Rosie's Caramel Crunch

All of the train engines liked being shiny and clean, it made them feel more cheerful just as they trundle across the railroad station.

Rosie had the dirtiest work to do, but she likes to be clean just like any other train engine.

Nice warm wash downs are important to Rosie, but the manager had some terrible news.

“Due to the water shortage,” the manager said. “No train engine will have more than 1 wash down a day or night, cheerfulness before cleanliness.” the manager said and left.

Rosie was terribly upset.

“I can’t believe I always get dirty, I need showers, Neville only does it to feel more important.” Rosie complained.

“I’m more important, Rosie,” Neville said. “I’m a mysterious black engine.”

“You’re a crazy mouth, Rosie.” Emily teased.

“No I’m not!” Rosie exclaimed angrily, and she trundled away.

Rosie was loading cargo at the Harbor and she was trying very hard to say clean, but the Freight Cars were being very naughty.

Just as Rosie pushed them under the coal chute, they laughed out loud.

“On, on, faster, faster!” the Freight Cars exclaimed in unison.

Rosie found herself under the coal chute, and coal dust flew all over the place.

“Oh dear!” coughed Rosie. “I’m filthy!”

Rosie was feeling terrible, but she knew she had to carry on.

On the way to the dunes, the Freight Cars teased Rosie even more.

“Clickety-clack, don't look back, dirty Rosie’s on our track!” the Freight Cars exclaimed in unison.

“Shut up!” Rosie snapped angrily.

When Rosie arrived at the dunes, she was terribly fed up and upset."

“From now on, I’m only doing work where I won’t get dirty and filthy.” Rosie said looking a bit upset.

Harold the Helicopter was at the dunes picking up some medical supplies.

“Hello there, Rosie!” Harold called over to her. And he took off piling dirt and dust all over the place.

“Not again!” whistled Rosie. “I want a good wash down!”

“Cheerfulness before cleanliness.” reminded her driver.

“I wanna be cheerful where I can’t get dirty and filthy.” Rosie chuffed.

“There’s a load of sugar going to the Caramel Factory.” her driver said. “We can deliver the sugar there.”

“Oh yeah, sugar.” said Rosie. “That’s nice and clean.”

Rosie was very pleased.

Rosie didn’t know that earlier, a leaky oil tank had spilled oil on the railroad track.

When she approached the chocolate factory, she tried to stop, but it was too late, Rosie’s wheels just slid on the oily railroad track.

“Oh dear!” Rosie exclaimed in fear.

''CRASH! ''

“Ew, gross!” she groaned in disgust. “I never got this dirty and filthy!”

She was covered from buffer to buffer in sticky, gooey, caramel.

Meanwhile back at the train engine shed everybody thought it was hilarious.

“You look good enough to eat!” Henry exclaimed with laughter.

“Caramel Donut Rosie!” Gordon exclaimed tauntingly.

“Caramel on wheels!” Percy exclaimed between giggles.

“Disgraceful!” Thomas said pompously.

“Ahem!” said a familiar sounding voice. It was the manager.

“You always tried your best, Rosie.” the manager said.

“Yes, kind sir.” replied Rosie from beneath the caramel.

“But you showed all of us that cheerfulness does come before cleanliness, so……” he said to Rosie. “You can have your wash down.

“Oh how exciting!” Rosie exclaimed excitingly.

“And a new coat of lavender paint.” the manager said to Rosie.

Rosie just beamed with delightfulness.

End of Rosie’s side of the caramel story sequence……….