I do not own Thomas the Tank Engine and Friends. They are strictly the property of both the Awdry Family and Britt Allcroft, this story is purely for entertainment and not profit.
Episode 31: Bertie's Chase, Original Airdate: October 1st 1986
It was a warm sunny day on the Island of Sodor. At Tidmouth Station, Thomas and Howard were both having lunch with Edward and Bertie. They were talking about how Thomas had convinced Mr. Conductor to show himself to Mr. J.B. King, the superintendent and owner of the Indian Valley Railroad.
Both Stacy Jones and Billy Twofeathers had often told him of how Mr. King was always looking for Mr. Conductor, Thomas had decided that Mr. King should be allowed to meet his childhood hero.
"And how did Mr. King react to seeing Mr. Conductor?" asked Bertie.
"Oh he was so overwhelmed that he actually fainted" laughed Thomas, "but when he came around he saw that Mr. Conductor was still there, well let's just say that the two of them were up all night talking".
"I'm glad that Mr. King finally got to meet Mr. Conductor" said Edward, "it's nice to make someone very happy".
"That I fully agree with you Edward" agreed Thomas.
"Daddy" came the excited voice of a child.
Thomas smiled when he heard the voice, knowing full well who it was. He then turned to see Lucy waddling towards him, Tanya was following behind with a smile on her face. Thomas then walked over to Lucy and scooped her up in his arms.
"Hello Lucy sweetie, come to see daddy?" Thomas asked his daughter.
"I see daddy" giggled Lucy.
"Well daddy sees you" said Thomas as he sat down and placed Lucy on his lap.
"Hello there Lucy" said Edward to his honorary niece.
"Hello Uncle Edward" replied Lucy to her honorary Uncle with a smile.
"Don't forget me little Lucy?" said Bertie.
"Hello Mr. Bertie" replied Lucy.
Lucy then came up to the table where her husband and their son were sitting and sat down with them, their granddaughter, and their sons two friends.
"So, what are you four discussing?" asked Tanya.
"We were discussing about the time Bertie had to chase me in order to give me Thomas' passengers Tanya," said Edward.
"Oh, right I remember that story" replied Tanya.
"Story?" asked Lucy.
"Oh, now look what you've done now mum" said Thomas with a cheeky grin, "Lucy now wants a story".
"Story daddy?" asked Lucy excitedly.
"Yes a story Lucy" said Thomas, "but I think that Uncle Edward should tell it today".
"Me Thomas" asked Edward in surprise.
"Who better Edward" said Thomas, "besides you told me and Percy some pretty good stories".
Smiling at Thomas' kind words, Edward decided to the story.
"Well then Lucy" Edward said, "are you ready to hear my story?".
"Yes, please Uncle Edward" said Lucy excitedly as she sat comfortably on Thomas' lap.
"Right then" said Edward as he began the story, "it all began on a cold February morning in 2011".
(Story Begins)
One morning, Edward was waiting at Wellsworth to pick up passengers from Thomas' train. So far, he hadn't shown up yet, this made Edward concerned, Thomas had never been this late before.
"We're late" said Edward to Charlie Sand the stationmaster, "where is Thomas? He doesn't usually make us this late".
"I agree with you Edward" said Charlie, "most of the time Thomas is bang on the dot. But today this isn't like him at all".
"Oh dear what can the matter be?" sang Sidney Hever, "Johnny's so long".
"Never mind you about Johnny" laughed Edward, "maybe climb onto my K2's cab and see if you can see Thomas?".
Sidney Hever then climbed onto the cab of Edward's K2 and looked around if he could see Thomas anywhere near Wellsworth. Unfortunately, he couldn't see the young drivers blue E2, but he did see Bertie's red bus coming towards Wellsworth.
"Can you see him?" asked Edward.
"No" said Sidney as he climbed down from the cab, "there I do see Bertie in a tearing hurry".
"Must be on a rail tour or something" suggested Charlie.
Edward then looked at his watch, he saw that it read 9:50. He knew that he couldn't wait for Thomas' passengers anymore and that he had to keep to the timetable. After discussing it with Charlie, Edward then hopped into his K2's cab and left the station.
