A/N: Dear Gina: No. Just…no. I don't know what's going on, but please seek help.

Chapter 298: Bucking Bronco

Later that evening, Skarloey was finishing his work for the day. He had just put out the engine's fire when Nancy came along with some of her friends from school.

"Skarloey, I told my friends about your story, and we were wondering if you could tell us more."

"Please, Skarloey?"

Skarloey chuckled, mopping the sweat from his brow.

"I don't see why not. Where would you like me to start?"

"How about where you left off? I've already caught them up to speed on the rest of it."

"Alright then. Let me tell you girls about the time I turned my engine into a bucking bronco."

I was miserable. For an entire week, no one would talk to me. I soon began to regret being so arrogant.

At last, Mister Mack decided enough was enough.

"I hope that you have learned your lesson."

"Yes sir, I promise to behave."

"Good. Now, I've assigned Mr. Bobby here to teach you how to run the line properly."

Mr. Bobby and I got along splendidly. He taught me everything I needed to know, and we soon had the yard running like clockwork.
A week later, Mister Mack decided it was time that I learned how to handle passenger trains. I was so excited that I could hardly contain myself, but Mr. Bobby kept me in check.

"Easy does it, lad," he chuckled. "Keep going like that and you'll explode!"

But I was too excited to listen. Luckily, the trip up the line went well and we made good time. At the top station, Mister Mack approached us on the footplate.

"Pardon me, lads, but do you mind if I join you on the trip back? The carriages are a bit too stuffy for my taste."

"Of course, sir, as long as you don't mind it being crowded."

"Not at all."

So Mister Mack climbed on board and we set off for home. The trip went well at first, but soon we came to a bit of uneven track. Mr. Bobby and I fought for control, but the train bumped and buckled like a wild bull. Mister Mack struggled to remain onboard.

"What's going on? Stop this bouncing at once!"

"We're trying, sir!"

Acting quickly, I forced the regulator shut. This brought the train to a stop, but the sudden jerk threw Mister Mack from the footplate and into a bush.

"Horrors! Brakes, Skarloey, brakes!"

Luckily, Mister Mack wasn't badly hurt, but he was none too happy with me. He rode in the brakevan the entire rest of the journey home, and when we got back to the sheds he scolded me fiercly.

"I thought you had learned to handle trains, but it seems I was wrong!"

"But sir-"

"Stow it! Get out of my sight."

Sadly, I walked away. I moped about the house all day, until Mister Mack came to see me that night. I was afraid he would fire me, but he was smiling.

"I'm terribly sorry for my outburst, Mr. Bobby explained everything. You see, Skarloey, your engine has balancing issues. Any engine driver without proper experience, such as yourself, could've made the same mistake. But don't worry, I shall see to it that the problem is rectified."

Mister Mack was good as his word. The next day my engine went into the workshops, and when it came out it had a smart new cab and a new pair of trailing wheels.

Skarloey chuckled fondly at the memory.

"I never had any bouncing problems after that, thankfully. Though for a long time afterwards, Mr, Bobby called me a bucking bronco! Took me forever to grow out of that nickname, let me tell you."

Nancy and her friends chuckled as well. They loved the story, and found it quite interesting.

"Thank you for the story, Skarloey, it was quite lovely."

"Not a problem, Nancy. Thank you all for being a good audience!"

With that, Nancy and her friends walked home, leaving Skarloey to his work.