Thomas Gets Tricked

Ringo Starr: Thomas is a tank engine who lives at the big station on the Island of Sodor. He's a cheeky little engine with six small wheels, a short stumpy funnel, a short stumpy boiler and a short stumpy dome. He's a fussy little engine, too, always pulling coaches about, ready for the big engines to take on long journeys. And when trains come in, he pulls the empty coaches away so that the big engines can go on rest. Thomas thinks no engine works as hard as he does. He loves playing tricks on them, including Gordon, the biggest and proudest engine of all. Thomas likes to tease Gordon with his whistle.

Thomas: Wake up, lazybones! Why don't you work hard like me?

Ringo Starr: One day after pulling the big Express, Gordon had arrived back at the sidings very tired. He was just going to sleep when Thomas came up in his cheeky way.

Thomas: Wake up, lazybones, do some hard work for a change - you can't catch me!

Ringo Starr: And off Thomas ran laughing. Instead of going to sleep again, Gordon thought how he could get back at Thomas. One morning Thomas wouldn't wake up. His Driver and Fireman couldn't make him start. His fire went out and there was not enough steam. It was nearly time for the Express. People were waiting, but the coaches weren't ready. At last, Thomas started.

Thomas: Oh, dear! Oh, dear!

Ringo Starr: He yawned. He fussed into the station where Gordon was waiting.

Gordon: Hurry up, you.

Ringo Starr: Said Gordon.

Thomas: Hurry yourself.

Ringo Starr: Replied Thomas. Gordon the proud engine began making his plan to teach Thomas a lesson for teasing him. Almost before the coaches had stopped moving Gordon reversed quickly and was coupled to the train.

Gordon: Get in quickly, please.

Ringo Starr: He whistled. Thomas usually pushed behind the big trains to help them start. But he was always uncoupled first. This time, Gordon start so quickly they forgot to uncouple Thomas. Gordon's chance had come!

Gordon: Come on! Come on!

Ringo Starr: Puffed Gordon to the coaches. The train went faster and faster; too fast for Thomas. He wanted to stop but he couldn't.

Thomas: Peep! Peep! Stop, stop!

Gordon: Hurry, hurry, hurry.

Ringo Starr: Laughed Gordon.

Coaches: You can't get away, you can't get away!

Ringo Starr: Laughed the coaches. Poor Thomas was going faster than he had ever gone before. He was out of breath and his wheels hurt him, but he had to go on.

Thomas: I shall never be the same again.

Ringo Starr: He thought sadly.

Thomas: My wheels will be quite worn out.

Ringo Starr: At last they stopped at a station. Thomas was uncoupled and he felt very silly and exhausted. Next he went on to the turntable thinking of everyone laughing at him and then he ran on to a siding out of the way.

Gordon: Well, little Thomas.

Ringo Starr: Chuckled Gordon.

Gordon: Now you know what hard work means, don't you?

Ringo Starr: Poor Thomas couldn't answer, he had no breath. He just puffed slowly away to rest and had a long, long drink.

Thomas: Maybe I don't have to tease Gordon to feel important.

Ringo Starr: Thomas thought to himself. And he puffed slowly home.