Chapter 156: The Most Important
It was a hot summer's day on Sodor, and The Pack was hard at work digging foundations for the new community center. Jack mopped his forehead as Max sped off with a full load.
"Hoo boy, it's hot! It never got this bad back home."
Alfie could only nod his head wearily in agreement as he took a large gulp of water.
"Out of the way, younglings! Someone important coming through!"
Jack and Alfie groaned as a large cement mixer rumbled alongside, its large operator stepping down. The man's name was Patrick. He was a hard worker, but often let the importance of his job go to his head.
"Chill out, Patrick. We're just trying to cool off."
"Jack's right. Besides, what makes you so important?"
Patrick snorted indignantly.
"Concrete, that's what. Without it, foundations couldn't be laid and buildings wouldn't get built. Now if you'll excuse me, I have real work to do."
And he drove off,kicking up dirt in Jack and Alfie's faces as he left.
"Gee, he's rather obnoxious, isn't he?"
"Maybe, but... who is the most important?"
Neither one had an answer, so decided to ask around when break hit. Jack decided to ask Byron first.
"What's up, Jack?"
"Patrick said he's the most important. Is that true?"
"Pah, please. Patrick can't pour his mushy concrete until I've leveled the site. If anything, I'm the most important."
Meanwhile, Alfie went to ask Oliver.
"Slow down, Alfie. What's got you in such a hurry?"
"Patrick said he's the most important. Is that true?"
"Of course not. Digging the foundations, though, that's the most important. And that's what I do, so I'm the most important."
No matter who they asked, Jack and Alfie got a different answer each time. Nelson said he was the most important because he was responsible for transporting the machines to work, Buster claimed he was for making the building site flat, Ned said The Foreman was for keeping them all safe, and so forth. Jack and Alfie were exasperated.
"I give up!"
"They can't all be the most important."
But while Jack and Alfie went back to work, everybody kept arguing about who it was. Max and Monty were the worst.
"I'm obviously the most important."
"No way, I am! My dump truck can haul way more than yours."
"Race to the dump?"
"You're on!"
And before anyone could stop them, they took off with their loads at breakneck speed.
"Max, Monty, slow down!"
But Kelly's pleas fell on deaf ears as the two sped onto the Road, bumping their trucks along the way.
"I'm the most important!"
"I am!"
Patrick was driving back on the same road going the opposite way. He gasped in horror at the dump trucks speeding at him!
"Max, Monty, watch out!"
The two slammed on the brakes in horror, but we're still going too fast. With no other option, Patrick swerved quickly, dodging them just in time. His troubles had just begun, however, as he skidded off the road and over a cliff, landing in his freshly made concrete with a loud SPLAT! Sending concrete everywhere, including poor Isobella!
"My hair!"
"My concrete!"
Jack comforted his girlfriend while Miss Jenny spoke severely to the two Dump Truck drivers.
"Max and Monty, what were you thinking! Patrick c it's truck needs extensive repairs, and just look at poor Isobella!"
"We're sorry, Miss Jenny."
"We just wanted to prove who was the most important."
Miss Jenny looked ready to pull her hair out.
"This is what this is all about. You're all part of a team. There's no such thing as most important."
"Not even Patrick?"
Miss Jenny snapped her head towards the very green looking truck driver.
"Patrick, were you bragging about concrete again?"
"Erm, I might have said... something."