Chapter 163: The Tortoise and the Hare

He's done it folks! Buster has won the Steam Roller Grand Prix! He is now the driver of the fastest steam roller in the world! Everyone give it up for Buster!"

"Buster, Buster, Buster..."

"BUSTER!"

Buster woke with a jolt, finding himself in the backseat of Nelson's Ballast Tractor. Nelson shook his head at his friend.

"Dreaming about winning a race again, Buster?"

"Hey, it could happen."

"Not in a steamroller. Anyway, we're here so you best get to work before Miss Jenny comes looking for you."

Grumbling sadly, Buster got out to find the workmen had already rolled his steamroller off the trailer. The Pack were doing the finishing touches on the new Sodor Rally Racetrack, and his job to flatten the finished race track. Max and Monty raced past him.

"Hurry up, slowpoke!"

"Stop daydreaming and start rolling!"

Buster paid them no mind and cheerfully got to work. As he drove his steamroller down the track, he started to imagine that he was winning a race once more.

"I drive the fastest vehicle in the world!"

Max and Monty drove past on the way to the tip and overheard Buster's declaration. They thought it was hilarious.

"You? Your tin can couldn't beat a snail!"

"Not even a sleepy snail!"

"If you were driving any slower, you'd be going backwards!"

But Buster was too happy to care. By lunchtime, the course was finished. Miss Jenny gathered everyone round the starting line.

"Alright gang, you all did a good job on the race track. Now all that's left to do is test it out."

Buster eagerly stepped forward.

"I'll test it! My steam roller is the fastest in the world!"

Max and Monty snorted.

"If he's our competition, this will be a cinch. Count us in!"

"Yeah, what Max said."

Miss Jenny stared at the two.

"Alright, but no horseplay! Can I trust you two to be serious for a few minutes."

"Yes, Miss Jenny."

But the two of them sniggered quietly to themselves, intending to go as fast as possible. Miss Jenny knew she was going to regret this immediately.

A few minutes later, the three of them and their vehicles sat at the starting line, while the others sat on the sidelines. The foreman stepped forward wielding a checkered flag.

"On your marks...get set... go!"

As soon as the flag was waved, Max and Monty drove off in a fury. Buster trundled along as fast as his steamroller could go...which wasn't very fast at all.

"Hurry Buster! Their getting away!"

"I'm going as fast as I can."

Meanwhile, Max and Monty were arguing as usual.

"You jumped the signal!"

"No, you did!"

"You did!"

"You did!"

They were so busy arguing that they didn't pay attention to what they were doing, and crashed off the course and into a farmer's field. When they came to their senses, they were face to face with a large, angry bull who had had its lunch disturbed.

"MOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!"

"AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAH!"

Max and Monty drove out as fast as possible, scurrying back onto the course. The bull watched them run before returning to his lunch.

Unbeknownst to Max and Monty, Buster had passed both of them while they were knocked out. By the time they caught up to him, he had crossed the finish line.

"NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!"

"And the winner is Buster!"

"Congrats, Buster!"

"Way to go!"

Buster was so surprised that he could hardly speak, so he just beamed in pride. As Nelson gave him a ride back to the yard, he could overhear Max and Monty still arguing.

"I came in second!"

"No, you came in third!"

"Second!"

"Third!"