TEDDY MAC'S EVENING IN THE ENGINE SHED 

To listen to the story click on the bucket

Clunk, the door slammed shut. Two little lights flickered in the corner of the Engine Shed . Sliding down into the cab from Otter’s tender, Teddy Mac peered into the darkness until he recognised the hard yellow hats and heard the friendly voices.“Humphrey!” he shouted. “I’m so pleased to see you! Grandad left me here for the evening and….” “Well, that’s handy!” interrupted Humphrey, “We can do with another pair of paws. We’re going to make Star Marbles this evening!”

The moles dragged a bag of marbles towards Otter. Straight away, some of them began to pile coal into Otter’s firebox. The warmth made Teddy Mac’s face glow. “Come on,” said Humphrey, “ let’s get on with it! One of the moles rolled a round blue marble on to Otter’s shovel. Looking into the firebox, Teddy Mac watched the flames swirling and dancing. “It's the same colour as the Great Marble of Beer! ”he said. The heat was so great that the moles had to use special gloves to protect their paws. The hot marble glowed white as they pulled it out of the firebox. 

One of the moles dragged a tiny cookie cutter out of the net. Very carefully, he pressed out the star marble shape. “NOW we need lots of cold water,” said Humphrey. “I’ll put a bucket under the tap. Can you turn it on?” Teddy Mac jumped up to help. He climbed out of the cab and felt his way towards the tap, but it was too high up on the wall for him to reach. “Can I stand on you Dickie?” he asked. “No! you can‘t” hissed Dickie, “I’ve just been polished.” “You can stand on me!” sighed Linda. Teddy Mac’s ears drooped. “I don’t think you’re tall enough!” he said. Thomas 11 wasn’t near enough and neither was Gem and Jimmy was fast asleep.” “Stand on me!” whispered Claudine.

Teddy Mac made his way past Finn MacCool towards Claudine and very carefully hauled himself on to the top of her cab.

Straightening up he tried not to wobble, putting his paws out to help him himself balance, but as the tap spluttered into life, he slipped. “Ooh!” he shouted. “AAH!” screamed the moles beneath him. Grabbing a rope hanging next to him Teddy Mac swung backwards and forwards over the moles until his weight made him slip slowly to the ground. He stopped directly beside the bucket full of cooling Star Marbles. “Oops! That was lucky,” said Humphrey.

There was a noise outside. “Grandad must be back!” they said. Throwing the cooled star marbles back into the net, Teddy Mac jumped back into Otter’s tender as the moles raced for the inspection pit, dropped down and slid the last planks into place. The Engine Shed door opened. “Goodness me it’s hot in here!” said Grandad as he turned on the light.. “You’d think the Engines would be cooler by now!” said Driver Brian, wiping his forehead.. “Yes,“ said Grandad,“ looking puzzled. How strange? Well, I mustn’t forget to take Teddy Mac home with me or there will be a huge space on the bookshelf.” Teddy Mac snuggled down in to Grandad’s Railway Bag. What an evening he’d had, and now he couldn’t wait to tell the others what he had been doing when he got home.

© Margaret Edmonds 2009