Four Little Engineers part 2

*Intermission Ends*

Applebloom and her friends were soon at work. One of the first jobs they had was to get acquainted with the newcomers. The new engines looked very smart and so did their drivers. One driver was named Sir Handel, and the other was named Peter Sam. Now Peter Sam was very kind and cheerful and quickly made himself at home. But Sir Handel was finding it very difficult to get used to his new home and often grumbled.

Sir Handel: *Grumbles* What a small shed. This won't do at all. Our engines are much too smart for this old shack.

Peter Sam: I think it's nice.

Sir Handel: Bah! *Notices Skarloey's engine* And whatever is that rubbish?

Peter Sam: Shh! That engine belongs to Skarloey. He's famous! *To Skarloey* I'm terribly sorry, Skarloey. Sir Handel's upset now, but he's quite nice really. Also we grew up in an Aluminum Works. You know how that is.

Sir Handel: It closed down after an explosion caused by some stray fireworks killed some of the crew and left two engines damaged. So our families had to look for other work until we were old enough to drive the engines and came here.

Skarloey: Sorry to hear that. Anyway, these are our new friends; Applebloom, Scootaloo, and Sweetie Belle.

Applebloom/Scootaloo/Sweetie Belle: *Cheerfully* Hi!

Peter Sam: Pleased to meet you three.

Sir Handel: Hi, I guess.

The following morning, Sir Handel was sleeping when Sweetie Belle woke him up by tickling his foot.

Sweetie Belle: *Playfully* Wakey wakey, sleepy head!

Sir Handel: *Jumps out of bed surprised and looks around* Not funny!

Sweetie Belle: Sorry, but you've gotta get ready for work.

Sir Handel: *Yawns* I'm still tired. Let Peter Sam go. He'd love it.

Sweetie Belle: No. Mr. Percival's orders. You're first. Don't make me use the "face".

Sir Handel: *Sulkily* Oh well. I suppose I must.

Sweetie left the room while Sir Handel got ready. When he was dressed and had breakfast, Sir Handel went out to his engine where Sweetie Belle was waiting. The firelighter had already lit the fire so the engine had a good head of steam. Then they headed off to collect the coaches.

Sir Handel: Whatever next?! Those aren't coaches, they're cattle wagons!

The "cattle wagons" were in fact the coaches and van belonging to Agnes, Ruth, Jemima, Lucy, and Beatrice, who were most offended.

Agnes: *Insulted* Cattle wagons?!

Ruth: The nerve of him!

Sir Handel: And those aren't pretty stewardesses, they're homely!

Jemima: HOMELY?!?

Lucy: How dare he!

Beatrice: What a horrid person!

Sweetie Belle: Sir Handel, that was rude!

Sir Handel: Sorry, but it's not what I'm used to.

As soon as the train was coupled up, Sir Handel took them to the station just as Gordon and Rainbow Dash arrived.

Gordon: You must be very proud of Scootaloo to be working on the railway, aren't you.

Rainbow Dash: You bet. It's great she gets to experience the railway like I do.

Sir Handel: Hello there. Who are you?

Gordon: I'm Gordon.

Rainbow Dash: And I'm Rainbow Dash. Who are you?

Sir Handel: I'm Sir Handel. I've heard of you, Gordon. Your engine is an express engine, I believe. So is mine, but I'm used to boogie coaches with pretty stewardesses, not these cattle wagons with homely stewardesses. Do you pull boogie coaches? Yes, I see you do. We must have a chat sometime. Sorry I can't stop. Must keep time you know.

With that, the train pulled out leaving Gordon and Rainbow Dash at a loss for words.

Sir Handel: Come along, you! Come along you!

Agnes, Ruth, Jemima, Lucy, and Beatrice: *Grumbling* Cattle wagons! Cattle wagons! We'll pay him out!

Sweetie Belle: Sir Handel, maybe you should be nicer to them and not call their rolling stock names.

Presently, they stopped at a station. The line curved here and started to climb. It wasn't very steep, but the day was misty and the rails were slippery.

Agnes, Ruth, Jemima, Lucy, and Beatrice: *Make the brakes come on*

As Sir Handel started the train, the couplings started to tighten.

Sir Handel: Come on! Come on!

His wheels slipped on the greasy rails. But the coaches pulled them back and the train stopped on the hill beyond the station.

Sir Handel: I can't do it!  I'm used to sensible boogie coaches, not these bumpy cattle wagons. And the stewardesses were a lot prettier than these!

Agnes, Ruth, Jemima, Lucy, and Beatrice: *Fum angrily*

The conductor came up.

Conductor: I think those girls are up to something.

Sweetie Belle: Serves you right for making fun of them, Sir Handel.

So they decided to bring the train down again to a level piece of line to give Sir Handel a good start. Sweetie Belle helped the conductor put sand on the rails and Sir Handel gave a tremendous effort. The girls tried hard to drag him back, but he worked so hard that they were soon at the top and away on their journey. Mr. Percival was severe with Sir Handel that night.

Mr. Percival: You are a troublesome fellow. You are rude, conceited, and much too big for your breeches. Next time, I shall punish you severely.

Sir Handel was impressed and behaved well for several days. Then one morning, he took the train to the Top Station. He was cross. It was Peter Sam's turn, but Mr. Percival had made him go instead.

Sweetie Belle: We'll leave the coaches and fetch some freight cars from the quarry.

Sir Handel: Freight cars?! Freight cars?!

Sweetie Belle: Yes, silly. What were you expecting to be at the quarry, coaches?

Sir Handel made his engine jerk forward.

Sir Handel: I won't. So there!

The engine lurched, bumped, and stopped. Sweetie Belle got out.

Sir Handel: *Triumphantly* Told you!

Sir Handel's engine had pushed the rails apart, and settled down between them. Sweetie Belle telephoned Mr. Percival. He came up at once with Peter Sam and Applebloom, and brought some workmen in a freight car. His message to Sir Handel was brief and blunt.

Mr. Percival: *Sternly* I shall talk to you later.

With that, he and Sweetie Belle headed back with Applebloom, Peter Sam and the coaches while Sir Handel had to help the workmen put his engine back on the rails. Sir Handel did not feel so pleased with himself when he crawled home and found Mr. Percival waiting for him.

Mr. Percival: *Sternly* You are a very naughty young man! You shall not be handling anymore trains until I can trust you to behave! I hope that when you come back to work, you will change your attitude.

After hearing that, I'm sure Sir Handel will. Aren't you?

*Intermission*