I do not own Thomas the Tank Engine and Friends, they are strictly the property of both the Awdry family and Britt Allcroft herself. This story is purely for entertainment and never profit.
Episode 42: Dirty Work, Original Airdate: November 5th, 1986
It was a warm and sunny afternoon on the Island of Sodor. Thomas was on his way to Rainbow's End Creche and Nursey to both pick up Lucy and to tell one of his stories to the group. He arrived at the playschool where he was let in by one of the teachers who lead him to the main room where all the other babies and toddlers where, the moment he entered, Lucy saw her father and came waddling over to him.
"Daddy" she said happily.
"Hello Lucy sweetie" said Thomas as he picked up his daughter in his arms, "you and your friends ready for daddy to tell one of his stories?".
"Story daddy" said Lucy happily.
"So what story have you got for us today young Thomas" asked Reverend Awdry as he and Reverend Boston entered the room.
"I do reverends" said Thomas before he gave a sigh, "although I must warn the two of you that it's a sad story".
"Oh dear" said Reverend Boston, "sad. Sad how and why?".
"Let's just say that it involves my friend Duck" replied Thomas.
"Okay then" replied Reverend Awdry, "I suppose that we better get the children ready".
Reverends Awdry and Boston then got the children to sit in a circle, Lucy included. Then they both got out three chairs each for them and Thomas, they then sat down in their chairs and looked at Thomas waiting for him to begin his story.
"Alright children" said Thomas, "are you ready to hear my story?".
"Yes please" said the children excitedly.
Thomas gave a small smile at their enthusiasm, although he knew that the ending would probably change that.
"Right now" said Thomas as he began his story, "it all began after Diesel's incident with the old trucks and the workmen singing the rude song about him".
(Story Begins)
Daniel "Diesel" Darby, the North Western Railway's newest engine driver, was sulking. The workmen wouldn't stop singing rudely at him. Just hours earlier he had tried to pull some old trucks that hadn't been used for years, all because Duck had obviously wanted to play a trick on him.
When Duck came back later and heard the "Pop Goes the Weasel" song about Diesel, he was horrified.
"Shut up" he said angrily to a group of workmen, "sing another lyric and I swear both Sir Topham Hatt and your bosses will hear of this".
"Yes Duck" said the frightened workmen as they scampered off.
"I'm sorry that our workmen were rude to you Diesel," said Duck later that evening.
The two drivers were in the kitchen of the Tidmouth sheds bunkhouse. Henry, Gordon and James were there also, all five drivers were sitting at the table having their dinner. Diesel however was furious.
"It's all your fault" he snarled at Duck, "you made them laugh at me".
"Nonsense" said Henry, "Duck would never do that. We engine drivers may have our differences, but we'd never talk about them to the Troublesome Workmen. That would be dis, dis".
"Disgraceful" said Gordon.
"Disgusting" put in James.
"Despicable" finished Henry.
Diesel hated Duck, he wanted him to be sent away. He decided that he was going to tell lies about Duck and so he made a plan. He however decided to keep it to himself and do it tomorrow, he looked at the Duck and the others.
"I guess you are right" said Diesel at last.
He then left the bunkhouse and headed for the bed and breakfast he was staying. Gordon and James left shortly afterwards leaving Henry and Duck alone.
"Thanks for sticking up for me Henry," said Duck.
"You're welcome Duck" smiled Henry, "besides I know full well that you would never do what Diesel said".
"I know Henry" said Duck, "Diesel just has that revolutionary ideology going through his head".
"Give him a week for so Duck" said Henry, "maybe he'll calm down then".
Duck agreed with Henry before the two of them left the bunkhouse and headed for home, however unbeknownst to the two of them, Diesel wasn't going to calm down so easily. The next day Diesel met with the workmen whilst they were on their lunchbreak.
"I see you guys like jokes?" asked Diesel, "you made a jolly good joke about me yesterday. I laughed and laughed".
"Really?" asked one of the workmen, "so you weren't offended at all?".
"Oh of course no" lied Diesel, "I was just processing it, that's all".
"Well that's good to know" said the workman.
"Besides Duck told me one about Gordon" said Diesel, "I'll whisper it to you".
The workmen listened to "Ducks" joke about Gordon, it was so funny that they all laughed like a bunch of lunatics. Diesel gave a smirk, his plan was working.
"Don't tell Gordon I told you" said Diesel.
He then left the workmen and headed back to his Class 08 before resuming his jobs for the day. The workmen on the other hand were in sticks after what Diesel had told them.
"Oh, ho, ho" guffawed one of the workmen, "Gordon will be cross".
"Yes lets pay Duck back for telling us off" said another.
