“Tanks” For The Pranks 
by SteamLocoLtMtn

One day in Northern Nathan, The New Strict Controller, Caitlin Lucy Cat who is an adult female furry cat, is not impressed. Although she appreciates Bodger The Careless Engine is coming over to help and deliver the coal but today is April Fool’s Day, Bodger’s favourite day. Caitlin informs all the other locomotives about the news and they all doesn’t like it, all the locomotives and adult furry railway staff have to brace themselves for any of Bodger’s pranks.

Bodger arrives at The Big Yard with some coal, he is looking forward to playing lots of pranks and tricks on the other locomotives. “We appreciate your presence and willingness to help,” lectures Caitlin, “But I don’t want any tricks or pranks that will cause trouble and strife.” But Bodger have plenty of tricks and pranks to play. 

Bodger swaps Fordon’s coaches with coal wagons, “Peep peep, hurry up Fordon! Your train’s waiting,” says Bodger. Fordon thinks he is late but when he arrives he see a train of dirty, dusty coal wagons. “Ha ha ha! April Fools!” laughs Bodger as he scampers away. Meanwhile, Big Tony The Bigboy Locomotive is carefully crossing over the points but Bodger blows his whistle so loudly that Big Tony derails on the points; luckily Big Tony isn’t going fast. “Aww shucks!” groans Big Tony, “April Fools!” says Bodger as he runs off laughing. 

Soon, Bodger plays so many pranks that the locomotives have been pranked on. he puts coffee in the water tower that makes Trap The German Tank Engine become hyperactive, Bodger holds back on Croco-Derek The Crocodile Locomotive’s goods train so hard that he breaks his couplings, he puts oil on the rails that makes Claudia The Crimson Steam Locomotive stall at The Big Hill, and Bodger even put cucumber on the floor to give poor Mittens Harriet Cat, as an adult cat, and Clarissa Lia Cat, as an adult female cat, a fright. Bodger exclaims “April Fools!” every time the prank works but everyone finally have had enough of Bodger’s tricks and so does The New Strict Controller. Unice The British Diesel Locomotive hears the commotion and asks what’s going on in which all the locomotives and The New Strict Controller all explain what happened. “I know just what this saddle tank engine needs,” says Unice, “A taste of his own medicine for playing pranks.” Unice explains her plan to the others and so it is arranged.

Later that day, Bodger is told by The New Strict Controller that he must take some goods vans to the sidings. “What is it?” asks Bodger, “I’m not telling you,” says Caitlin, “You will have to find out.” Bodger is coupled to the vans and pushes the vans as he hurries off to the sidings but little does he realise that the rails are oily and the points lever is locked which means he’s been diverted into a siding where the buffers are. Bodger’s driver applies the brakes and he and the fireman jumps clear but Bodger cannot stop and slides into the sidings and bumps into the buffers. The goods vans then smash and crash and into each other and something splatters all over Bodger and the ground. Bodger soon finds out that he is covered from smokebox to cab in fishy, fresh fish. “WHAT?! So that’s what is in those vans?!” exclaims Bodger. