Chapter 171: Lazy Fred

Based off "Thomas's Day Off" by Sharon Miller

Summer is the busiest time of the year on the Skarloey Railway, and the engine drivers are kept hard at work. Maintenance is very important during this time of year, as the hot sun can warp the tracks. Rusty doesn't mind doing the maintenance trains, but he does have to admit that it can be tiresome by himself.

One morning, Mr. Percival spoke to him.

"Now Rusty, I'm proud of your work so far, but the work is getting to much for any one person to do by themselves and I can't spare anyone else. Skarloey and Rheneas are too popular with visitors, I need Peter Sam and Duke at the Slate Quarry, and Sir Handel and Duncan would do nothing but complain all day."

Rusty couldn't help but laugh at the last bit.

"Fortunately, I've had a new diesel built at the works. It'll be arriving in a week, along with the new driver, and I expect you to show him the ropes."

"Yes sir, I will sir."

"Excellent. Well, you'd best be on your way then."

And with that he left Rusty to begin his work, happy that his load will soon be lighter.

The next Monday, Rusty stood at the transfer sidings at Crovan's Gate, waiting for Edward to bring the new employee. At last, Edward drove into the yards, a coach and a boxy engine behind his engine.

"Morning, Edward!"

"Morning, Rusty! Are you the welcoming committee?"

"I guess I am. Couldn't get anyone else out of bed this early in the morning."

"Well, you'd better watch out with this one. He's not exactly a morning person."

The coach opened and the new employee stumbled out. Rusty noticed his unprofessional look, with sloppy clothes, unkept hair, and half shut eyes lazily gazing out at the world around him. Once the engine was lowered on the narrow-gauge rails, Edward departed with a blast of the engine's whistle. Rusty turned to the newcomer.

"Hello, my name is Rusty. What's yours?"

"Huh? Oh, my name is Fred."
"Well Fred, we better head off once your engine is all fueled up. Mr. Percival wants me to show you how to handle the maintenance trains right away."

"What? But I just got here! I was hoping to catch up on sleep. Not real easy sleeping in a coach, don't you know."

"Sorry, but maintenance work needs to be done first thing in the morning to make sure the line is safe. I'll tell you what, I'll do the afternoon work so you can rest."

"Wait, we work in the afternoon as well?"

Rusty could tell that this was going to be a long day.

Before long, Fred's engine was all set, and the two departed with the morning maintenance train. They stopped at every station, every siding, every set of points, and every signal to make sure everything was running smoothly. But Rusty's patience was starting to wear thin, as he had to snap Fred awake every five minutes.

"FRED!"

"Huh, who, what, when, where?"

"Are you paying attention at all?"

"Of course, I am!"

"Then why don't you explain to me how to repair a broken signal."

"Sure, you take the, uh, hammer thingy and you, uh…no, wait, you take the wrench and, uh…Is this test multiple choice."

All Rusty could do was facepalm. It was going to be a very loooooooong day.

At last, they reached the Skarloey station by mid-morning.

"Alright Fred, a deal's a deal. You head back to the common house for some rest."

"Right, thanks Rusty."

And Fred drove back to the top station. But his diesel could only go 9 MPH, so it took a very long time. He was in for a terrible shock, however, when he found Mr. Percival waiting for him.

"Ah, Fred, perfect timing. Peter Sam's engine has broken down at the quarry, and Rusty is giving him a lift to the Steamworks, so I need you to do the afternoon maintenance work."

Fred was horrified.

"B-but sir-"

"Really useful workers don't argue."

So Fred didn't, not out loud at least.

Fred hated it. The work was slow, and all he wanted to do was sleep. To make matters worse, he kept getting battered by low hanging branches.

"OW! You ever had the bright idea of an engine without a cab!"

At long last, Fred's chance had come. The workmen were busy mending a broken signal and had no time to pay attention to Fred. This gave him an idea.

"This lot will be busy for another hour yet. I have time to find a quiet siding and doze off for a bit, and I'll be back before they even realize I was gone."

And so, Fred snuck off, finding a quiet siding not too far off.

"Perfect! This will do for a nice long nap."

And so he went comfortably to sleep. But trouble lay just around the bend.

Skarloey was coming down the line with a stopping passenger train. He was aware of the broken signal and was slowing down to avoid danger. But he couldn't know that Fred had left his cars on his line. By the time he had saw them, it was too late.

"Oh no!"

He braked hard, but his engine ran right into the tool van, smashing it to pieces and leaving his engine derailed.

Fred was startled awake by the noise. Seeing the time, he drove back quickly to find the scene of the crash. He was horrified to see what had happened.

"Skarloey, are you alright?"

"I think so!"

"Stay right there, I'll go get the breakdown train!"

It took a long time to clean up the mess. Poor Fred worked harder than he ever had before to clean up the mess, feeling horrible about his part in the accident. At last, the mess was clear, and Fred helped Skarloey home, a bus having come for the passengers.

That night, Mr. Percival spoke sternly to Fred.

"Now Fred, I understand you are new here, but I do not tolerate laziness on my Railway. Because of your carelessness, we are down two engines."

Fred said nothing, fearing the worst. But to his surprise, Mr. Percival's face softened.

"However, I can tell that you are sorry, and you did work hard to fix your mistake, so I shall give you a second chance."

Fred's face brightened eagerly

"Oh yes sir, Please sir! I will work hard, I promise! I'll never be lazy again."

"That's a good man. But be warned, I don't do third chances."

I don't think that'll be a problem. Don't you?