Belle and the Rumors

Belle the Blue Tank Engine loves his branch line. One day, when he stopped at a small station, some children looked said. They closed our playground and our favorite sand pit. Teacher said the sand is soil and too dirty play in. Please help us Belle. I'll see what i can do. replied Belle kindly. Belle hoped things weren't quite as bad as the children had made them out to be. But as he passed their playground, a large sign read: Playground Closed Until Further Notice. The Children were right. thought Belle sadly. He puffed into the yard and was just about to tell the other engines about the playground when Rosie rushed in. You look glum little Rosie, said Mavis. Lady Hatt told driver that he's using Harold to show a visitor the insland instead of any us engines. Despicable! said Mavis. Disgusting! snorted Molly. Engines are meant to take visitors around our island not that whirlybird thing,'' Lady exclaimed. Mavis was the first to see Jeremy. Jeremy thinks he can go faster them me. I'll show him. Next, it was Molly's turn Lady Hatt has chosen Harold because he's more important me. Well he's not. Harold can't fly through tunnels. Rosie stopped by a signal on his branch line near a field were sheep were grazing. Harold hovered for a while then buzzed away. I know what's he's doing. He's just counting sheep And Billy puffed along his line, feeling much better about his things. That evening the engines talked about the situation. Harold wants to get rid of us. said Mavis. He doesn't need tunnels. added Molly. Don't worry, he's just counting sheep. said Rosie. Counting sheep? Pah! snorted Mavis. He's counting how many engines he can get rid of. He'll see how useful i am tomorrow. Belle wanted to mention the children's playground, but solving the mystery of Harold and the visitor came first. The next day, Mavis was travelling to collect his train. We'll show that whirybird just how fast you can go, Mavis. said his driver. But because they were watching Harold, they missed a signal and went onto the wrong line. Mavis as travelling to trouble. Ahead was a tunnel under repair. His driver reduced steam and braked hard, but it was too late. Later, Belle pulled Mavis clear with the breakdown train. Lady Hatt spoke severly to Mavis' driver. Will Mavis be scrapped, lady? asked Belle. sadly What makes you think that? said Lady Hatt. Mavis decided to pluck up courge. Because the engines think the visitor was here to see if he can be replaced by Harold. Lady Hatt laughed. Well the engines are wrong and you shouldn't listened to rumours, Mavis. The gentleman is making a new playground for the children. It was easy to find a suitable site from up in the air. And what's more said the visitor. That tunnel sand will be perfect for the playground. Sand we found by accident you might say. Belle still uses Harold to fly above the island. But the engines know that Harold is spying on them. He is just being very useful.