Chapter 275: Buffer Bother
Bill and Ben are twins, and nearly inseperatable. They do almost everything together, even get into trouble. Where you'll find one, you'll find the other. And where you'll find the twins, you're bound to find trouble not too far behind.
One day, the Clay Pits manager called for a mandatory inspection of the engines. Bill's and Boco's were in good working order, though the buffers one Ben's were bent and out of shape. Mr. Stone shook his head.
"Sorry Ben, but your engine will have to go to the works. Can't have an engine with broken buffers, it's just not safe"
"I understand, sir."
"Don't worry, they'll have it back in working order in no time."
Bill, jealous that his brother was getting some free time off work, spoke up.
"Mr. Stone, I think my engine needs some new buffers as well!"
"Yours? Whatever for?"
"Um…the left buffer is slightly crooked?"
Mr. Stone just shook his head and walked away. Ben laughed at Bill's fumble.
"Real smooth."
This made Bill cross.
"Well, at least I know how to take proper care of my engine! Your engine's buffers are only like that because you were bashing the trucks!"
"I was not!"
"Were too!"
"Was not!"
"Were too!"
Boco just rolled his eyes and walked away. He could see where this was going, and wanted no part in it.
Bill and Ben didn't talk too each other for the rest of the day. Bill was still upset that Ben was getting time off work, and Ben was upset that Bill thought he was reckless. Even as Ben left for the works, the two didn't so much as look at eachother.
"Alright Bill, enough dawdling. Back to work!"
Bill grumbled, but followed Boco to collect more trucks. But try as he might, all he could think of all day was Ben and his new buffers. He tried everything to take his mind off it. He tried thinking of birds. He tried thinking of planes. He even tried thinking of how many different rocks he could name. But no matter what, his mind kept going back to buffers. He was so distracted that he ran right into a set of buffers.
"Ouch!"
"Careful, Bill! That's why you shouldn't dwell on your brother so much."
"But it's not fair! Its-"
"I don't care! Now come on, we have work to do."
Bill grumbled, and got back to work. But even so, his mind couldn't help but wonder, and soon he wasn't paying any attention to what he was doing. It would've been better if he had.
"Bill, look out!"
"Huh? Oh no!"
Bill braked as hard as he could, but it was too late. With a mighty crash, his engine plowed through the buffers and into a heap of gravel. Bill wasn't hurt, but his engine's buffers were badly twisted.
"Bill, are you alright?"
"I'm fine, but I just realized something."
"What's that?"
"Always be careful what you wish for."
Mr. Stone soon returned with Ben, whose engine was sporting brand new buffers. When he heard about the situation, he was none too pleased.
"I understand that you wanted new buffers Bill, but this was not the way to get them."
"Yes, sir. Sorry sir."
"Now Ben and Boco shall have to do your work until your engine can be repaired. I hope this will teach you to not be so careless."
After Mr. Stone left, Bill looked at his engine forlornly. Ben walked up to try and cheer him up.
"Don't worry, The Steamworks will do wonders for your engine. They sure did to mine, just look at that shine!"
"They are nice buffers. I'm sorry I was rude."
"Ah, don't worry about it. What're twins for?"