CAROLINE'S NEW FRIEND

Written by Zack Wanzer and Cameron Stevens

Set during Series 8-12

Early one autumn morning, Bertie the bus was carrying a lone passenger onboard when he saw Caroline at a roundabout.

"Ah, good morning, Caroline!" beeped Bertie. "Beautiful day out there, isn't it?"

"You're looking a lot more empty than usual, I see," noted Caroline. "Is it a one-person coach tour you're on today?"

"Of a sort, yes," chuckled Bertie.

"Allow me to introduce myself," said Bertie's passenger, stepping out to the front. "My name is Edie Hetty, and I've asked for Bertie here to take me around Sodor so that I can find a place to live."

"It's very nice to meet you, ma'am," replied the old car. "I'm Caroline, and I hope your search for a new home goes well."

"So do I," replied Miss Hetty. "Because so far, I've had no luck in finding the right place to call home."

"Well, let's hope to change that, Miss Hetty," said Bertie. "Sorry we can't stay and chat, Caroline; we've got a home to find! Toodle-pip!"

"Goodbye, and good luck on the search, Bertie," replied Caroline as Bertie set off, honking as he did so. "I do hope Miss Hetty finds a new place to call home," Caroline said to herself. "But how could I help her and Bertie out?"

Just then, Caroline's owner returned with some bags in tow.

"Right, Caroline," he said. "Let's head home to drop these groceries off."

"Of course, master," said Caroline, but as her owner placed the groceries in the back seats, she had an idea. Perhaps I could ask the other road vehicles where I could find the perfect spot for Miss Hetty to call her new home, she thought to herself.

Soon, Caroline was out and about on the roads again. As she drove along past the beautiful countryside, she looked around, trying to find the best spot for Miss Hetty's new home. However, that proved to be easier said than done, but Caroline was determined to help out.

"If I want to find a new place for Miss Hetty to call home," she said to herself, "it must be the perfect spot. But where?"

As she thought this through, Caroline came to some crossroads and stopped, looking up at the signs. One of them would lead her back home, but then she looked at the one that said "Ffarquhar." This gave her another idea. Perhaps the road vehicles near the branch line might have some ideas… Caroline was about to turn towards Ffarquhar until her master spoke up.

"Whoa there, Caroline!" he said. "That's not where our home is."

"Oh! Er… well…" she stammered, trying to think of a good excuse. "We're just, erm… taking a detour!" Her master raised an eyebrow as Caroline smiled innocently, but he shrugged it off and drove Caroline down the road.

"Surely there must be somewhere along this road that would be a good place for Miss Hetty to live," said Caroline. "How hard could it be?" She didn't get far when she encountered Terence, hard at work plowing a field.

"Good morning, Terence!" called Caroline as she came to a halt.

"Ah, morning, Caroline," replied Terence. "What brings you out here in this neck of the woods?"

"Bertie's helping someone called Miss Hetty to find a new place to live," explained Caroline. "Do you know anywhere that might be good enough for her?"

"Hmm… can't say that I do," Terence shrugged. "Perhaps you could ask Harold at Dryaw. He's always got a good bird's eye view of the island."

"That's a brilliant idea!" smiled Caroline. "Thanks, Terence! Goodbye!" And she drove off excitedly down the road.

"Sounds like she's in a right hurry," Terence said, watching her leave.

It wasn't long before Caroline had driven back down to Dryaw.

"I say, Harold!" she called. "Do you have a moment?"

"Of course, I do, old chapess," the helicopter replied. "I'm not due out for another half hour."

"Well, there's this person called Miss Hetty looking for a new home…" And Caroline explained everything.

"Hmm… it sounds as though you're more than determined to find Miss Hetty a new home, my dear," replied Harold.

"I just wanted to help her feel right at home as soon as possible," added Caroline. "I was hoping that you might know since you fly across Sodor all the time."

"Aha! Did someone say that they needed some help in scouting from the skies?"

"Oh no…" groaned Harold. "Tiger Moth, not now–"

"Fear not, sweet Caroline!" declared Tiger Moth, his goggles lowering. "I shall find a new place for your friend to live in faster than you can say 'the Wright Flyer'!"

"More like the wrong flier," Harold muttered to himself. Before Caroline could object, Tiger Moth's propeller roared into life and he took off down the airstrip and soared off into the sky.