But just a few moments after he had left Wellsworth, Bertie's red bus came screeching into the station. Bertie then ran out of his bus and onto the platform.
"Wait Edward" called Bertie from the platform, "I've got Thomas' passengers".
But it was too late, Edward's K2 and it's two green express coaches were too far away for him to hear Bertie's shouts. Bertie just watched as Edward headed down Suddery Junction and into the distance.
"Botheration" said Bertie in annoyance, "and bother Thomas having to take Lady to the doctor today".
"What is it Bertie?" asked Charlie as he came back onto the platform.
Bertie then explained that Lady had a doctor's appointment today due to her recurring sickness. Normally Burnett would have taken her, but he unfortunately had other things to do that day. Thomas had then offered to take her to the doctor, after clearing it with Sir Topham Hatt of course.
Thomas had then met Bertie and told him of the situation. Bertie then offered to help Thomas' passengers reach Edward at Wellsworth that day.
"Well, a promise is a promise Bertie" said Charlie, "and you must keep it to both Thomas and the passengers".
"You are right Charlie" said Bertie with determination, "my bus will get Thomas' passengers to Edward or bust".
Bertie then rushed back to his bus and hopped in, the then took off out of the station and down the road after Edward. The red bus torn down the road after the blue K2 and its driver, Bertie was determinate to get Thomas' passengers to their train and he wasn't about to let them down.
Bertie's bus then soon came to a steep hill, normally going up a hill was slow for most cars, buses, and lorries. But not Bertie, he tore up the steep hill regardless.
"Oh gears and axels" said Bertie to himself, "my poor bus will never the same again".
But soon he reached the top of the hill where he saw Edward's K2 at Lower Suddery station, Bertie gave a smile at his victory.
"Good news everyone" he declared to the passengers, "I've caught up with Edward. Both he and his engine are at the station".
The passengers cheered at Bertie's success as his bus then tore off down the hill. However as he was coming up to the station, the level crossing gates closed and Edward's K2 then took off again. Bertie's bus came to a stop at the level crossing, Bertie then hopped out of his buss and watched as Edward's K2 took off down the line.
"Oh bollocks" said Bertie in despair as he turned to his passengers, "I'm so sorry everyone".
"Never mind Bertie" they said kindly, "after him quickly. Third time lucy you know".
Bertie then quickly went to the stationmaster and told him of the situation, the stationmaster then went into his office to make the arrangements. Bertie and the passengers waited impatiently, but soon the stationmaster came back to them.
"Yes" he said, "Bertie your road runs close to Edward's line and your bus can climb hills better than his K2".
"Come on everybody" said Bertie to his passenger, "there's not a moment to lose".
The passengers then rushed back into the bus and Bertie into the driver's seat, third time lucky and this time he was going to succeed, the red bus sped off down the road. He then saw Edward's K2 passing over the branch line bridge, as the engine driver passed over the bridge, he failed to see the red buss passing underneath the bridge.
Soon Edward came to Suddery Hill and started to go up it. It was a steep climb for his K2, as were all hill for engines.
"This hill is too steep" said one of the stewardesses in the coach.
"That I agree with you Mary" replied her friend, "at least cars and buses don't have any problems with getting up them. Well most of the time".
But soon enough, Edward's K2 reached the top of the hill at last and made its way into Upper Brendam station where it stopped so that Edward could both pick up and let off passengers.
"Get in now quickly please" announced Edward, "we have a timetable to keep please people".
The guard then blew his whistle and waited for Sidney Hever to wave his green flag, but he didn't. Edward hoped that he wasn't going to be delayed again, but then he heard the horn of Bertie's bus. Everything seemed to happen at once, the stationmaster then told both Edward and Sidney about what had happened, Edward was every embarrassed when the stationmaster had finished his story.
"I'm so sorry for the chase Bertie" said Edward sincerely.
"That's alright Edward" said Bertie with a smile, "you didn't know about Thomas' passengers or that he was taking Lady to the doctor".
"May I ask what is wrong with her?" asked Edward.
"Stomach bug" said Bertie, "or at least that's what Thomas told me".
"I hope that she will be okay," said Edward.
"Same here Edward" agreed Bertie.
