One day at the yard, Sir Topham Hatt went to speak to a new engine of his he had bought at an auction. He was a dark teal and grey LNER j52 named Michael.
"Michael, you are to go to Norramby Harbor and collect some trucks of fish to take to Brendam Docks." Sir Topham Hatt boomed. Michael saw Chris and Justin nearby shunting trucks and appeared to be having fun. Michael did not want to collect fish, it smelled very bad.
"Come along, Michael." his driver said, and off he steamed. At the harbor, Michael saw Arthur lining up the trucks of fish and he was impatient. He wanted to get back to the yard and shunt.
"Those trucks smell disgusting! I'd rather be shunting with Chris and Justin!" Michael snorted as Arthur shunted the trucks up behind him, "Here you go!" Arthur said, cheerfully. Sir Topham Hatt allowed Arthur to run the Norramby Branch line, and he loved the smell. Michael couldn't see how an engine could like the smell of fish, freshly caught and packed in crates of ice. He set off from the harbor and grumbled as he chuffed along the line. Even his driver and fireman pinched their noses as they puffed along, and the troublesome trucks began to tease Michael.
"Whose that stinky engine in front of us? We want Arthur!" A truck shouted.
"At least he can take the smell!"
"If you can't take the stink, get to the sink!" Giggled another truck.
"BE QUIET!" Michael said, but the trucks' tease then gave him an idea. When he stopped at Maron Station for some water, he saw Sir Topham Hatt. He then groaned as loud as possible.
"Oh, my aching boiler! The pain! The pain!" he moaned. Sir Topham Hatt walked over.
"What's the matter, Michael?" He asked.
"My boiler hurts, Sir, and my axles ache! They need oil! My valve gear needs repairing! Oh!" he feigned being ill. Apparently, his ruse was working as Sir Topham Hatt said,
"Very well, go to the steamworks to be mended. Should I call someone to take you there?"
"Oh, no sir! It isn't that bad. I can puff, just not under load." Michael puffed, convincingly. He left his fish cars on a siding, then set off for the loop near Suddery, but instead, kept on the main line to the yard at Knapford Station. There, Chris and Justin were busy putting the yard in order and marshaling trains for other engines. The trucks in the yard were behaving and going along as they wanted, but it still couldn't make up for how busy the two were. As they were taking a rest by the water tower, Michael puffed in.
"Michael, what are you doing here?" Justin asked.
"I told Sir Topham Hatt I needed to be mended so I could come and shunt trucks here with you!" Michael said.
"You lied to Sir Topham Hatt!?"Chris exclaimed.
"He won't ever know! He probably isn't still at Maron station now, any way!" Michael puffed, coolly. He then collected some trucks and pulled them in reverse. However, he didn't see a pair of buffers to keep engines back while a new transfer table was being installed.
"Look out Michael!" Justin shouted, but it was too late as Michael burst through the buffers and plummeted into the transfer table well, right into the freshly poured concrete.
"I JUST POURED THAT!" Patrick the cement mixer spluttered. Michael felt very embarrassed. Chris and Justin went to get Rocky to pull him out, and along with them was Sir Topham Hatt, who was most displeased.
"You have caused confusion and delay, Michael! The fish has spoiled and now is late to the docks! I do not tolerate engines telling lies to me. I hope you think about what you have done as you are being mended." Sir Topham Hatt scolded him as he was hoisted out and loaded onto a flatbed behind Oliver.
"You almost remind me of me!" Oliver chuckled.
"Why, because you fell into a transfer table well?" Michael asked.
"No, silly! I thought I was resourceful and sagacious once, but not really." Oliver laughed. Michael then stayed quiet as he was hauled away to the steamworks to be mended for real, this time.