Chapter 299: Stick in the Mud

Later that evening, all of the engine drivers were sitting around eating dinner. Skarloey had just finished telling them the stories of his first days. Sir Handel couldn't help but chuckle at Skarloey's mishaps.

"Ho ho, so Mr. Perfect isn't quite so perfect after all!"

"Give him a break, Sir Handel. He was just starting out."

"Yeah, at least his engine stayed on the rails! Who was it again that almost went over the side of a mountain?"

Sir Handell said nothing, he just seethed in fury.

"What about you, Rheneas? Surely you have some good stories to tell."

Rheneas chuckled.

"Oh, I might have one or two. For example, did you know that when we first met, Skarloey and I couldn't stand each other?"

This got the others' attention. Skarloey and Rheneas were so close, how could they have ever hated each other? Skarloey chuckled at their reactions.

"Oh yes, there was a time where we couldn't stand each other. Do you want to start, Rheneas?"

"Gladly. It all started when I first arrived on Sodor…"

I was young, and keen to make an impression. After catching the mainline train to Crovan's Gate, I met mister Mack, who led me to the engine sheds. There I found my engine, and although it didn't have a cab quite yet I thought it looked marvelous.

"Our other employee is out on run to the slate quarry at the moment. He should be back within the hour. I hope you enjoy your life here."

"Thank you, sir."

With that, Mister Mack walked away. It wasn't long before Skarloey backed his engine into the sheds as well.

"Oh, you must be the new engine driver! Boy, am I glad to see you. Only so much I can do by myself, after all. I'm Skarloey, by the way."

"My name's Rheneas. Pardon my asking, but what is that thing on your engine covering the footplate?"

"Oh, that? That's a cab, the latest thing. All proper engines should have one."

"Are you saying my engine isn't a proper engine?"

"Oh, its not your fault, of course. But it just looks so improper without one. No, my engine is much smarter than yours."

Now, being as young and hot blooded as I was, I took offense to his attitude.

"If anything, yours is the improper one! At least mine doesn't look like a snail with that big box on it! I bet it's as slow as one too!"

"Well, at least I won't have smoke blowing in my face!"

We argued until all night, and wouldn't speak a word to each other the next morning. For weeks, the two of us wouldn't speak to another. If we did, we'd just start arguing again! Mister Mack, Mr. Hugh, and the others tried to get us to see sense, but we wouldn't budge.

Their audience was speechless by this revelation.

"So what changed?"

Rheneas turned to Skarloey, knowingly.

"Care to take it from here?"

"I suppose so. The rest of the story is more of my story anyway."

On this particular day, it was cold, wet, and windy, a most unpleasant combination to work in. And as we found out, work on the railway must continue no matter the weather. And to my dismay, I was forced to take the workmen's train to the slate quarry.

"Why couldn't Rheneas do it? He'd love it."

"Oh, quit complaining," Beatrice said. "At least you have a cab to keep you dry, Rheneas doesn't even have that."

She was right, of course, but I was too cross to understand. I wanted nothing more than to get back to the house and out of the rain immediately. I was so distracted by my thoughts that I didn't see the landslide ahead. When I had, I tried to apply the brakes, but it was too late. Then I tried to back out, but I couldn't. We were stuck.

"Bother! What will Rheneas say when he sees this?"

I soon found out, for it didn't take long for Rheneas to come with the breakdown train. I was afraid he was going to laugh at me, but he had a kind smile on his face.

"Don't worry, Skarloey! We'll soon have you out."

While the workmen got to work clearing the mud, Rheneas pulled me and my train clear of the mess.

Later that night, I finally had a chance to make things right with Rheneas.

"I'm sorry for how I treated you. Your engine is magnificent, and I shouldn't have been such a Stick in the mud."

"You weren't, until this morning!"

We both had a good laugh at that.

"I'm sorry, too. What do you say, friends?"

"Friends."

"And the rest, as they say, is history."

"Wow, that was amazing! Do you have any more interesting stories to share?"

Skarloey chuckled.

"Maybe another night, Peter Sam, but I think it's best we all get to bed. We've got a busy day tomorrow, and we don't want to be too tired to be useful."

Everyone else moaned, but knew that he was right. But one thing was for sure, Skarloey and Rheneas truly were incredible people.