Chapter 159: Byron Saves the Day

The Pack arrived at Cronk station, ready to build a new supply shed. It had rained hard the night before, leaving the ground a wet, mucky mess. Miss Jenny and The Foreman were there waiting for them.

"Mud can be dangerous, so remember..."

"Safety first!" Byron boomed loudly. Miss Jenny nodded, before turning to Max and Monty sharply.

"Especially you two. I better not see or hear you two causing trouble, understand?"

"Yes, Miss Jenny," Max and Monty said, quietly snickering to themselves. They had no intention of being careful.

The Pack soon got to work. Jack and Alfie moves piles and pile of wet, muddy earth. They didn't mind to much, they didn't mind getting dirty. Alfie, for one, loved it, and spun his excavator around excitedly.

"Mud, Glorious Mud!"

"Um, Alfie?"

Alfie glanced over to see his friend's front loader caked in mud flung from his Excavator's scoop. Alfie chuckled sheepishly.

"Oops, sorry Jack."

"Just don't let Isobella see it. She'd have a fit over it."

Byron, meanwhile, was busy making foundation trenches. He worked very hard to make the edges neat and precise. Once he was done he stopped to admire his work.

"Now if that isn't art I don't know what is!"

But no one was around to admire his work. His proud smile soon turned into a sad frown. Just then, he saw Oliver driving his excavator slowly his way.

"Hey Oliver, check this out! Isn't this the best trench you've ever seen?"

Oliver snapped up, as if he had been in a trance."

"Wh-Huh? Oh, hi Byron, sorry I cant talk right now. Trying not to sink. I'll talk later."

"Oh, uh, sure."

Byron watched sadly as Oliver drove away. He wanted someone, anyone, to say well done!

Max and Monty raced recklessly around the site, causing workmen to dive out of the way. Everyone shouted at them, but they didn't care one bit. Then there was trouble. Alfie was walking to get some water when Max and Monty raced past. He dove out of the way in time, but the back wheel of Monty's dump truck broke a water supply pipe, gushing water over the place. Then, to Alfie's horror, he started to sink, and fast!

"Help! Somebody save me!"

At once, everyone dropped what they were doing and rushed over to help.

"Somebody stop the water! Max and Monty's reckless driving has uncovered a sinkhole! Cried the foreman.

"I'll get him!" Jack cried, but the foreman stopped him.

"No, don't! You'll sink too."

Before anyone could say anything else, Byron picked up a large stick and held it out to Alfie.

"Grab on, kid! I'll pull you out!"

Weakly, Alfie grabbed on and clung to it for dear life. With a loud grunt, Byron began to pull, digging his feet into the ground as far as he could. But try as he might, he felt

his arms grow weak and the stick began to slip.

"Come on, Byron!"

"You can do it!"

With everyone supporting him, and seeing Alfie's terrified eyes, Byron kept going, pulling and grunting all the way until, at last, Alfie was free of the mud, very much a mess but alright.

"You okay, kid?"

"I am now thanks to you. Thanks, Byron!"

Byron pulled Alfie into a gentle hug as everyone applauded his efforts.

"Well done, Byron!"

"Well done, Byron!"

"Yes, well done!"

Before long, Byron had more well dones than he knew what to do with. All he could do was grin proudly.

That night, Miss Jenny spoke severely to Max and Monty.

"I don't know what you two were thinking, but Alfie could've been seriously hurt due to your actions! I dread to think of what might have happened to him if Byron hadn't been there. You two are suspended for a month, do I make myself clear?"

"Yes, Miss Jenny. We're sorry."

And this time, they truly were.