Thomas and Friends Fanfiction Series 4

Lady Hatt's Bad Day

It was a rainy day on the Island of Sodor. The engines were not very pleased. They preferred the sunny weather, but duty called and they were getting ready for a busy day. 

"Oh, I hate the rain!" grumbled Henry. 

"So, what's new?" teased James. 

"Ahem!" 

The Fat Controller had arrived, covered by an umbrella. 

"Today is forecast for this heavy rain all day." he said. "I expect you all to ignore the wet and the wind, and do your jobs and be Really Useful." 

"Yes, sir." replied all the engines. 

The Fat Controller did look worried though. 

"What's wrong, sir?" asked Thomas. 

"Oh, er, nothing important, Thomas. It's just erm, well, Lady Hatt went away to Harwick yesterday, and planned to spend today on the beach. She'll obviously have to cancel, and Lady Hatt doesn't like having her plans spoiled." 

The engines understood the Fat Controller's concern. Lady Hatt could sometimes be grumpy when things didn't go her way, or if she was feeling tired. Thomas was still haunted by the time she had suggested Annie and Clarabel be turned into beach huts because they were old. 

When Thomas collected them, they weren't happy. 

"If Lady Hatt is unhappy, she might try and make us into huts again!" cried Clarabel. 

"That won't happen." insisted Thomas. 

Meanwhile, Daisy was not happy. Lady Hatt was being very grumpy and miserable as her day at the beach had been ruined and she had insisted that Daisy take her back to Arlesburgh, so that Percy could take her back to Knapford, and to home. 

"Oh, my! Lady Hatt does go on!" groaned Daisy. 

Percy looked worried when Daisy arrived. 

"You're welcome to her, Percy." whispered Daisy. 

Lady Hatt grumpily boarded Percy's coach. 

"Take me home, Percy." she ordered. 

"Yes, ma'am." replied Percy timidly. 

Percy travelled back to the main line to get Lady Hatt back to Knapford. 

(He passes Arleburgh Junction where Bert is working.) 

But the rain was getting heavier, and Percy was struggling to see. Then there was trouble. Percy ran into a dip in the track and sloshed into a big puddle of water. He was now stranded with a wet firebox. 

"Bust my buffers!" he cried. 

"Oh, Percy!" shouted Lady Hatt from the coach. 

"I'm sorry, ma'am." 

"Sorry isn't good enough, Percy!" fumed Lady Hatt. "How will we get back to Knapford now?" 

Percy didn't know. His Driver splashed into the water and rushed to the nearest signal box to ring for help. 

The Fat Controller soon learned the news. 

"Oh dear! This isn't our day!" he said worriedly. "Uh, Henry, could you go and get Rocky to help Percy and my wife?" 

"Yes, sir." gulped Henry. 

(Diesel, Bill, Ben, Sidney and Toby are seen at the station, as well as the Teacher and Dowager Hatt's Friends.)

"I hope Percy is okay with Lady Hatt." said Rocky as Henry took him to the puddle. 

But Percy wasn't. 

Lady Hatt grumbled dreadfully. "Honestly, a little water shouldn't cause such confusion and delay on Topham's Railway!" 

Henry soon pulled Percy to safety but he had to wait for his firebox to dry out. 

"So how am I to get back home, pray?" asked Lady Hatt. 

"I'll take you, ma'am." suggested Henry. "I'll couple up to Percy's coach and get you back to Knapford on the way back to the Rescue Centre." 

Lady Hatt smiled...a little. 

"Thank you, Henry." 

So Henry left Percy and took Lady Hatt back, but they had to go through Brendam Docks. 

(Cranky, Carly and Big Mickey are seen, as well as Salty and Porter.) 

"Phew!" moaned Lady Hatt. "What a pong of fish!" 

"That's the fish from the Flying Kipper being delivered for tonight, ma'am." explained Henry. 

"Well, I can't abide it!" groaned Lady Hatt, holding her nose. "Henry, take me out of here fast!" 

Henry did so, but he ended up bumping Lady Hatt by accident. 

"OOOH! HENRY!" she yelled furiously. 

There was worse to come. 

Henry pulled out of the Docks too fast and as he rushed to get Lady Hatt home, he accidentally switched onto the Express line, where Gordon was coming from the other direction. 

"Henry, look out!" cried Rocky. 

"Out of the way! Express coming through!" Gordon shouted before applying his brakes, and Henry did so too. 

The two engines stopped just in time. 

"Now the Express will be late!" fumed Gordon. 

Then, the Fat Controller stepped down from one of the Express coaches. 

"Henry, what were you playing at?" he bellowed. 

"I'm sorry, sir. I didn't mean to switch to the Express line. I was in a hurry. Lady Hatt wanted me to get her away from all the fish, sir." 

"Lady Hatt? Fish?!" 

Lady Hatt appeared, holding a Hatt Blue umbrella, looking meek. 

"I'm sorry, Topham dear. I rushed Henry and he must have been too distracted to realize...I had just had a terrible day. My beach plans were cancelled, I nearly got stranded in a flood and then...oh, those fish! ...I'm sorry I have caused confusion and delay for you all, and all this worry." 

"Well, if there's no harm done, I suppose things are going to be alright, my dear." said the Fat Controller with a faint smile. 

Henry took Rocky back to the Rescue Centre, feeling much more cheerful. Gordon continued with the Express, and Percy was soon back to work after his firebox was dried. 

Thomas collected Lady Hatt in his coaches, and she didn't complain once. 

"Whatever the weather, Thomas, my dear Topham's engines are always Really Useful!" 

Thomas smiled in agreement. 

(The other engines whistle in agreement too.) 

(The End!)