Episode 12
A/N I learned from the wikia Thomas dislikes the smell of fish. Sometimes I wonder if this episode's why he dislikes the smell of fish. Maybe the smell's a reminder of this to him, I think. This thought plays a role in what he says
Hello, it's me, Thomas again. I quite dislike the smell of fish because of the time I got some fish in my tank. This is how that happened.
When I puffed along my branch line, I always looked forward to something special... the sight of the river.
As I rumbled over the bridge, I would see people fishing. I often wanted to stay and watch, but Driver said, "No. What would Sir Topham Hatt say if we were late?" But I still thought it would be lovely to stop by the river. I didn't hate fish yet, then, but I quite liked to be on time even then.
Every time I met another engine, I would say, "I want to fish." But they all had the same answer, "Engines don't go fishing.
"Silly stick in the muds," I thought.
One day I stopped as usual to take on water at the station by the river. However, to my annoyance, the water column was out of order.
"Out of order! Bother," I said. "I'm thirsty."
"Never mind," said Driver. "We'll get some water from the river."
My crew found a bucket and some rope and went to the bridge.
Then Driver let the bucket down to the water. The bucket was old and had five holes, my crew said. So they had to fill it, pull it up and empty it into my tank as quickly as they could several times over.
They finished at last.
"That's good. That's good," I puffed and Annie and Clarabel ran happily behind.
Suddenly I began to feel a pain in my boiler. Steam began to hiss from my safety valve in an alarming way.
"There's too much steam," said Driver.
"Oh dear", I groaned. "I'm going to burst. I'm going to burst."
My crew damped down my fire and struggled on.
"I've got such a pain. I've got such a pain," I hissed.
We stopped just outside the last station, my crew uncoupled Annie and Clarabel, and ran me, still hissing fit to burst, on a siding right out of the way.
Then, while my conductor telephoned for an engine inspector, Driver found notices in large letters which he hung on me in front and behind. DANGER. KEEP AWAY I was unhappy because of my sudden illness. It must be from the river, I thought. That was when I first didn't feel so well, after taking on river water.
Soon the inspector and Sir Topham Hatt arrived. "Cheer up, Thomas," they said. "We'll soon put you right." Now, even if I had a choice to be a normal engine, I'd keep the life. But it's hard sometimes, to be able to feel. But the good parts aren't worth losing. I just didn't like feeling so bad due to my pain.
Driver told them what had happened.
"So the feed pipe is blocked," said the inspector. "I'll just look in the tanks.
He climbed up and peered in. Then he came down. "Excuse mre, sir. Please look in the tank and tell me what you see."
"Certainly, Inspector," replied Sir Topham Hatt.
He clambered up, looked in and nearly fell off in surprise.
"Inspector," he whispered. "Can you see fish?"
"Gracious goodness me. How did the fish get here, driver?"
"We must have fished them from the river with our bucket," Driver replied.
"Well, Thomas. So you and your driver have been fishing. But fish don't suit you. We must get them out." I agreed. Fish are just a pain, I decided that day. That's why I don't like to smell them.
They all took turns at fishing in my tank while Sir Topham Hatt looked on and told them how to do it.
When they had caught all the fish, they had a lovely picnic supper of fish and chips.
"That was good," said Sir Topham Hatt. "But fish don't suit you, Thomas. So you mustn't do it again.
"No, sir, I won't," I said sadly. "Engines don't go fishing. It's too uncomfortable.
A/N It just makes too much sense to me this story's the reason for his dislike of fish. He had an unhappy experience with them, so he dislikes them.