Percy's Chocolate Crunch and Other Thomas the Tank Engine Stories by Rev. W. Awdry

PERCY’S CHOCOLATE CRUNCH
    Sir Topham Hatt’s engines love being shiny and clean. It makes them feel cheerful as they puff across the Island of Sodor.
    Percy often has the dirtiest work to do. But he likes to be clean as well as any other engine. Washdowns are important to Percy.

     
    But Sir Topham Hatt had bad news. “Due to a water shortage,” he said, “no engine shall have more than one washdown a day.”
    “Usefulness before cleanliness,” he added. And left.

     
    Percy was upset. “I get dirty,” he complained. “I need washdowns. Gordon only does it to feel important.”
    “I
am
important,” Gordon sniffed. “I’m an express engine.”
    “You’re a pouty puffer, Percy,” teased James.
    “No, I’m not,” wheeshed Percy. And he chuffed away.

     
    Percy was loading freight cars at the docks. He was trying extra hard to stay clean. But the Troublesome Trucks were being naughty.
    As Percy pushed them under the coal chute, they sang out. “On! On! On!” they cried.

     
    Percy found himself under the chute. And coal dust flew everywhere!
    “Oh, no!” coughed Percy. “I’m filthy!”
    Percy felt awful but he knew he had to carry on.

     
    On the way to Callan Station, the Troublesome Trucks teased Percy even more.
    “Clickety clack.
    Don’t look back.
    Dirty Percy’s on our track!”
    “Be quiet!” Percy snapped.

     
    When Percy arrived at Callan Station, he was very upset. “From now on, I am only doing work where I won’t get dirty.”
    Harold the Helicopter was at Callan Station picking up medical supplies. “Hullo, Percy,” he called. And he took off, blowing cinders and ashes everywhere.

     
    “Not again!” cried Percy. “I want a washdown!”
    “Usefulness before cleanliness,” reminded his driver.
    “I want to be useful where I can’t get dirty!” Percy huffed.

     
    “There’s a load of sugar going to the chocolate factory,” his driver said. “We could take the sugar cars.”
    “Sugar,” said Percy. “
That’s
nice and clean.”
    Percy was pleased.

     
    Percy didn’t know that earlier a leaky freight car had spilled oil on the track.

     
    When he approached the chocolate factory, his driver applied the brakes. But Percy’s wheels just skidded on the oily rails.

     
    “Oh, no!” hooted Percy. “Yuck!” he groaned. “I’ve never been
this
dirty!”
    He was covered from funnel to firebox in sticky, gooey chocolate.

     
    Back at the sheds, everyone thought it was very funny.

     
    “You look good enough to eat!” Thomas hooted.

     
    “Bonbon Percy,” teased James.
    “Choc Ice on wheels!” chipped in Henry.
    “Disgraceful,” said Gordon pompously.

     
    “Ahem!” said a stern-sounding voice. It was Sir Topham Hatt. “You have had a trying day, Percy!” he said.

     
    “Yes, sir,” replied Percy from beneath the chocolate.
    “But you’ve showed us all that usefulness does come before cleanliness. So,” he added, “you shall have your washdown—”
    “Oh, sir!”
    “And a new coat of paint!”
    Percy just
beamed
!

SALTY’S SECRET
    All the engines on the Island of Sodor love their work.
    But sometimes there is too much work. That’s when Sir Topham Hatt brings new engines to the island.

     
    Salty the Dockyard Diesel is one of these engines. He loves to tell tales of the sea.
    “… We heaved until the old freighter finally caught the tide. Arrgh, it’s good to be useful!”
    Salty is excited about coming to the Island of Sodor. Islands are surrounded by the sea. Salty loves the sea.

     
    Soon Salty arrived at his new job.
    “Ahoy, mateys! Salty, pride of the seven seas. I’m a new diesel, and I’m here to give you some help.”

     
    Bill and Ben didn’t think they needed any help. Especially from a diesel.

     
    “Welcome to Center Island Quarry,” Mavis said proudly.
    Salty looked all around. Everywhere he looked he saw nothing but rocks. “A
quarry
?” he cried. “There must be some mistake. I’m a dockyard