henry smirked.
"Uh… my doctor has forbidden me to pull."
James strut up to Henry and lowered his voice. "So, what's up? You aren't scared of rain."
"Doesn't it hurt to you?"
"Ah, I've got a thick and water-proof pelt, it feels like a drizzle. What's your other reason?"
"Uh… m-me and Gordon… Gordon wanted to mate with me tonight and I want to look perfect for him."
"Ah."
"James! What are you waiting for, pull him out!"
James rolled his eyes, hooking his jaws onto a strap on Henry's hardness. He pulled with all his might, but couldn't bring Henry out.
"Jesus Christ, you're heavier than I thought!"
"Ha."
Then James was told to push from the other side, and the Fat Controller's doctor had also forbidden him to push. But still, Henry stayed in the tunnel.
"Look!" Humans had gathered around, "It's merely drizzling!"
"Yes, but it'll storm again soon. And what will become of my freckled-pelt then?"
So, Henry stayed in the tunnel. Even the Fat Controller gave up.
"We shall take away your prey." Said the Fat Controller, "and build a wall until you're merely a corpse."
So, they did. James pulled Henry's train away as humans built a brick wall on either side of the tunnel. Leaving one brick out of place mid-way up the wall so Henry could have air, and look out upon the life he had left behind.
And that was all he could do. He was sad and terrified, scared his mate would leave him for being so stupid, and worrying if they thought he'd died.
But as time went on, Edward and Gordon would stop by, and bring him prey, and moss with water, thus to keep him living.
Thomas and James would pass by.
When James passed he said "Borf! Barf! Hello!"
Thomas would say "Borf! Borf! Serves you right!"
The lack of sun had ruined Henry's pelt anyway. Henry didn't care for his pelt anymore, though, the darkness and depression had driven him to clawing his arms to give him something to do. Or scratch nonsense patterns into the walls.
Henry wondered if he'd ever see Gordon's smiling face again.
But, I don't think he deserved that punishment, do you?