Edward the hopped back into his K2's cab as Sidney finally waved his green flag. Edward's K2's then pulled out of the station, this time with Thomas' passengers in the coaches.
"Goodbye Bertie" called Edward from his cab.
"Three cheers for Bertie" called the passengers and stewardesses from the coaches.
Bertie smiled at their congratulations as he hopped back into his red bus. He then drove back to Tidmouth station where he found Thomas and Lady on the platform, he then told Thomas of his chase and how he was finally able to get his passenger onto Edwards train.
"Thank you Bertie" said Thomas with a smile, "you really are a very good friend".
"You're welcome anytime Thomas" smiled Bertie as he turned to Lady, "what about you Lady?".
"The doctor said it's probably nothing more than a mere stomach bug" said Lady.
"Did he give you any medicine?" Bertie asked.
"He gave her a prescription and we're about to head for the pharmacy now" said Thomas.
Just then Lady felt her stomach churn again, she then quickly looked around for the closest thing to get sick in, she then saw it but knew that the owner wasn't going to be happy about it. Sir Topham Hatt has just left his office at Tidmouth and was about to head for his car, when suddenly he felt someone yank off his top hat, he then quickly turned to see Lady throwing up in it. Once Lady was finished, she looked at her boss who had an unamused look his face.
"Sorry Sir" apologised Lady as she handed him back his top hat.
"That's quite okay Lady" said Sir Topham Hatt with sigh, "although I rather you warn me that you are going to get sick in my top hat".
"Sorry about that Sir" said Thomas, "Lady's been feeling rather poorly lately, and we were just about to go to the pharmacy".
Thomas and Lady then both hurried off, leaving behind a flabbergasted Sir Topham Hatt with a vomit filled top hat, he then looked up at Bertie, who was trying desperately not to laugh.
"First a goat eats my top hat and now somebody gets sick in it" said Sir Topham Hatt with a sigh, "next time I know someone will probably set it on fire".
(Story Ends)
After Edward had finished the story, Tanya burst out laughing. The part where Lady got sick in Sir Topham Hatt's top hat had always cracked her up, the same with Annie and Clarabel.
"I can't believe that Lady actually got sick in Sir Topham Hatt's top hat".
"I know that to mom" said Thomas, "but looking back it was probably the funniest thing ever".
"I wonder if the next incident will involve his top hat been set on fire" smirked Howard.
"You took the words right out of my mouth Howard" came a solemn voice.
Thomas, Edward, Bertie, Lucy, Howard, and Tanya all turned to see Sir Topham Hatt coming towards them. In his right hand, they could see the charred remains of a top hat.
"Please don't ask how it happened and please don't laugh about it" begged Sir Topham Hatt.
But it was all in vain as Thomas, Edward, Bertie, Lucy, Howard, and Tanya all burst out laughing at Sir Topham Hatt's misfortune, the later then sighing sadly.
"At least it wasn't one of mothers hats" he said to himself, "there is no way she would have tolerated their laughter".
Everyone had stopped laughing, Tanya then took Lucy home whilst Thomas, Edward, Bertie, and Howard then went back to work. As Thomas boarded his E2's cab, he smiled at the memory of him and Lady going to the pharmacy to get her medicine. But what he didn't know at the time was that she had also pick up something else.
(February 2011)
Thomas stopped his car at the front door at the pharmacy, whilst Lady hopped out of it.
"Are you sure you don't want me to come in with you Lady?" he asked.
"I'm sure Thomas" replied Lady, "I'll just be a few moments.
Thomas smiled at her as she went into the pharmacy. Lady then went up to the counter where she was greeted by a middle-aged woman.
"What can I get you love?" she asked kindly.
Lady then showed the woman at the counter the prescription which the doctor had given her, the woman then went over the shelves where the medicine was kept and combed the shelves until she found what she was looking for. She then handed Lady the medicine, just as she was about to hand the woman the money, Lady decided to get something else.
"Can you also give me something else?" asked Lady.
"Sure love" said the woman, "what is it?".
"Can you give me a pregnancy test?" asked Lady.
And done, I must say I'm please with how this chapter played out. Anyway, please be so kind as to leave a preview and as always, see you all next time.