"TALLY-HO!" he bellowed as he flew off into the distance. Caroline had shut her eyes and coughed as some dust blew into her face.

"Sorry about Tiger Moth, my dear," sighed Harold. "He's always keen to go soaring across the skies of Sodor. I'll give him about an hour before he lands himself in another haystack."

"Ah well," sighed Caroline. "Do you still know where I could find a perfect spot for Miss Hetty?"

Harold thought long and hard, but he couldn't think of any ideas. "I'm afraid I haven't the foggiest idea, my dear," sighed Harold. "I'm sorry that we weren't much help."

Caroline sighed again. "That's okay," she replied as she began to drive off. "Thanks for trying, anyway." And once again, she drove off down the road.

Caroline hadn't traveled far when she heard the sounds of construction in the distance. She looked to see Jack, Alfie, Byron, Max and Monty hard at work, clearing out an abandoned farmyard.

"If anyone knows a thing or two about new homes," she mused, "it has to be Jack and his friends." Caroline drove up closer, but still keeping a safe distance, and honked for Jack's attention. "Excuse me. Jack!" she called out. "Do you have a moment?"

Jack stopped and rolled up towards Caroline. "Hello, Caroline," smiled Jack. "What's up?" As she did with Terence and Harold, Caroline explained to Jack about Miss Hetty's situation.

"Oh, I'm afraid I can't think of anywhere that would be a good place for Miss Hetty to live," said Jack. "Perhaps Trevor might have an idea; he's been around far longer than most of us have."

"So that's who I'll go to next," decided Caroline, setting off again. "Thanks for the tip, Jack!"

"It's no problem, Caroline."

"Hey, you!" called Max. "Are you gonna load me up or sit around chatting to passers-by all day?!"

Jack sighed as he got back to work. "On my way, Max…" he replied.

It took Caroline ages as Wellsworth was a long way away, but nevertheless, she soon found Trevor working at the vicarage orchard, and once again explained everything.

"Hmm, well…" said Trevor, "I do remember traveling to some beautiful places where I would give rides for visitors. There is that one place where I was invited to the church fete."

"Where, Trevor?" asked Caroline eagerly.

"I think it's near Suddery," explained Trevor, "where it's got a beautiful view from the hilltop from which you can see the nearby station, the sea in the distance and a cozy village where the residents and their children will keep her company."

"Oh, that would make for a lovely place for Miss Hetty to live!" said Caroline. "Thank you, Trevor; you're a lifesaver!" And with that, she drove off eagerly to Suddery.

It was mid-afternoon by the time Caroline had finally reached Suddery; she soon drove towards the hilltop that Trevor had described. Upon stopping, she marveled at the beautiful sight that lay before her. Indeed, it had the view of the station below, the cozy village close by and the sparkling sea on the horizon.

"It's beautiful!" grinned Caroline. "I'm sure this will be the perfect place for Miss Hetty to call home!"

At that moment, she heard the whistle of a certain steamroller coming up the road, followed by the gruff, "Railways are no good! Turn 'em into roads!" Caroline groaned and rolled her eyes; George stopped and noticed her. "Oh, it's you again!" he growled. "Still haven't found yerself a scrapyard, have ya?"

"Lovely to see you too, George…" Caroline muttered sarcastically. "You know what? I don't have time for any of your rambling against railways today. I've got an important job to do, anyway!"

"Yeah, like what? Sittin' 'round and doin' nothin' all day long like old Edgar over dere?" retorted George. "Maybe he could use da company!"

Caroline raised an eyebrow. "Edgar?" she quizzed. "What are you talking about?"

"Why not ask dat hulkin' pile of rust over dere?" With a toot of his whistle, George rolled slowly away, cackling rudely and continuing his anti-rail rants.

Caroline gritted her teeth as George left before rolling down the hill to the field that he was referring to. When she stopped alongside it, she was most surprised at what she saw. There, sitting in a field, was an old vintage bus, a much older design than the likes of Bertie and Algy.

"Hello there," said Caroline. "Are you this Edgar George was referring to?"

