A Close Shave for Lady

Narrator: "Lady the Magical Engine puffed sadly to Molly's Station."

Lady: "It's not fair!"

Narrator: She complained."

Lady: "Daisy has been telling lies about me, and made and all the animals think I'm horrid."

Narrator: "Sonic smiled."

Sonic: "I know you aren't, and so does King Acorn. You wait and see. Why don't you help me with these Perfectoids?"

Narrator: "Furrball felt happier with Sonic, and set to work at once.

The Perfectoids were silly, heavy, and noisy. The two animals had to work hard, pushing and pulling them all afternoon. At last, they reached the top of the hill."

Furrball: "Good-bye!"

Narrator: "Whistled Furrball, and rolled gently over the crossing to the other line.

Furrball loved coasting down the hill, running easily with the wind whistling past. Suddenly, it was an animator's warning whistle!"

Perfectoids: "Hurrah, hurrah, hurrah!"

Narrator: "Laughed the Perfectoids."

Perfectoids: "We've broken away! We've broken away! Chase him! Bump him! Throw him off the road!"

Narrator: "They yelled."

Furrball's Animator: "Hurry, Furrball, Hurry!"

Narrator: "Said the animator. They raced through Sonic's station, but the Perfectoids were catching up."

Furrball's Animator: "As fast as we can, then they'll catch us gradually!"

Narrator: "The Animator was gaining control."

Furrball's Animator: "Another clear mile, and we'll do it!"

Furrball: "Oh, glory, look at that!"

Narrator: "Plucky was just pulling out on their line from the station ahead. Any minute, there could be a crash!

Furrball's Animator: "It's up to you now, Furrball!"

Narrator: "Cried the animator.

Furrball put every ounce of weight and strength against the Perfectoids."

Furrball: "It's too late!"

Narrator: "Furrball groaned, and shut his eyes. He veered into a siding where Sappy Stanley, an elephant barber set up shop. He was shaving a customer."

(CRASH!)

"The silly Perfectoids had knocked their animator down, and left him far behind after he had whistled a warning.

But the Perfectoids didn't care. They were feeling very pleased with themselves."

Furrball: "Beg pardon, sir."

Narrator: "Gasped Furrball."

Furrball: "Excuse my intrusion."

Sappy Stanley: "No, I won't!"

Narrator: "Said Sappy Stanley."

Sappy Stanley: "You've frightened my customers! I'll teach you!"

Narrator: "And he lathered Furrball's face all over. Poor Furrball.

Buster was helping to pull the Perfectoids away, when King Acorn arrived."

Sappy Stanley: "I do not like cats popping through my walls!"

Narrator: "Fumed Sappy Stanley."

King Acorn: "I appreciate your feelings,"

Narrator: "Said King Acorn."

King Acorn: "But you must know that this cat and his animator have prevented a very serious accident. It was a very close, um, shave."

Sappy Stanley: "Oh."

Narrator: "Said Sappy Stanley."

Sappy Stanley: "Oh. Excuse me."

Narrator: "He filled a basin of water to wash Furrball's face."

Sappy Stanley: "I'm sorry. I didn't know you were being a brave cat."

Furrball: "That's all right, sir. I didn't know that, either."

King Acorn: "You were very brave, indeed."

Narrator: "Said King Acorn."

King Acorn: "I'm proud of you."

Narrator: "King Acorn watched the rescue operation, then he had more news for Furrball."

King Acorn: "And when you are properly washed and healed, you are coming home."

Furrball: "Home, sir? Do you mean the yard?"

King Acorn: "Of course."

Furrball: "But sir, they don't like me. They like Monty."

King Acorn: "Not now. I never believed Monty, so I sent him packing. The animals are sorry and want you back."

Narrator: "A few days later, when he came home, here was a really rousing welcome for Furrball the Cat."