Chapter 252: Baa!

No season is more beautiful on Sodor than Summer. Flowers line the stations to welcome visitors to their little corner of the world. But not every part of the island is so lucky...

Percy had been working at the docks all day. There were no flowers there, just crates upon crates of fish. Percy had become sick of the smell.

"PHEW! I don't know how Henry can put up with this. I'll be happy to have a long shower."

Percy was hoping for an empty house when he returned, but he was very disappointed to find that they weren't. Sir Topham Hatt was there, making an announcement.

"To welcome the start of the Summer Season, I've decided to hold a friendly competition. This Saturday, I'll be holding a Best Dressed Station contest, and the winner shall win this plaque. Please help with the arrangements."

Everyone agreed, and Sir Topham Hatt left. For the rest of the evening, everyone spoke of nothing but the contest, much to Percy's annoyance. Eventually, the topic shifted to their favorite station.

"My favorite station if Ffarquhar," Thomas said.

"Maithwaite, all the way!" Piped up Rosie.

"You're both wrong, Knapford will win for sure!" Gordon said indignantly.

"Oh, I don't know. My station can be quite beautiful in the summer time," Edward put in.

"What about you, Percy?"

"The docks," Percy muttered, not really paying attention.

"Yeah, we can tell," laughed Thomas. Even Toby couldn't help but laugh.

"The docks are full of fish, not flowers!"

"Fine then, Arlesdale End!"

"Hey, that's my favorite station too!"

"Then do me a favor and go there, instead of being here bothering me!"

Everyone was shocked by Percy's outburst, but he didn't care. He just marched off to take a shower.

A few days later, Percy was feeling much better. Instead of trucks full of fish, he was taking a train full of produce and flowers to Maithwaite.

"I shouldn't have been so mean to Toby last night," he thought to himself. "I'll apologize first chance I get."

The journey got off to a good start, and Percy enjoyed the sunshine and warm air. But as he rounded a bend, he saw a goat standing on the tracks. Luckily, be brought the train to a stop in time.

"Bother," he thought. "Now I'll be late."

But the guard had an idea. Taking some cabbage leaves from a truck, he beckoned for the ram to follow him.

"Come here, little fella. Bet you're hungry, ain't ya?"

The ram was, and happily chomped on the snack a safe distance away from the track, allowing the train to pass without incident. When the stationmaster asked why they were late, Percy explained everything.

"Oh, I know that Ram. He belongs to Farmer McColl. He's always hungry, and always causing trouble."

After everything was settled, the workmen began arranging everything. Percy helped, and before long the station was alive with color. Percy smiled.

"Now Maithwaite will win for sure."

But Percy was in for a rude surprise. The next morning, Percy found Maithwaite Station a mess. Flower pots were destroyed, produce littered the platform, and all in all their hard work had gone to waste. Percy felt very upset.

"It was that ram, I bet!"

He wasn't the only one who was mad. The passengers were trying to get into the waiting room, but the door was blocked.

"That ram's done it again! Now he won't let us into the station!"

The stationmaster peered into the room to find another surprise.

"He's not alone. There's three kids in there with him!"

Sure enough, three schoolboys were cowering in a corner, terrified of the farm animal.

"Please let us out! We thought it would be fun to mess up the station, but the ram found us out and trapped us in here! We'll clean it up, but get this animal away from us!"

Percy couldn't help but laugh at their predicament.

"The ram wasn't the culprit, he's the hero!"

It took a lot of work, but soon the station was good as new. And when the competition came around, the judges unanimously agreed it was the winner. At the award ceremony, Percy spoke to Toby.

"Sorry I was rude to you, Toby."

"That's alright. I'm sorry we all teased you."

After awarding Maithwaite's Stationmaster the blue ribbon, Sir Topham had one more announcement.

"I have one more prize to give out. To the most useful ram I know."

He took out a pumpkin and held it out to the ram.

"And if you don't like it, I'll eat my hat!"

Just as the ram was about to take a bite, Harold landed his helicopter in the field right next to the station. The wind from its blades blew Sir Topham Hatt's hat right off! The ram, thinking that would be a better snack, ate that up instead!

No one said anything at first, until Sir Topham Hatt had a good natured laugh.

"Well, I guess I didn't need to eat it after all!"

Everyone had a good laugh, except for the ram, who just burped.