A/N This is based on Bulls Eyes, which is a Daisy story, so she tells it.
Hey, it's me, Daisy and I'm telling a story about Toby and me, along with a bull and some boys with sweets.
Toby the Tram Engine has cowcatchers and sideplates. They help prevent animals from getting hurt if they stray onto the line. I thought Toby's fenders were silly.
"You're afraid of getting hurt yourself," I flounced.
"I'm not," huffed Toby.
"Yes, you are. I don't have stupid cowcatchers but I'm not frightened. I just toot and they all go away."
"But they don't," said Toby.
"They would with me. Animals always run if you toot and look them in the eye."
"Even bulls?"
"Even bulls," I said. I truly believed my horn would scare a bull, but I'd never met one, yet.
I had never met a bull before, but I purred away quite unconcerned. I tooted at a farm crossing and a horse and cart halted while I went by.
"Huh!" I said. "It's easy. I just toot and they all stand aside. Poor little Toby. I'm sorry he's frightened."
At the next station, a policeman was waiting.
"There's a bull on the line," he warned. "Please persuade it to return to the farmer."
I was excited. I can toot at the bull and that'll send him back to the farm. I'd heard what bulls are, even if this was the first time I saw one.
"Now," I thought. "I'll show Toby how to manage bulls.".
Champion wasn't really a fierce bull, but this morning, he was cross. He strayed from his field, crashed through a fence, slithered down a slope and now he didn't know where he was. Suddenly, he saw some grass.
Now for my breakfast, he thought. I could sense it when I saw him, that's what he was thinking.
Oo-o-oo! I tooted. "Go on."
Champion was too busy chomping to take any notice.
Oo-o-oo! I said again. I could toot, but I couldn't look him in the eye.
Champion kept grazing.
"This is all wrong," I said. "How can I look him in the eye if he won't turn around?"
At last, he did.
"Moo!" said Champion.
"Ooh, oh" I murmured. "Why doesn't he run away?"
"Go on, Daisy," said Driver. "He's harmless."
"Yes," I said unhappily. "You know he's harmless and I know he's harmless. But does he know? Look at his horns. If I bump into him, he might hurt me, then. The farmer wouldn't like that.". I was afraid of his horns, thinking they might hurt me if I bumped him.
Champion sniffed at me.
Oooofh! I said.
And that was that. I did no more. Toby was bemused and amused to see me back at the station so soon.
"Bulls always run if you toot and look them in the eye. Eh Daisy?". That was Toby.
I stayed silent.
"Ah, well," continued Toby. "We can live and learn. I better chase him away for you, I suppose."
He clanked away to find Champion. Toby's bell rang and his whistled sounded, but Champion took no notice. Then Toby whooshed loudly. That did the trick. Toby whooshed a little more and now breakfast was over. Champion chuntered away to join the farmer. I was feeling exhausted. I was glad when my day's work was over. Some boys were on the platform.
"Look, Daisy," one teased. "I've got some sweets. They're called "bulls eyes". I like them, do you?'. Maybe he wasn't aware engines don't eat people food, even if we've got teeth. Our mouths are just for talking.
"Ah, keep your old bulls eyes." I didn't even like the name of those candies, after Champion.
And I scuttled to my shed.
A/N Review, but be respectful.
