Right. Short one this time, but I still like it.

Henry's Sneeze

Narrator: One lovely April Spring Saturday morning, Henry was puffing along with the WildNorWester. The sun shone, the fields were green and the birds were chirping. Henry had plenty of steam in his boiler and he felt very happy. He began to sing a tune with Applejack, Rachel Ravens and William Holden.

Henry: (Breathing in fresh spring air) Why I feel so well that. (Singing) I'm so happy! AHA! Happy go lucky me!

I just come my way, living everyday!

Rachel: (Singing) I don't worry! Worrying don't agree.

Applejack: (Singing) Things that bother you.

William: (Singing) Never bother me!

Henry: (Singing) Things that bother you, never bother me. I feel happy and fine! AHA!

Applejack: (Singing) Living in the sunlight,

Henry: (Singing) Loving in the moonlight

Henry and Applejack: (Singing) having a wonderful time

William: (Singing) Haven't got a lot,

I don't need a lot

Coffee's only a dime

Living in the sunlight,

Rachel: (Singing) Loving in the moonlight,

Rachel and William: (Singing) Having a wonderful time!

Henry: (singing) Just take it from me,

I'm just as free as any daughter.

William: (Spoken) Or son.

Applejack: (Singing) I do what I like,
just what I like,
and how I love it!

Rachel: (singing) I'm right here to stay

When I'm old and gray,

I'll be right in my prime!

Living in the sunlight,

William: (singing) Loving in the moonlight,

William and Rachel: (singing) Having a wonderful time!

All+ Coaches: (Hummming)

Applejack: (Singing) Just take it from me,
I'm just as free as any daughter.

William: (Spoken) Or son.

Henry: (Singing) I do what I like,
just what I like,
and how I love it!

Both Rachel and William: (singing) I'm right here to stay,
When I'm old and gray,
I'll be right in my prime,

Henry: (Singing) Living in the sunlight,

Applejack: (Singing) Loving in the moonlight,

All: (singing) Having a wonderful time!

Narrator: In the distance, Henry saw some boys standing on a bridge above the railway line. Henry whistled Cheerfully.

Henry: Hullo!

Narrator: Henry whistled cheerfully again. Then, it happened.

Henry: OW! OH! OW! OH! OH! OW! OUCH!

Rachel: What the heck!?

William: What the devil!?

Applejack: What in tarnation!?

Narrator: The boys didn't wave or take his number. They dropped stones on Henry instead. They were silly stupid boys who thought it would be funny to drop stones down his funnel. Some hit Henry's boiler and spoiled his paint. One hit poor William on the head as he was shovelling coal whilst others shattered the carriage windows.

William: (stone hits Williams head he falls down into coal pile yelping in pain) Youch! AARRRGGHHHHH! Oh my head argh!

Henry: Well that was a shame! What rude little boys.

Coaches: (sobbing) Oh those horrid little boys! They've broken our glass.

Narrator: Rachel and Applejack turned and saw William picking himself up clutching his bleeding forhead.

Rachel: Oh my goodness William! What happened? Your head is bleeding.

William: Urgh! I got hit in the head by those stupid boy's stones!

Rachel: How dare they!

Narrator: Applejack immediately ran to the first aid box and bandaged William's head as a very cross Rachel planned what she was going to do to pay those boys out. They stopped the train at a signalbox and the guard asked if any of the passengers were hurt. Fortunately, none were hurt but they were extremely cross. They saw Williams bumped and bleeding head and a passenger whom was a doctor treated William's injury. Then the passengers all looked at Henry's spoiled paint.

Passengers: (Angrily) Call the constables!

Rachel: No please! Just leave it to Applejack, William, Henry and me. We'll teach those rotten lads a lesson.

Passengers: And what pray tell are you going to do about it?

Rachel: Can you keep a secret?

Passengers: Yes. Most certainly.

Rachel: Well then. Henry is going to sneeze at those boys.

Passengers: WHAT?!

William: WHAT THE DEVIL?!

Applejack: WHAT IN TARNATION?!

Narrator: Rachel laughed and explained.

Rachel: Heheheh. Like all steam engines, Henry draws his fire from his smokebox, and puffs it out with smoke and steam. When Henry is working hard, the air blows all the cinders and ashes into the firebox and these ashes sometimes prevent him from puffing properly. And to fix that problem, we have to use a blower to blow down to get all the excess soot and ashes through his funnel and out his smokebox. I mean, when your nose is blocked, you sometimes have to sneeze. If Henry's smoke box is blocked I can make the air and steam push the ashes out through the funnel, we'll do it at the bridge.

Narrator: Henry then puffed onto the terminus where he had a rest. Then he took the train back, lots of people were waiting at the station near the bridge. They wanted to see what would happen.

Applejack: Attention y'all! Henry has plenty of ashes in his firebox, Please keep all windows shut until we've passed the bridge.

Rachel: Henry is as excited as we are, aren't you old fellow?

Narrator: And she patted Henry's smoke box. Henry didn't answer he was feeling stuffed up but he winked at his driver. Finally, the guard's flag waved and the whistle blew and they were off. Soon, they were near the bridge and sure enough there were same boys, and they were all ready with stones.

Rachel: Are you ready Henry? Sneeze hard when I tell you too. We're almost there. Get ready… NOW!

Narrator: And she turned the steam release handle.

Henry: AAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHCCCOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!

Narrator: Smoke and steam and ashes spouted out of his funnel. They went all over the bridge and all over the boys who ran away as black as soot.

Rachel: Hahahahaha! Well done Henry. They won't drop stones on engines again.

Applejack: Hahaheheheheh. That'll show them rascals!

William: Heheheh. Your paint's all sooty, but don't worry. We'll rub you down and paint your scratches out then you'll be as good as new tomorrow. Hahahaha. Oh good show Henry! Good show!

Narrator: Henry has never again sneezed under bridges. The fat controller doesn't like it. His smoke box is always cleaned in the yards when he is resting. He has now gone under more bridges than he has counted. But thanks to Henry the Green Engine, from that sneeze, days since then, there have been no more boys (or girls for that matter) dropping stones.

And that was 'Henry, The Green Engine'. Next we come to one of the books in my top 5 of the Railway Series 'Toby The Tram Engine'. Look out for that guys.