Toby And The Ox

Toby is a tram engine. And he is proud to be one. His coach, Henrietta was happy to be pulled by Toby. Both Toby and Henrietta have been together for a long time. Toby was proud of Henrietta. One day, the Fat Controller came to see Toby.

"Toby," he said, "Farmer McColl wants you to help him with a load of hay for his animals. You must take empty trucks and collect his hay."

"Yes, sir," said Toby. Toby was coupled up to the trucks and steamed away. He puffed happily through the countryside. He felt proud.

However, on his way to Farmer McColl's farm, there was trouble. Toby stopped suddenly. For a good reason. A large creature was standing on the tracks. It looked like a bull. "I don't think it's no ordinary bull," said Toby's Driver.

"It's actually and ox," said Toby's Firemen, "And he looks very stern." The ox stared at Toby. It snorted hard at Toby. "Uh oh," said Toby, "I don't think he likes us."

"Yeah," said his driver. So Toby ranged his bell and blew steam at the ox. That only made the ox mad. It bellowed very loudly. "I don't think that worked," said Toby's firemen. Then, the ox knocked a boulder onto the rails.

Luckily it didn't hit Toby, nor did it rolled away. But the track was blocked. "That is one aggressive ox," said Toby. Toby had never had trouble with cows or bulls on the line.

Well, with the track blocked by the boulder, Toby had to return to the yards. As his crew called for help to remove the boulder. Edward was there. "What's happened?" he asked.

"An ox was in the way," said Toby, "It knocked a boulder onto the tracks. I don't know why is he angry." "An ox?" asked Edward, "Tell me everything, Toby."

And Toby told Edward about the ox and how it caused a boulder to drop onto the rails. "Gosh," said Edward, "That's one aggressive ox." "Yeah," said Toby, "I've never encountered an animal like that."

At the part of the track where Toby encountered the ox, the ox left. The men brought Thumper to break apart the rock. Toby returned to the same track later that day.

Toby watched Terence and Harvey clear up the boulder pieces. He carefully set off towards Farmer McColl's farm once again. This time, Toby delivered his loads of hay for the animals.

Toby's driver told Farmer McColl what had happened. "I see," he said, "That ox has been causing trouble all over the countryside." "I wonder what's happened with it?" asked Toby.

"We better find out," replied his driver. Toby with his crew set off. But it wasn't long before they see the ox again. The ox stared at Toby. "What does it want?" asked Toby.

"Who knows?" replied his driver, "Wait here?" Toby's driver approached the ox carefully. The ox grunted and grunted.

"Wait," he said, "I know what's wrong now." He approached the ox and looked at it's right front hoof. "Alas!" he said and pulled out a thorn. The ox soon became gentle.

"This has been responsible for the ox's behavior," said the Driver, holding the thorn. "Well, I'll be," said Toby.

After that, the ox never caused trouble again. And Toby was as happy as he can be. And he never had troubles with cows, bulls or oxen again.