Author's notes: What do I think of the one written by Christopher? The story itself isn't a bad idea, but the placement of it is. After teasing Peter Sam, you would think Duncan would get some kind of comeuppance and Peter Sam to get his dignity back. That's a complaint I have against the book itself, not against the individual story. Now, if there was a comeuppance story and this one was Duncan redeeming himself, I can give that a pass, but in the actual book, it doesn't work. Thank goodness me and atsf have put that right here. Anyway, let's go.

Pop Special.

Narrator: During the summer, an assorted party of boy scouts, girl scouts, filly scouts and colt scouts set tents up in field beside the Skarloey Railway. They bustled about arranging things but were never too busy to wave as the engines passed.

Scootaloo: Say who are they? (Pointing at the scouts)

Mr. Roberts: Those are boy scouts, those are girls scouts, those right there are called filly scouts and over there are colt scouts. They've come for their annual Sudrian 'Get together' camp. It's a friendship 'get together' holiday for them, and their leaders, Tom Powell, his wife Myrtle Powell and Apple Bloom's older cousin Braeburn have been to see Mr. Hugh and he says that the scouts can work on the railway for us.

Duncan: Hmph. Sounds like a funny sort of holiday if you ask me.

Scootaloo: Yeah. Same here. I thought a holiday is meant to take break from work.

Mr. Roberts: Lots of people do this, and they've done it for many generations. The Talyllyn Railway where Sir Handel and Pipsqueak have gone has most of its work done like that. From what Miss Ravens and Mr. Holden told me, that they've done work like this when they were scouts and they were pretty good ones too, they even managed to get the King's and Queen's scout. That's how good they were. Anyway, getting back on topic, the scouts are going to help us. Do you guys remember that section near Skarloey station where the ditches are bad and we have to be careful when its wet? Well the Scouts are going to put that right for us.

Duncan: Oh well, then good for them then.

Scootaloo: Yeah. That's pretty nice of them to help us out.

Narrator: The ponies, engines and drivers were pleased, for they didn't like slowing down in wet or frosty weather. It was anything but frosty at present as each day the sun shone and it became hotter and hotter, even too hot for holiday makers to lie on the beach. Every train was full, the scouts grew hot too, they rested thankfully as the trains but their cheerful waves grew wearier as the days passed. On the final day of their camp, Duncan toiled uphill with the last train. He and Scootaloo were looking forward to a rest under the trees at Skarloey Station. As Duncan neared the place were scouts were working, he whistled to warn them that he was coming. Then he saw 3 figure crossing the line in front of the train. Mr. Roberts put a hand on his brake.

Mr. Roberts: Steady on Duncan. It looks as if the scout leaders want us to stop for something.

Narrator: Duncan drew gently to a halt and scout leaders Tom Powell, Myrtle Powell and Braeburn climbed onto the footplate.

Scootaloo: Is anything wrong?

Tom Powell: Not yet, but I'm afraid that there will be unless our scouts have something to drink.

Myrtle Powell: It's so hot out that we've run out of water supply and have no more water.

Braeburn: Yeah, and the kiddies throats are getting mighty dry there, and we don't want them to all collapse from heat exhaustion. So could y'all drop off some apple cider or soda pops when ya'l next come by?

Scootaloo/Mr. Roberts: No problem.

Mr. Roberts: We'll go see the refreshment lady at the Skarloey Station.

Scootaloo: Right. Lets go.

Narrator: When they got to Skarloey station, Mr. Roberts came back out looking long faced.

Scootaloo: (Long faced) Let me guess, bone dry?

Mr. Roberts: (Sad sigh) Not a bottle to be found. It seems everyone is as thirsty as those boys, girls, fillies and colt, so now what we do?

Narrator: Scootaloo and Mr. Roberts didn't know and neither did Duncan. He thought so hard that he began to feel thirsty himself. Then an idea came to him.

Duncan: Wait a minute. Isn't there a Refreshment Stand by Lakeside Station? Perhaps the lady there might….

Mr. Roberts/Scootaloo: (Excited) OF COURSE!

Mr. Roberts: Duncan, your a genius! We'll leave the coaches here whilst you me and Scootaloo brings some drinks to the scouts

Scootaloo: We can just get back here before the train is due to leave. But we must hurry.

Narrator: Whilst the station master telephoned to warn the shop lady, Duncan set off light engine to lakeside station. The refreshment lady met them at shop near the station.

Refreshement lady: I haven't much myself, but the scouts are welcome to what there is.

Narrator: A little later, the scouts heard a whistle and Duncan puffed into sight. He stopped beside them and Mr. Roberts and Scootaloo handed down the drink. The scouts cheered loudly.

Mr. Roberts/Scootaloo: Not me. It was Duncan's idea.

Narrator: The Scouts cheered again and thanked Duncan instead.

Duncan: It's nothing. You're helping us it's only fair that we help you scouts too.

Right. Onto 'Sir Handel Comes Home'.