A Day Off From School

"A Day Off From School" is a story written by Loco123456.

Story
A new company called "Sodor Railway Tours" had opened up, and would use Old Slow Coach. People could climb aboard and they would watch from a safe distance the operations of railways in the yards. Old Slow Coach would travel to places by being coupled up to passenger trains. A group of 20 people were boarding her at Vicarstown, in which the express would be stopping at Kellsthrope Road. Lady Hatt, who is charge of the Scheduling Department, watched the porters and the guard of Old Slow Coach help the tourists climb aboard. "After the train leaves I'll take you two to school," said Lady Hatt to her grandchildren, Stephen and Bridget. Their grandmother walked away to speak with Old Slow Coach's guard. "Stephen, I'd rather go on the tour instead of going to school," whispered Bridget. While no one was looking they climbed into empty seats near the front. At last 7:37 arrived and with a sharp whistle of the guard on the express, the train glided away. "Right, n-." Lady Hatt looked around, but didn't see her grandchildren. She went into the waiting room, but they weren't there reither. "I better call my assistant and have him be in charge. I must find them, I must!" She hurried away to a telephone.

Meanwhile Stephen and Bridget were having a wonderful time. They arrived at Kellsthrope Road at 9:04. Old Slow Coach was uncoupled and shunted into a siding. The tourists pulled out their cameras and notebooks to watch the engines go about their work. "Stephen and Bridget Hatt!" said Old Slow Coach sternly. "You've scared your grandmother." "Lady Hatt's grandchildren aren't on board," said the guard, a little confused. "Look near the front." He did; sure enough they were there. He didn't know what to do. No one had ever snuck onto a train. "Shall I leave? I should, but I have strict orders to protect the tourists..." He thought hard, and then realized something. "When we go to have lunch at Wellsworth, I can get them off the train and the Stationmaster can take them to Wellsworth School!"

When they arrived at Wellsworth at 12:45, the guard, along with some workmen, took the passengers to the near-by café for lunch. Bridget and Stephen stayed behind. "Come on you two," said the guard. "We know that you're trying to get us off this train," said Stephen, "but we're not moving!" "Right then, you shall have it your way," said the guard sadly. And took them with everyone else to lunch. "I must think of a plan to help Lady Hatt and the guard," thought Old Slow Coach. She thought and thought, and finally- "Yes. It'll work. I'll tell the guard." A hour later the passengers returned. "Guard, I need to have a word with you," she said. She whispered her plan to him. "It'll cause trouble," he whispered nervously. "Just as long as I do the talking, we should be fine."

At 3:08 they arrived at Knapford. Stafford came up to shunt Old Slow Coach away to a siding. "I'm not moving," she protested. "You're going to delay the train," said Stafford, "it still needs to take passengers to Tidmouth." "I'm not moving!" A porter went to fetch the Stationmaster; Old Slow Coach grinned. "Why won't you move?" he demanded. "Beceause Stephen and Bridget Hatt are on my train," she said proudly. Stephen and Bridget knew that they couldn't fool anyone, sos they disembarked. Stafford shunted Old Slow Coach away and the stopping train only was a minute late, something that could easily be made up for in a time where slow trains got a chance to have somewhat of high priority. "You two shall come with me," said the Stationmaster sternly. He had an Inspector at Knapford to keep an eye on things while he drove the children home. When Lady Hatt opened the door she was pleased to see her children were safe. "Where were you?" she asked. "They snuck aboard the first Sodor Railway Tour," said the Stationmaster, who walked away to his car. "You did what?" stammered Lady Hatt as she closed the door. "We wanted a day off from school," explained Stephen. "You shall both go to your rooms. You'll be grounded for two weeks; no dessert and no hanging out with friends." The two children went up to their rooms; at least they had knowledge that it's wrong to do some things, you need permission.