Thomas and Friends Fanfiction Series 7

Thomas' Grumpy Friend

One day, Thomas and Percy were at Knapford Station. Percy had just shunted Annie and Clarabel for Thomas to save time as his best friend had trouble getting his fire started back at the sheds. 

"Thank you, Percy," chirruped Annie. 

"At least you wake up on time," said Clarabel suggestively. 

"Thanks, you two," muttered Thomas, "but thank you, Percy." 

"No problem," chuckled Percy. 

Just then, Little Thomas approached with his pet dog, Fuzzy. 

"Hello, Thomas," he called happily. 

"Hello, Little Thomas," peeped Thomas, "I see Fuzzy is happy today." 

"Yep!" giggled Little Thomas. "He's out for fresh air with me and my daddy." 

Albert walked over. 

"Best take him to the town, son," he said, "Fuzzy may not like the steam on the platform." 

"Okay, Daddy! Bye, Thomas!" 

Thomas whistled cheerfully, and soon his passengers began to board. One of them was a boy he met before during Christmas time. 

"Mummy," said Ray, "can I have a pet doggy too?" 

"No, sweetheart," said his mother, "I'm, I'm...ATCHOO...allergic to dog fur!" 

"But Mummy-" 

"I'm sorry, Ray, but no." 

Ray's mother had spoken and her word was final. 

But Ray did not look happy. He walked crossly into Annie and didn't even say hello to Thomas. 

Thomas was worried. Ray was known to lose his temper if he didn't get what he wanted. 

"I hope he'll get past the disappointment," he said. 

"I'm sure young Ray will be a good boy," said the Fat Controller. 

Thomas whistled and pulled out of the station. 

As he puffed along the branch line, he, Annie and Clarabel could hear Ray pleading with his mother to let him have a puppy. 

"Please!"

"For the last time, no!" 

Thomas felt sorry for Ray, but knew that nobody could have everything they wanted. But Ray didn't want to know that and kept on moaning. The other passengers were getting fed up, much to his mother's embarrassment. 

(The passengers include Dowager Hatt's Friends, the Teacher and the Welsh Bird Watcher.)

After his first route to and from Ffarquhar was finished, Thomas rested at Knapford. He had dropped off Ray and his mother at Ffarquhar, and was still wondering if Ray was still upset about the puppy. 

"You look a little worried, Thomas," said Henry. 

Thomas explained about Ray and his not being able to have a puppy for a pet. 

"Poor Ray," said Henry. 

"But he must learn that no-one can have everything they want," said Emily. 

"Remember when I wanted to have a new look because I didn't feel Really Useful enough?" asked Rebecca. 

"Or when I wanted to avoid the Black Loch route?" added Emily. 

"And when I didn't want to get my paint wet in the rain?" finished Henry. 

Thomas smiled. "Or when I wanted to finish delivering fish trucks quickly, but had to take only five trucks at a time?" 

The engines laughed. 

"I'm sure Ray will cheer up before the end of the day, Thomas," assured Rebecca. 

Thomas thought so too, but he was wrong. 

Later that day, Thomas was to collect passengers from Ffarquhar again, and at the platform was a furious Ray!

"It's not fair, Mummy!" 

"For the last time, please stop moaning about that dog!" groaned his mother. 

But Ray didn't stop moaning and Thomas, Annie, Clarabel and the passengers were getting just as grumpy as he was. 

"I wish Ray would stop," fumed Thomas, "if he carries on like this, he will cause a lot of complaints and get himself into trouble!" 

Then...there WAS trouble! 

Ray was getting crosser at his mother who had now decided to ignore his constant complaining and he didn't like that at all! He tried to jump on his seat to get her attention, and then it happened! 

Ray lost his balance and fell backwards into a passenger standing near the emergency cable. He grabbed onto the cable and put on the brakes on Annie. 

But Thomas was just turning round a corner. The sudden braking on the turn made him and his coaches jolt and Thomas' wheels derailed! He was stuck!

"Oh no!" cried Thomas. 

"RAY!" shouted his mother. 

For the first time that day, Ray was silent and regretful. He didn't say a word, but the Guard and the passengers had lots to say. 

The Guard left to phone for help. 

Soon, Ryan arrived with Judy and Jerome who helped to bring Thomas back onto the rails. Other children who had been on Annie and Clarabel were cheered up by Terence the Tractor who had been ploughing nearby, by giving them rides. The only child who didn't have a ride was a very shame-faced Ray. 

"Oh dear," murmured Terence to himself at the sight of Ray's sad face.

Ray didn't speak a word, not even by the time they finally returned to Knapford. 

The Fat Controller was very annoyed. 

"Young Ray," he said sternly, "I understand you didn't get a dog like you wanted, but you must NEVER take out your anger by delaying my branch line trains!" 

"I'm s-s-sorry, s-s-sir!" sniffled Ray. He looked frightened as well as ashamed. 

Thomas now felt sorry for Ray, and he slowly approached him. 

"Ray, I know you're sorry for what you've done, but your mum is now very upset with you, and you have caused confusion and delay. Nobody can have everything that they want. I wanted things that I couldn't have." 

"You have?" sniffed Ray nervously. 

"Yep," peeped Thomas with a kind smile, "I once wanted to take the Sodor United football team to the match, but James finished his work first and got to do it. I did something naughty and I learned my lesson afterwards. What you did is the same! You can learn from your mistakes! You can be a Really Good boy again!" 

Ray's mother agreed with a thankful smile and the Fat Controller nodded encouragingly. 

Ray sniffed then gave Thomas a hug. 

"I'm sorry I hurt you, Thomas," he said softly, "I'll never do that again!" 

Thomas smiled. Ray had caused a lot of trouble, but with his help, the boy learned that you cannot always have what you want, but you never need to be grumpy or naughty because of it: you just need to be Really Good and Really Useful!

(The End!)