"Yep, that's my name," the old bus replied. "Edgar at your service! Or rather, I would be if I had me engine going. Hasn't worked in years, y'see, and Sodor Roadways saw no use for me once they'd gotten a new batch of buses. No idea where me old mates have gone, but I hope they're alright. Ah, I'd do anything just to run on the roads again…"

Caroline noticed how sad Edgar looked. "How did you end up here?" she asked.

"Ugh, how much longer is this going to be?" her master grumbled. "Your little detour might be causing my groceries to spoil at this point!"

Caroline's eyes widened with surprise.

"Oh dear!" she exclaimed. "I've forgotten about your groceries in my back seats! I'm terribly sorry about this, master!" Caroline was just about to make her way back home, but stopped and looked back at Edgar.

"Don't worry about me, my dear," the old bus said sadly. "I'm used to being left alone, as I have been for many years…"

"It just isn't right," Caroline muttered sadly. "Edgar deserves better than this…"

As Caroline was making her way back home, she saw Bertie coming up the road in the opposite direction.

"My, oh my, Caroline," he remarked. "You're looking rather glum. No luck in finding Miss Hetty a new home, I presume?"

"Well, I think we managed to find a place near Suddery at a hilltop, courtesy of Trevor," explained Caroline. "But right now, I'm more worried about what's going to happen with Edgar. I saw him in a field close to that hilltop."

"Edgar?" remarked Bertie. "I think I remember someone with that name, but can't put my wheel on it…"

Upon overhearing the conversation, Miss Hetty stepped out of Bertie. "Edgar, did you say?" she asked. "What's he like?"

"Well," began Caroline, "he's an old vintage bus that's much older than Bertie and Algy. He never told me how he ended up in that field, and I suppose I'll never know…"

"Bertie, can you take me to Suddery?" asked Miss Hetty. "I think I've got an idea as to what can be done."

"I'd be happy to oblige," smiled Bertie. Once Miss Hetty was on board again, Bertie set off for Suddery, leaving Caroline alone again.

"What's Miss Hetty got in mind?" she wondered as she drove off for home again. Caroline and her master hadn't noticed that a certain bi-plane had gotten stuck in a field and was receiving a stern lecture for his recklessness… again.

Back in his field, Edgar was watching the sun begin to set on the horizon when he heard the sound of another horn.

"Eh?" he wondered. "Who's that heading this way?" He looked up in surprise to see Bertie coming towards him.

"Bertie!" exclaimed Edgar, surprised. "What are you doing here, young'un, away from your usual route?"

"I was helping Miss Hetty here to find a new place to live," explained Bertie, "and now she's asked me to take her to see you." The person in question stepped off and made her way over to greet Edgar.

"Hello, Edgar," she said kindly. "I'm Edie Hetty, and I've come here to search for a new place to call home on Sodor."

"Any luck yet, my dear?" asked Edgar.

"Well, no, not yet," she replied. "That is, until Caroline told me all about you, and so I felt that I'd come and visit you."

"Really? An old bus like me?" exclaimed Edgar. "What would anyone want with someone like myself? I don't think I'd be of much use to anyone as a bus."

"Oh, I never said anything about using you as a bus," chuckled Miss Hetty. "But rather, I'd just had this brainwave that instead of paying for rent in a permanent home, I'd drive around in a mobile house and live wherever I like for free."

Edgar's face lit up upon hearing this. "Does… does this mean…?" he asked.

"That's right, Edgar," said Miss Hetty. "How would you like to serve as my new house bus?"

"Oh, yes please, Miss Hetty!" exclaimed Edgar happily. "Thank you so much!"

"Excellent!" smiled Miss Hetty. "But first, I'll have to ask the deputy minister of Sodor Roadways if he can make my… I mean, our dream into a reality."

Some days later, Caroline was out on the roads again when she spotted Butch the breakdown lorry with a familiar looking bus in tow.

"Edgar?!" she exclaimed with surprise. "What are you doing on Butch's flatbed?"

"I've been bought by Miss Hetty from Sodor Roadways, and now I'm going to be converted into a house bus!" said Edgar, giddy with excitement. "Once I've been restored, I can go rolling on the roads again! Just like in the old days!"

"Oh, that's wonderful news!" smiled Caroline. "So I did help after all!"

"Indeed you did, my dear," smiled Edgar. "Thank you, Caroline. Well, we must be off now. I must be repaired as soon as possible!"

