Toby And The Pig
One afternoon, Toby was resting in his shed. He was enjoying his rest when his driver walked up to him. "Hello, mister," said Toby, dazed. "Sorry to interrupt your beauty time," said the driver. "It's not a beauty sleep," said Toby. "I know," said the driver. "So what's going on?" asked Toby.
"We're going to take some people to visit the nearby farmlands," the driver explained. "Oh boy!" replied Toby, excitedly. "We'll get ready soon," the driver continued. "Yes," answered Toby.
Soon enough, Toby was coupled to Henrietta, his coach, and he arrived at the nearby station to pick up the passengers. "Next stop," Toby announced, "The Farmlands! Please be ready to have fun!" The passengers agreed and Toby took them to the Farm belonging to Farmer Tim. "Enjoy once again!" Toby called and so he left the passengers.
He will return to take them home. But just before they left the farmlands, the guard did not take any notice of a large muddy pig, whom had snuck into Henrietta without being seen.
"Ready!" the guard called. Toby set off with Henrietta. "That was fun," said Henrietta, "But now I feel kind of weird." "Oh, don't worry," smiled Toby, "You've taken passengers to anywhere they want to go for a long time. No need to feel weird." "You've just had what you think is an odd day," the guard said. Then he heard a high squealing sound.
"Yeah," the guard said, "I meant it."
Later, Toby was resting at the water tower when James puffed by with a goods train. "Hey, Toby," said James. "Hi," replied Toby, "Pulling a goods train?" "Yes," answered James, "I am. Just something to keep me occupied." "Yeah, let's go with that," said Toby, "Glad you're being nice to me an Henrietta for a chance."
"Right," agreed James, "As long as I don't run into any tar wagons or pull trains that require bootlaces. Anyway, I must be off now." "All right," agreed Toby. Then the high squealing sound was heard again. "Might want to have Henrietta's wheels checked," said James, puffing away. "I got to prepare to pick the guest," thought Toby.
Soon, Toby and Henrietta arrived back at the farmlands to pick up the waiting passengers. "Hi, Toby!" they all said at once. "I'm back again!" said Toby, happily, "Ready to go home?" The passengers said "Yes" and boarded Henrietta. But the passengers were all surprised to see the interior of Henrietta covered in mud.
"Oh," one passenger exclaimed. "What a pong!" said another. One passenger looked at a seat and saw a large pig wedge between the seats. "I found something!" the passenger exclaimed.
"A big fat pig!" another one said. "So that's what was so funny about me!" Henrietta exclaimed. "Oh dear," sighed Toby. "This is a mishap," the guard said, "How?" "What should we do?" asked Toby. "I have a solution," the driver said. The driver, the firemen and the guard lured the pig out of Henrietta and back into the pigpen.
"Uh," said the driver, "Toby, we can't take the passengers home with Henrietta like this." "I understand," replied Toby. So Toby had Henrietta taken away to be cleaned up.
Instead, Percy took the passengers home in Old Slow Coach. "Sorry about that, Henrietta," Toby said to his coach. "Well, it did felt weird to have a pig on board," said Henrietta, "But it wasn't too bad." "All right," said Toby, "But let's be serious about stowaways in the future." Henrietta agreed.
The next day, Toby returned to the farmlands. There was Farmer Tim and standing next to him is the same pig that had boarded Henrietta. "Well, look at the stowaway!" said Toby out loud. "This pig," Tim said, "Is really happy to see you." The pig oinked in response.
"Well, I say!" Toby said. "You can see this pig anytime you want to," the farmer said. "Thank you!" said Toby, "Say, Henrietta, what do you want to name the piggy?" "Piggy?" repeated Henrietta, "Well, how about Stow?" "All right," agreed Tim, "Stow it is then." Toby agreed.
So now, whenever Toby and Henrietta stop by the farmlands, Stow the pig always runs out to see them with a smile. Toby and Henrietta are happy to see the pig. "Me too," said Henrietta's guard, "But next time, I'd better keep a good look-out on who gets on board." Henrietta agreed nonetheless.
