It was almost summer on the Island of Sodor, and on the Miniature Railway, all the engines were looking forward to the many passengers who would be visiting. As the engines past through one of the stations, they saw a young man sitting on a bench reading a book. He never boarded their trains, but every time they stopped at the station or passed by, the young man would look up, smile, and wave. Sometimes, he even took photographs.

"Did either of you see that young man again?" Mike asked one night.

"Yes," said Bert, "he smiled and waved like always does."

"I don't understand why he comes to the station if he isn't going anywhere."

"He could be a trainspotter," said Rex. "Douglas told me about them. They wait beside the tracks and when an engine comes by, they take notes and photographs."

"He's done so for all of us," added Bert. "He reminds me of those two visitors who wrote about us, but, surely, he must be tired of seeing us all the time."

Rex decided to find out more, so, the next time he stopped at the station, he called out to the young man. "Excuse me, can I ask you something?" The young man looked to Rex's Driver, who smiled and nodded. He closed his book and walked up. "If you don't mind me asking, who are you?"

"I'm Alex, and you must be Rex. It's nice to meet you."

"How do you know?"

"I live in town. I've visited this station many times. I even saw you on television and read the book that was written about you."

Rex was flattered. "But why do you come to this station all the time and not ride our trains?"

"I have. I guess you just never saw me," said Alex. I don't get to travel very often, but I like watching trains. That's why you keep seeing me."

"Well, we always like having visitors."

Alex smiled. "Oh, you'll be seeing more of me soon. I've volunteered to help on your railway for the summer."

"That's great," exclaimed Rex, "and I'm sure Bert and Mike will like meeting you too."

That night, Rex told Bert and Mike about Alex.

"Well, he sounds friendly enough," said Bert.

But Mike did not understand. "Why is he coming to help for the summer? We can manage."

"You know how busy we get during the summer, Mike," said Bert. "I'm sure the workman could use the help."

"What about us?" protested Mike. "On some days, it seems like we need extra help too. Why don't we just get another engine?"

Bert sighed. "If we had another engine, the workmen would need extra help anyway. More engines mean more people to help them run." Mike just sulked.

Alex was as good as his word. When summer came, he started helping out on the railway. He did everything from tending to the stations to cleaning the engines. Bert warmed up to him quickly, but Mike was still grumpy. He thought having someone help for a short time was silly.

Rex noticed this, and one evening, when he came back to the Shed, he found Alex waiting for him. "Hullo, Alex," he whistled.

"Good evening, Rex," smiled Alex and he paused for a moment. "Say, I wanted to ask you about Mike. Is anything wrong with him? He acts like he doesn't like me."

"Oh, he just thinks that your help is too small to make a difference," Rex replied. "Actually, I have an idea to make him see sense." Rex spoke to Alex and his Driver and then, they told the Small Controller, who agreed.

Early the next morning, Alex came with the workmen as usual. They walked about getting the engines ready, checking their water, loading coal and oiling their parts, but to Mikes surprise, no one bothered to clean his paint or polish his brass. Instead, Alex and the others fussed around Rex and Bert. "Hey, what about me?" he called. "I need cleaning too."

"Oh, that's just a small job," said a workman. "Besides, you have a goods train today, as usual. You'll be fine."

Mike could not believe what he had heard. He may not like taking passengers, but he still likes to be clean and shiny and as he collected his trucks, he felt that he wasn't as shiny as he once was. "Cheer up," said his Driver. "At least the sun is shining. It can make even the dirtiest engine look nice."

"I suppose so," muttered Mike, but he still wasn't convinced.

The next day, Alex and the workmen didn't bother cleaning Mike again, and mike had to fetch coal from the lineside. Coal dust flew everywhere, and he got very dirty. The day after that, Mike still wasn't cleaned, and when he collected the ballast, his paint became even dirtier.

The following morning, as the workmen got the engines ready, the Small Controller came to the Shed. "Some new sheep have arrived for the one of the farms," he said. "Rex and Bert, you will collect them, and Mike, you will take the passengers today."

Mike was horrified. "What?! But Sir, I'm filthy, and I don't like coaches! Why can't Rex do it?!"

"You can be rough with your loads, Mike. I don't trust you pulling livestock. You will do as you are told."

So, Mike did. He collected the coaches and rolled up to the platform.

"Ugh, what a dirty engine," said the passengers. Do they not know how to clean engines properly?" Mike just grunted.

Mike made it to the end of the line, but when he started back, the sky darkened, and rain began to fall. He felt miserable; his paint was filthy, his brass was grimy and right then, he felt very damp and cold."

Rex and Bert were waiting with Alex when Mike returned to the shed. They couldn't help but feel sorry for him.

"Are you alright, Mike?" asked Rex.

"I don't think anyone cares," Mike replied.

"I do," said Alex. "You look like you've had a hard day; three hard days, in fact." Mike looked up at the young man. "Maybe even the little things can be valuable after all."

It was then that Mike understood. "I'm sorry, Alex," he said. "I saw how you were working with everyone while you've been here, even with us engines, but I took no notice. I see now that you are very friendly and helpful to everyone."

"I couldn't have said it better myself." It was the Small Controller. "Alex, you have shown fine hard work and dedication to my railway, and I would like to ask you to help out in the future when you can."

Alex was delighted. "Thank you, Sir."

"Maybe one day, you can work with us all the time," added Rex.

"Maybe."

The Small Controller turned to Mike. "I can also see that you have had a hard three days, Mike, but you still managed to be Really Useful regardless, and I am proud of you for owning up for your mistake. Therefore…I think you more than deserve a nice, long washdown."

Mike was so happy, he almost laughed. "Thank you, Sir!"

The Small Controller looked to Alex. "Alex, if you would?" And with that, Alex set about cleaning Mike's paint until it glistened and polishing his brass until it shone like gold.

Alex still helps out on the Miniature Railway, and the Small Controller and the engines are always happy to see him, especially Mike, because Alex has helped him to learn that even a small job can be very important.