"You know, I've heard of boats being converted into floating homes," said Butch as he set off again, "but this is the first time I've heard of a bus becoming a mobile home!"

"Yes, I wonder whatever they'll come up with next," chuckled Edgar. "Perhaps a car and caravan that runs on railway track?" He and Butch had a good laugh at that.

Months passed since Edgar entered the workshops, and by the end of spring, he emerged looking as good as new. Gone was the rusty exterior, replaced instead with a fresh coat of dark blue paint with cream window surrounds and red wheels. Miss Hetty beamed with pride as she drove him out and honked his horn for the first time in years. Trevor, Bertie and Caroline were there and marveled at how smart Edgar looked.

"Well, Edgar," said Jem Cole, "how do you feel?"

"I feel magnificent, Jem!" beamed Edgar. "It feels good to be rolling under my own power once again. Thank you for allowing me to be a really useful house bus, Jem!"

"And for helping me out in designing his new interior," added Miss Hetty.

"You look splendid, Edgar!" smiled Caroline.

"Thank you, my dear," smiled Edgar. "Now Miss Hetty and I can go driving down the roads and seeing the beautiful sights of Sodor!"

And indeed they did. From that day onwards, Edgar and Miss Hetty stuck together traveling the roads of Sodor, often stopping at places to rest for the night. Whenever he comes across people and other road vehicles, Edgar never misses a chance to honk "hello" to everyone he meets. Sometimes, he and Miss Hetty would come over to the church fete at Wellsworth, where he would catch up with Trevor giving rides to visitors.

But Edgar was most grateful for his new friend Caroline. The two of them met up one day at Elsbridge where they both came across George.

"I say, hello, George!" smirked Edgar, which brought the steamroller's attention.

George was stunned! "What the–?!" he gasped. "Edgar?! What– You– That field–!"

"I've been given a second chance as a house bus, old bean," smirked Edgar. "Now, if you'll excuse me, Miss Hetty and I are off to another beautiful destination on Sodor. Cheerio!" And he drove away.

"Not bad for a hulking pile of rust, wouldn't you say?" grinned Caroline cheekily.

But George didn't say; he just huffed crossly away without another word. Secretly, though, he was impressed with Edgar, but you'd never hear him admit that out loud.

THE END

This story is inspired by various stories of buses being converted into mobile homes. Multiple cases of this can be found either on videos online or read about in news articles.

Author's Comments

Caroline isn't a character who gets too much attention in fan stories, so I figured it'd be nice to do just that, giving the old car her first major starring role since Coffee on the Go. Not only that, but this is the first Between the Lines story that takes place completely away from the railways, barring a few mentions, so it's pretty refreshing to show that Sodor is more than just its railways. Of course, since not too many off-rail characters were introduced after Series 6, this story's placement isn't really set in stone, but it can take place at any point post-Series 7. The germ of this story came about when I read about a man from Austin, Texas who converted a school bus into his own personal mobile house, and I thought that it made an excellent basis for a story. This was also where the character of Edgar came from; his basis is an AEC K-type, but converted into a single-decker bus, which sort of makes him a predecessor to the likes of Bertie and Algy. He was one of the first buses built for Sodor Roadways before he was superseded and eventually abandoned. Edgar's new owner, Miss Edie Hetty, is the same character who appeared in Series 24's World of Tomorrow, and much like Miss Kim, controller of the Chinese Railway, has been reworked. I plan to do a bit more with Miss Hetty in the near future.

Upcoming stories:

- A Kyndley Gesture - When Mrs. Kyndley's cottage needs some repairs, she temporarily moves into Dowager Hatt's house at Maithwaite, but can she put up with the eccentric old lady's antics?

- Mavis and Scarlett - With the workload increasing at Anopha Quarry, Mr. Croarie brings in a new engine to assist Mavis, and she proves to be quite the buffer-full.

- The 70th Between the Lines Story

- Slow Speed Train - Lauren is offended when Pip and Emma make a remark about her living a slow life on the Kirk Ronan branch line, but when the high speed train fails at Kellsthorpe Road, only one engine is close enough to come to their rescue…

- Blind Puffing - While out on a rubbish run, Whiff's glasses break and he has to try and complete his tasks without them. However, he soon runs into trouble with a shipment of bananas at Brendam docks.