The Narrow Gauge saga

Peter Sam and the Refreshment Lady.

Sir Handel had been naughty, so Sir Topham Hatt made him sit in the shed for a week. Peter Sam now had to do Sir Handel's work as well as his own, so the engines were still at a labor disadvantage, but PS didn't mind. He was so excited that the Fireman had some trouble. "Calm down, buster!" he said, but Peter Sam couldn't notice. "Mn. Anyone would think that he wanted to work," a bored and lonely Sir Handel said rudely. "All respectable engines do," replied Skarloey. "If you calm down, PS, you'll do well." But Peter Sam didn't because he got a friend nickname. He went to get some coaches for his passenger train. "Come along! Come along!" he whistled. "There's plenty-a time! There's plenty-a time!" groused the coaches. PS remembered to be careful. "Easy does it," he pipped "ain't you all so pretty that I can't crack you." "This engine," said the coaches "Is much better than that Sir Handel jerk." Somehow, the faster he wanted to go, the slower the journey became. That's what happens when you're sugarhigh. But locomotives don't eat sugar so- oops, sorry. When PS finally fussed into the station, Henry had been waiting for 6 minutes. "This won't do young'n," said Henry, "I can't be kept waiting. If you're late again, i'm gunna leave the station before you arrive." "Pooh." said Peter Sam, but deep down inside, that comment worried him. The conductor blew the whistle and waved the green flag. PS puffed happily away singing "I'm Peter Sam I'm running this line, I'm Peter Sam I'm running this line," letting off steam while people waved as he passed their buildings. "What fun it all is," he sighed as schoolchildren ran to see him. The coaches enjoyed themselves. "He even lets of stea better than Sir Handel." They were growing fond of PS. Soon, he stopped ata a station by the lake. It has a little refreshment stall where the passengers and crew visit. The owner alsways came home on this train. Time passed. At last,the Driver and Fireman went back to the cab. Peter Sam was sizzling with impatience. "Peep! Peep! Hurry up please!" he whistled. "How awful," he thought, "If we missed Henry's train." The guard was holding his stuff when it happened. He said Peter Sam was too impatient, but Peter Sam said there was a whistle. Anyway, he started. "STOP! STOP!" STOP!" wailed the coaches, "YOU LEFT THE REFRESHMENT LADY BEHIND!" "Bother!" groaned Peter Sam, "we're sure to miss Henry, now. The Refreshment Lady climbed aboard and they started again. "We're gunna be SOOO late!" whined Peter Sam. "Steady boy!" shouted the driver. Peter Sam threw himself along the line as fast as he could. Henry had waited 3 minutes when Peter Sam skidded into the platform. "HURRAH!" he shouted. "Meh. not bad," said Henry. But the refreshment lady was so cross. "EEEYOO! Wuddaya meana by leavina me behnd, uh?" "I'm sorry miss," said Peter Sam, "Henry said he was gonna leave before i came here if i was late. The Refreshment Lady laughed. "Ey, lookadis guy, huh? You-a silly engine. Enry wuzza teasin ya. He needs to gets da peeps so he can pull da train, yunowut I'm sayin?" "Well," said Peter Sam, "where's Henry?" He left.