Chapter 222: No Sleep for Cranky

Brendam Docks is the busiest port on Sodor. Day in and day out, ships dock to load and unload passengers and cargo, and trains move in and out. And poor Cranky has to bear the blunt of it all. Working early in the morning to late in the night, he rarely gets a good nights sleep. Often his only company are the seagulls that rest on his crane's arm. As you can imagine, this makes him very cranky indeed.

One afternoon, it was business as usual for him, much to his dismay. Just then, Salty drove up underneath in his Diesel.

"Ahoy there, matey!"

"Not you again! Can't you leave me alone for one day?"

Salty chuckled. He was quite used to Cranky's attitude.

"And a good mornin' to you too, lad."

Just then, Bill and Ben arrived to help with the workload. They saw Cranky in one of his moods, and delighted in the chance for mischief. Cranky, however, was in no mood for their games.

"Hurry up, you two! And no playing!"

"You're no fun!" Snapped Bill.

"You wouldn't be either if you were stuck up here all day!" Cranky snapped back.

"Aha!" Cried Ben. "So that's why you're so cranky. You're lonely!"

"I am not!"

"So its company you be wanting," chuckled Salty. "Reminds me of an old Grandbanks lighthouse keeper I used to know."

"Not another one of your stories!"

But Bill and Ben were interested. "Oh do go on, Salty," they pleaded. "We haven't heard it."

"Well, if you insist. 'Twas in the middle of a mighty storm. The kind you only see once in a lifetime..."

Cranky had enough. In his blind rage, he banged his load of pipes down onto the tracks instead of the trucks. All anyone could do was watch as the pipes rolled down the track and demolished the shed, trapping all three.

"Cranky! Look what you've done!"

"Whoops."

Just then, they heard a car approaching, followed by a familiar blue car pulling into the dock yard.

"You're going to get into trouble," sang Bill and Ben. Cranky just groaned in fear. Sir Topham Hatt stepped out and surveyed the damage.

"Cranky!" he boomed through a megaphone. "Just look at this mess!"

"Sorry," mumbled Cranky meekly. Sir Topham Hatt then turned to Salty and the twins.

"I'm afraid you'll have to stay here for the night. Harvey won't be able to get here until the morning."

Cranky just gulped nervously. This had to be his worst nightmare, especially when Salty said...

"That reminds me of a story! It was a bitter cold winter..."

And Salty went on and on all night while Salty recounted tales from his days at Sea. But while Bill and Ben hung onto every word, Cranky longed for some earplugs.

"...And crashed into port! Luckily, no one was hurt."

"Except my ears!"

But still Salty continued. Cranky didn't know when he passed out, but he found himself waking up to the sound of a whistle. There was Harvey, ready to rescue them.

"Someone need a hand?"

"Harvey! Thank goodness, I don't think I could've taken anymore stories."

Soon, Harvey had the mess cleared, and Salty and the twins left, much to Cranky's relief. He was so happy that he didn't moan or complain all day. He even said please and thank you to the engine drivers.

"Well, this is new," Thomas whispered to Emily.

"I like it," Emily said, "Much better than the old Cranky."

This made Cranky red with fury.

"Well, don't get used to it! Now get out of my way, you little bugs!"

And just like that, Cranky was back to being Cranky!