A/N This is the story of Henry's special coal.

It's me, Henry again and this is the story of when I needed special coal.

One morning, I was feeling very sorry for myself. Sometimes, I could pull trains, but sometimes I felt I had no strength at all.

"I suffer dreadfully and no one cares", I said.

"Rubbish, Henry!" snorted James. "You don't work hard enough!"

Sir Topham Hatt spoke to me, too. He said, "What's wrong with you, Henry? You've had lots of new parts and new paint, too, but they've done you no good. If we can't make you better, we must get another engine instead of you to do the work."

This made me, my driver and fireman very sad. Sir Topham Hatt was waiting when I got to the platform. He had taken off his hat and coat and put on overalls. I managed to start, but my fireman was not satisfied. Driver tried to comfort me as best he could while trying to lift his spirits. I'm a rather emotional engine. Fireman talked to Sir Topham Hatt.

"Henry is a bad steamer", he said to Sir Topham Hatt. "I built up his fire, but it doesn't give enough heat."

I tried hard, but it was no good. I didn't have enough steam and came to a stop just outside Edward's station.

Oh dear, I thought. I shall have to go away! Oh dear! Oh dear!

All I could do was to go slowly onto a siding, and Edward took charge of the train. Sir Topham Hatt and Fireman went on discussing my troubles. Driver comforted me still as they talked. I could hear them from my spot and was worried and unhappy.

"What do you think is wrong, fireman?', asked Sir Topham Hatt.

"Excuse me, sir", he answered. "But the fact is the coal is wrong. We've had a poor lot lately, and tonight it's worse. The other engines can manage. They have big fireboxes. Henry's is small and can't make the heat. With Welsh coal, he'd be a different engine."

"It's expensive", said Sir Topham Hatt. "But Henry must have a fair chance. James shall go and fetch them." I knew he cared about me, in his way. I know there are those who call him a father to us.

When the Welsh coal came, Driver and Fireman were excited.

They said, "Now we'll show them, Henry old fellow.".

They carefully made my fire, putting large lumps of coal like a wall round the outside, then the glowing middle part covered in smaller lumps. I never had that done before, so it made me nervous, as a sensitive sort. I've been called a gentle giant because I'm a big engine on Sodor, but nicer than some big engines.

"You're spoiling my fire", I complained.

"Wait and see", said the fireman. "We'll have a blazing fire, just like I wanted."

The fireman was right. When I reached the platform, the water was boiling nicely and I had to let off steam.

Sir Topham Hatt asked, "How are you, Henry?"

Peep, peep, peep! "I feel fine", I said.

Sir Topham Hatt asked Driver, "Have you a good fire, driver?"

Driver said, "Never better, sir and plenty of steam.".

"No record beating", warned Sir Topham Hatt. "Don't push him too hard."

Driver said to him, "Henry won't need pushing, sir. I'll have to hold him back."

I had a lovely day. I had never felt so well in my life. I wanted to go fast, but Driver wouldn't let me. There was no need to go fast, he said. Humans say food is fuel or compare my special coal to medication for an illness. I sure had illness before my special coal, back when I needed it.

"Steady old fellow", he would say. "There's plenty of time."

We arrived early at the station. Thomas puffed in. I felt like teasing my friend a bit. I'm not that mean or anything, just British.

"Where have you been, lazybones?" I asked. "Oh, I can't wait for dawdling tank engines like you. Goodbye." I heard him talking to his coaches as I left.

"Whoosh", said Thomas to the coaches. "Have you ever seen anything like it?"

Both Annie and Clarabel agreed they never had.

A/N Henry will tell the next one, too.