Chapter 46: Woolly Bear
Summer had come to the island of Sodor, and with it came more track maintenance. Workmen spent hours cutting overgrown grass along the line. Unfortunately, their work often interfered with the work of the engine drivers, making them late with their trains, something Percy knew all too well. All the maintenance set him back, making him 30 minutes late to meet up with Thomas, something Thomas was quick to criticize him for.
"Percy, I can't wait for you forever," he said crossly, "Sir Topham Hatt needs us run this branch line to time. We can't have you holding up the trains."
"It's not my fault," Percy complained, "It's all of the maintenance work that's going on. It holds me up."
"And only you? Percy, Toby and I manage to get our trains through without a problem. Obviously, the problem is with your engine."
"What wrong with it?" Percy asked incredulously.
"It's too slow," Thomas said crossly, "It's as fast as a caterpillar. Yes, a green caterpillar with red stripes, that's what you have."
Percy was livid. He liked his engine, and thought it was unique.
"Well at least I don't go fishing on shift," Percy said before leaving for the harbor.
Thomas was upset. He didn't like being reminded of the time he got water for his engine from the river and wound up with fish in the boiler.
Percy soon reached the harbor to drop off his trucks. A crane was unloading his trucks full of crates of treacle, but the chain was old and weak. Percy, not paying attention, drove his engine back too far, just as the chain broke. Treacle went all over Percy and his engine.
"Bother!" said Percy. "I'll have to clean this all up later. If I'm late again Thomas will never let me hear the end of it."
And so, he set off, but trouble lay ahead. The Workmen had left for their tea break, but hadn't properly raked away all the cut grass. The wind had picked up, and by the time Percy had reached that point it was flying everywhere.
"Oh, bother," Percy said, leaning out of the cab to get a better view of the line ahead. Fortunately, he managed to get through, but not without picking up some "unusual cargo."
Thomas was waiting at the top station waiting for Percy to take his trucks when Percy arrived. Thomas was about to scold Percy for being late when he saw him. Despite being mad, Thomas couldn't help but laugh at his appearance.
"Sorry I'm late, Thomas," he said sheepily.
"Pah," Thomas snorted, trying to contain his laughter, and before Percy could comment he left to do some shunting.
When Percy had a break, he went back to the house to have lunch. As he washed his hands he looked in the mirror and understood what was so funny. Bits and pieces of grass clung to his face and clothing.
"Oh dear," he thought, "I had better clean up before Toby sees him."
But it was too late. Thomas had told Toby everything, and the two of them spent the whole evening speaking of nothing but caterpillars crawling in hay. Percy just thought that they were being silly.