Chapter 232: The Trouble With Mud

One morning, James was waiting for his engine to finish having a washdown when Gordon drove his in. When James saw it, he reeled back in repulsion. It was covered from Smokebox to tender in mud and grime, and didn't quite look like itself.

"Out of my way! The express is due in 20 minutes, and my engine is not fit to be seen."

"Just wait your turn, Gordon. I was here first."

"BAH!"

Angrily, Gordon made his engine blow off steam, blowing mud over James, his engine, and the workmen. When the dust settled, they were all as filthy as Gordon's engine, much to their annoyance.

"You buffoon! Now you'll have to wait even longer before we can get to yours."

"What? But I'll be late for the express!"

"Maybe next time you won't be so impatient."

Gordon was livid, but there wasn't much else he could do. By the time they were finally done with his engine, he was very late. And in his opinion, they hadn't done a very good job.

"Dirty and late, dirty AND late!"

When he reached Knapford Station, he was surprised to find no coaches or passengers at the platform. Instead, he found a very cross Sir Topham Hatt, making him gulp in fear.

"Gordon, what time do you call this?"

"Um, 9:30, sir."

"Oh good, so you can tell time. Now, when does the express depart?"

"9:00, sir, but-"

"Correct. Now, I can forgive tardiness within reason. But I've heard about your little stunt at the washdown, and I'm not impressed at all. While I can appreciate you wanting your engine to be clean for the passengers, I do not tolerate such rudeness on my railway. James took the express, so you shall do his goods work until I can trust you to behave. Do I make myself clear?"

Gordon, sensing he had dug his grave deep enough as is, nodded meekly. So for the rest of the day, he drove up and down the line with goods trains, much to his dismay.

"A goods train, a goods train, a goods train! The shame of it, the shame of it, OH, the shame of it!"

To his dismay, his punishment was not lifted the following morning. James watched with bemusement as he roughly shunted the trucks into place.

"I know tender engines shouldn't be used for shunting, but don't you think you're being just a little immature about all this?"

"Oh, don't act like you're not enjoying this! Be careful on the hill today, by the way. The wind is strong today, and the hill can be hard to climb in this weather."

"Are you sure you're not just fat?"

And before Gordon could retort, James wisely hurried off to collect the express, leaving him speechless!

"What cheek! Speaking to me like that! ME, who-"

"WE GET IT! SHUT UP!"

Soon, James approached Gordon's Hill. Confidently, he increased steam and charged it head on. At first, it looked like he would make it. But as he got halfway, the wheels began to slip on the wet leaves. James struggled valiantly, but it was all in vain. Dejected, he brought the train down and called for help.

Gordon soon arrived, and although he found it amusing he couldn't help but feel sorry for James.

"Don't worry James, we'll soon have you up and over that hill! Leave it to me!"

James groaned. Gordon was the last person he wanted to see right now. Nonetheless, he accepted the help, and the two put all their effort into getting the train over the hill. Slowly but surely, the top approached, and before long James was coasting down the other side.

"Thank you, Gordon! See you later!"

"You're welcome, James! Goodbye!"

Later that evening, Sir Topham Hatt left to see Gordon, in a much better than before.

"I've heard about your little rescue, Gordon, and I'm very pleased. You are a really useful engineer!"

Gordon smiled, before daring to ask a question.

"Um, sir? Could...could I please go back to passenger trains."

"As long as you understand that patience is a virtue, then yes you may."

"Oh, thank you sir!"

As Sir Topham Hatt left, Gordon couldn't help but smile.

"Dirty or clean, I drive a famous machine!"

But nobody heard but him.