Thumper
Thumper is a quarry machine. Because of his drilling mechanism, he is restricted to working only in the quarry, mining for rocks. One day, he was taking a short break. He is thinking about the nice, quiet day and the bright blue sky. "Hello," called a voice. It was Jack, the front loader. "Oh, hi, Jack," said Thumper.
"Nice day to be drilling for rocks," said Jack. "Yeah," agreed Thumper, "I am a digging machine." "Right there," said Jack. "But what kind of digging machine are you?" a taunting voice called. It was Monty, a troublesome dump truck.
"Monty," snarled Jack, "Go away!" "Later," said Monty, "Seriously, what kind of a digging machine are you? Look at you with those drill arms!" "Well," Thumper replied, "I am." "A what?" asked Monty, "What are you really? A freak?" Thumper started to look doubtful. "Monty," growled Jack, "Get out of here now!"
"Think about it!" called Monty in a taunting voice as he left. "Never mind him," said Jack. But Thumper was sad. "No," said Thumper, "I really do wonder what I am. It's something that has bothered me for years now." "Oh dear," said Jack, concerned, "What has Monty done now?" "It's all right," said Thumper, "I'm fine."
At the end of the day, everyone went home for the night. But Thumper kept thinking about himself all night. "What am I really?" Thumper thought to himself
He fell asleep hours later.
The next morning, Thumper started his job in the slate mines, but he couldn't stop thinking about what he is and what he was built for in the first place. "I'm not sure about myself," thought Thumper. Soon his operator arrived, ready to start work. "Come on, old boy," he smiled, "Let's get going. "Right!" agreed Thumper.
Thumper broke rocks apart and Jack, Alfie and Oliver loaded the smaller rocks into Max and Monty. "No tricks," scolded Oliver. "Yeah!" agreed Jack, "Also, you leave Thumper alone!" "Right," giggled Monty. He and Max drove off together. When Thumper stopped for a break, he was still thinking about himself and what is his purpose. Jack drove by to stop for a minute.
"Hey, Jack," Thumper called out. "Yes?" Jack replied, driving up to his friend. "Jack," said Thumper, "Do you think I'm odd?" "Well," Jack replied, "Not really. I think you're unique." "You think so?" Thumper asked. "Yeah!" Jack said, "You got arms that breaks rocks." "Yeah, that's true," said Thumper, "That's all I can do."
"So you exist for a purpose," said Jack, "You're a drilling machine and a great one that that!" "Yeah," replied Thumper, "Thanks for the complement." "I know," said Jack as he left to move some dirt. "But," thought Thumper, "Why am I here in the first place?" Work carried on throughout the day like normal.
But then trouble happened. Suddenly, a large rock tumbled down and blocked the entrance to the mines. "What happened?" asked Jack. "A large rock blocked the entrance to the mines!" Thumper called out.
"We're trapped here!" cried George, "We can't get out!" Jack tried to push the rock out of the way, but no luck. "I can't budge this thing!" Jack said, admitting defeat. "I don't think I can push this thing," said George. "No you can't!" said Jack loudly. "Maybe, of course," Thumper said, "This is my purpose."
"Right!" Jack agreed, "Thumper, do it!" "As you wish!" said Thumper. His drill arms activated and he chugged towards the big rock. Immediately, his drills pounded hard at the rock. "It's breaking!" said George. "Right!" agreed Jack. In less than a minute, the rock is reduced to gravel.
Thumper had succeeded in destroying the rock and opening the entrance. "You did it!" said Jack, "You're really useful after all!" "You think?" asked Thumper. "We know!" Jack said in a cheery voice, "Thumper, you have proven yourself worthy!"
"Yes," agreed Thumper, "I have. With the exception of causing a round boulder to go out of control on my second day and I had to change jobs afterwards." "Yeah, that's true," said George. "But now, I have a reason," said Thumper, "And I'm going with it!" "Then go for it!" called Jack. Thus, Thumper resumed work.
By the end of the day, Thumper had finished his job and returned home. "Now I understand why I exist," he thought, "I am a useful drilling machine and a specific kind of rescue machine as I've proven myself today." With that, he fell happily to sleep.