They laughed rudely at the Henry, Gordon and James when they went past them. The three engine drivers were confused at they were doing so. Gordon, Henry and James soon found out why.
"Disgraceful" said Gordon.
"Disgusting" said James.
"Despicable" said Henry, "we cannot allow this".
The three engine drivers then consulted each other on the right course of payback. Gordon remembered how Duck, Percy and Henry had blocked their way into Tidmouth sheds. He then told Henry and James about it.
"Yes" said James, "he did it to us. We'll do it to him and see how he likes it".
"I'm onboard with the two of you" replied Henry.
"I'm actually surprised that you are Henry" said Gordon, "I thought you liked Duck?".
"I'm afraid after this I feel totally betrayed by this" explained Henry in disappointment at Duck's actions.
Duck was tired out; he had spent the entire day pulling heavy engines to different parts of the railway. He had put his last train, consisting of three conflats and two 7-plank trucks, into a siding and departed for Tidmouth sheds so that he could take a rest in the bunkhouse.
However, when he arrived at the sheds, he was greeted by a loud wheesh of steam, emanated from Henry, Gordon and James engines. This surprise Duck as usually they greeted him politely.
"Keep out" Gordon and James snarled.
"Stop fooling" coughed Duck, "I'm tired".
"So are we" replied Gordon angrily, "we're tired of you".
"We like Diesel, but we don't like you" said James, "you tell tales about us to the workmen".
"What no I don't" said Duck in shock at the accusation.
"You do" replied Gordon.
"I don't," said Duck.
"You do" growled Gordon.
"No I don't" insisted Duck, "Henry tell them".
"Oh yes you do Duck" replied Henry crossly, "how could you do this to us Duck especially me. I thought that we were friends?".
"What of course we are Henry" said Duck in shock, "I don't understand what's gotten into you three".
"Alright what's going on here?" came a familiar voice.
The engine drivers all turned to see Sir Topham Hatt walking up to him. He had been visiting the yardmasters office nearby, he had heard the argument and had decided to investigate.
"Duck called me a galloping sausage" spluttered Gordon.
"Rusty red scrap iron" hissed James.
"I'm old square wheels" fumed Henry.
Sir Topham Hatt then turned towards Duck
"Well Duck?" he asked sternly.
"I only wish Sir" said Duck gravely, "that I'd of those names myself. If the dome fits".
"He made the workmen laugh at us" accused Gordon after.
Sir Topham Hatt recovered, he'd been trying not to laugh at the ridiculous names himself.
"Did you Duck?" he asked.
"Certainly not Sir" said Duck in shock that Sir Topham Hatt would believe such an accusation, "no engine drive would be as mean as that".
Diesel then lurked up. He had been hiding in the sheds watching Duck's confrontation with Henry, Gordon and James. However when Sir Topham Hatt showed, he knew that he could like himself being seen lurking in the shadows, otherwise Sir Topham Hatt would become suspicious.
"Now Diesel" Sir Topham Hatt asked, "you heard what Duck said?".
"I can't understand Sir" said Diesel pretending that he didn't know a thing, "to think that Duck of all people. I'm dreadfully grieved Sir but know nothing".
"I see" said Sir Topham Hatt.
Diesel squirmed and hoped that he didn't. Sir Topham Hatt had a difficult decision to make, if he let Duck stay then Henry, Gordon and James could go on strike only this time for a legitimate reason. He also knew that if he could their side that he could be forced to fire Duck, he then decided what to whilst he investigated these claims.
"I'm sorry Duck" he said at last, "but you must go to Edward's station for a while. I know he'll be glad to see you".
"As you wish Sir" said Duck as he began to shed tears at the fact that even Sir Topham Hatt didn't believe him.
Duck hopped back into his pannier and trundled sadly away to Wellsworth. Henry noticed and began to realise that maybe had been a little too harsh on him, Diesel meanwhile smirked to himself with triumph.
(Story Ends)
Thomas finished his story and noticed that some of the children had sad looks on their faces. He couldn't blame them after all.
"That was a very sad story you told us today young Thomas" said Reverend Awdry.
"I'm sorry if it was Reverend Awdry" replied Thomas.
"Was young Duck's innocence proven?" asked Reverend Boston.
"It was" said Thomas, "but that story will have to wait until next time".
"Very well" replied Reverend Awdry, "me, Reverend Boston and the children look forward to it".
Thomas gave a small smile to them before picking up Lucy and her bag before leaving the playschool and heading home.
And done. I know there's a sad ending but rest assured that I'll start work on A Close Shave tomorrow. Any I'm pleased with how this chapter turned out. So please be so kind as to leave a preview and as always, see you all next time.