Chapter 32: Percy's Prediciment
Eventually everybody grew tired of Daisy's encounter with Champion, and things went back to the way they were. Unfortunately for Percy and Toby, Daisy was lazy and stubborn, and refused to do goods work, leaving them to pick up the slack. One day, Percy was shunting unhappily when Toby drove in.
Toby: I see Daisy is still being a stubborn mule when it comes to trucks."
Percy: "This is the third time this week that she's left the milk van behind! I'll have to make a special trip just for it! I'd like to give her a piece of my mind."
Toby: "How about this: if you get my trucks from the quarry, I'll take the van for you."
Percy smiled and agreed. Sometime after Toby arrived, it had been revealed that the law prohibiting engines without cowcatchers and sideplates had been revoked years ago and the policeman Thomas encountered was enforcing out of date laws in hopes of a promotion. After an incident where he booked his own sergeants car, he had been demoted and transferred.
Percy had never been to the quarry before, and immediately begun ordering the workmen about.
Percy: "Hurry up! I don't have all day, you know!"
Workmen #1: "Who does he think he is, Sir Topham Hatt? What cheek!"
Workmen #2: "Let's teach him a lesson!"
The others agreed, and made sure to load the trucks down and tamper with the brakes. Percy didn't notice, and soon it was time to leave. With a toot of his engine's whistle, Percy set off.
Soon they reached the top of a hill. A sign read : "All trains must stop to pin down brakes."
Percy: "Okay, Jim, time to put on the brakes."
Jim (the guard) did so, but the weight of the trucks made it hard to do so. They bumped the back of the engine, sending them flying down the hill. Percy tried to apply the brakes from the cab, but they were still going too fast.
Soon they reached a goods yard, with a line of trucks waiting to go out straight ahead. With no hopes of stopping in time, Percy could only shut his eyes and pray for the best.
CRASH!
When he opened them again, he found that his engine was perched on top of a now ruined breakvan. He was not to terribly hurt, but was rather shaken up.
Toby, and to the surprise of everybody, Daisy soon came to clear away the mess. When Percy climbed out of the cab, he saw a very cross looking Sir Topham Hatt glaring at him.
Sir Topham Hatt: "Well Percy, this is a right mess you've gotten us into. While the workmen should not have loaded the trucks so high, I have come to understand that you were bossing them about. I want you to understand that I give the orders around here and not you."
Percy: "Yes sir, sorry sir."
Daisy quietly snickered, but Sir Topham Hatt soon turned to her.
Sir Topham Hatt: "As for you! I have heard about your laziness, and I will not tolerate it! I reward employees who work hard, and I send those who are lazy away."
Daisy just sighed.
Sir Topham Hatt: "However, you did work hard to help clear up the mess, and you aren't as bad as the last diesel driver we had. So I shall give you another chance."
Daisy: "Oh, thank you sir! I will work hard! Toby said he'll help me."
Sir Topham Hatt: "Good. Anything about railways that Toby has forgotten isn't worth knowing."
Percy's engine was sent to the works, while Percy was put on short suspension until it was fixed. Thomas had recovered, and his engine had been repaired, allowing the branchline to run smoothly. Daisy has made amends for her actions, and is now good friends with all three of them. She even managed to shoo a cow all by herself the other day. What do you think about that?