Chapter 186: Sir Handel Comes Home

A month later Tallyllyn's repairs were completed and Sir Handel was able to return home. His friends were happy to see him, and threw him a little party with a cake. Sir Handel had enjoyed his stay in Wales, but all the same was glad to be home, and told his friends all about the trip.

"An actual Prince and Princess visited while I was there. Got a private train ride and everything. They even mentioned our line, saying they had read about it in some books written by a Reverend W. Awdry. The Railway Stories, I think it was?"

"I think you mean The Railway Series, Sir Handel," Duke corrected.

"Right, that. Anyway, I didn't get to take the train, the engine couldn't get to steam in time. Although I did get to pull a wedding train, and I tell you I thought we have to get up early here!"

This got a few chuckles from the others.

"Well, Sir Handel," Peter Sam said, "At least you had an incident free trip, eh Duncan?"

Duncan just huffed, mumbling something under his breath about "stupid brambles." Sir Handel laughed.

"Oh, I wouldn't say that. We had our fair share of scrapes as well. Let's see..."

It was a wet day, and I dreaded having to go out. Unfortunately, I was rostered to take the first train that morning. Luckily, the train wasn't full, and we made good time. But trouble lay ahead.

There's this portion of line where there's a steep bit in the curve. Between that and the rain, I had to keep my full attention on getting up the hill. As I rounded a curve, I saw something jutting out towards the line. I leaned out of the cab to get a better look when...

WHAP!

The others winced in sympathy. Sir Handel shuddered at the memory before continuing.

"I wasn't going too fast, but man did that hurt."

He paused impressively before continuing.

Luckily a doctor was on board and gave me a once over.

"That branch hit you pretty good," he told me, "Scratched your cornea, maybe a concussion. How many fingers am I holding up?"

"Three."

"Good, but no more work for you today. I'll call for a relief engine and treat you in the brakevan."

I didn't have very much fun the rest of the journey, i'll tell you. The doctor bandaged my head and put a black patch over my eye. That was the most embarrassing part.

"People will say I look like a pirate!"

But then I got an idea...

The day I was give the go ahead to return to work, the manager let me pull a special train to cheer me up. Little did the passengers know they were in for a treat. Once the train pulled into the station, I jumped from the cab in full pirate garb, eye patch and all. I even had a stuffed parrot on my shoulder.

"Aaargh laddies, who's ready to board Captain Black Handel's train of fun?"

The passengers thought it was a riot, and the little kids loved it and asked if I knew Spongebob. Some railway people even wrote about me in a magazine, although I wish they hadn't.

-\

Although his friends felt sorry for him, they couldn't help but laugh at the absurdity of it all.

"Well Sir Handel, way to keep your eye on things."

"Ha ha, real funny Duncan."

"Oh, I don't know. EYE think he needs glasses if he couldn't tell that was a tree branch."

"Give me a break, Stuart."

"Sir Handel's right, this would never suit his grace. Besides, these jokes are getting a little CORNEA, don't you think?"

"Et tu, Duke?"

All night long they made eye jokes at his expense, leaving Sir Handel to go to bed early. They thought it was hilarious, but Sir Handel thought they were being silly.