Thomas and Friends Fanfiction Series 4

Toby's Catcher Clean-up

It was a busy day. All the engines on Sodor were busy being Really Useful. 

(Such engines include Percy with the mail, Gordon with the Express and Skarloey with his coaches.) 

All the engines except Toby. He was at the Steamworks. He had a slab of rock at the Quarry caught in his front cow catcher and he had come off the rails and the catcher had broken. 

"Don't worry, Toby. Your cow catcher will soon be as good as new." smiled Victor. 

And he was right. 

Soon Toby had his catcher repaired and he trundled along with the smoothest turn of his wheels. 

"Thank you, Victor." Toby rang his bell and went to collect Henrietta at Knapford Station. 

As Toby pulled in with Henrietta, the Fat Controller arrived. 

"Toby, some workmen are waiting for you at Brendam Docks. They've just finished mending Carly's creaking arm with some polish. I need you now to take them to the Quarry." he boomed. 

"Yes, sir." said Toby cheerfully. "Right away." 

As Toby trundled into the Docks to collect the workmen, Spencer rolled in with the Duke of Boxford. The Duke was to catch a cruise ship to meet with his wife on a holiday. 

"Good day, Toby." said the Duke pleasantly. 

Toby blushed at this address. "Good day to you too, Sir!" 

"Ooh, those cow catchers of yours look quite new and shiny, Toby." said the Duke with interest. 

"They are, sir. I had an accident and had them replaced and polished at the Steamworks." explained Toby. 

"Very good. Almost as shiny as Spencer's paintwork. He always likes to keep his paintwork shiny and polished! Never seems to be dirty." said the Duke. "Goodbye, Toby." he said as he boarded his ship. 

Toby was filled with pride and happiness. 

"Fancy that, Toby." smiled Henrietta. "You've spoken to and have been complimented by the Duke of Boxford. And you have new cow catchers. It's a very good day for you today!" 

"Indeed." agreed Toby. He was very cheerful now. 

Toby soon took the workmen up to the Quarry. 

Thomas was there. 

"Hello, Toby. You look happy." he whistled cheerfully. 

"I am." grinned Toby. "I have been new, shiny cow catchers and the Duke said they looked as shiny as Spencer's paint!" 

"Brilliant, Toby. What a pleasant day!" smiled Thomas. 

Toby could only agree. But after he left the workmen at the Quarry, Toby passes Mavis. 

"Hello, Toby." she honked cheerfully. 

Stone dust and gravel dust flew from her heavy trucks and Toby failed to notice that he and his shiny cow catchers were now very dusty. 

Later, Toby passed James at the water tower. 

(Bulgy drives past.) 

"You look very cheerful, Toby." said James as he filled up on water. 

"I am." said Toby as he prepared to queue up behind him. He explained about his new cow catcher and the compliment he had received from the Duke. 

James was cross. He liked being as shiny as Spencer, but the Duke had never given his grand appearance any praise before. 

"Ha!" he snorted. "Well, the Duke won't give you anymore niceties when he sees how dusty and messy you look now, Toby!" 

Toby looked. He gasped. He was covered in quarry dust, and so were his cow catchers.  

"Oh no!" he cried. "My cow catchers and brown paint are dusty and dirty! What can I do? Nobody will be nice about them while I'm like this!" 

James snorted. "It's obvious, Toby. Clear as your bell! You need to go and get polished again!" 

"No!" retorted Henrietta. "You can't do that, Toby. We have more work to do." 

But Toby didn't listen to Henrietta. His next job was to take some schoolchildren up to Ulfstead Castle, and he didn't want to be dusty when he arrived, or the Earl of Sodor would not give him any compliments. 

"I won't take long, Henrietta." he said and he trundled quickly to the Steamworks to get polished. 

(Kevin can be seen there.) 

"Back already, Toby?" said Victor in a surprised voice. 

"Yes. I need a good polish, please, Victor." said Toby hurriedly. 

"Very well, my friend." 

So Toby was polished from top to bottom again. So was Henrietta. 

Henrietta normally loved being polished and wiped down, but now she was getting more and more concerned and worried. 

"Toby, we really must be going now. We're going to be late for the children." she said. 

Oh, now you're starting to sound like your sister, Henrietta." said Toby. "The cleaners will be finished soon." 

Henrietta was cross. 

As the men finished their job, Toby saw the workmen's clock up above, and was shocked to see what the time was. 

"Oh dear!" he cried. "I'm meant to be at Knapford!" 

Toby set off quickly. 

"Toby!" cried Victor. "The men have polished your wheels. They're not dry yet! You'll slip!" 

But it was too late. Toby had to stop to wait for the table to reach his track so he could cross, but his wheels just slid and he fell into the table well...cow catcher first! 

"Toby, are you alright?" cried Henrietta. 

"Yes." said Toby sadly. "But I've ruined my new cow catcher." And he had. 

Thomas had to take the children to Ulfstead Castle. 

(He is seen with the children, including Ray and Edwina, pulling Annie and Clarabel.) 

Toby was now sitting solitary and sad in the Steamworks. The Fat Controller arrived. He was cross. 

"It's always nice to receive compliments, Toby. But when you let those words get to your bell like that, you will only cause yourself confusion and delay. Now you will have to wait here until another cow catcher can be brought from the Mainland." 

"Yes, sir." sighed Toby. 

"Never mind, my friend." said Victor kindly. "But on the bright side, you have got the shiniest paintwork and brightest bell on the whole Island of Sodor." 

That made Toby feel much better, and this time, he didn't let the kind words go to his bell. 

(The End!)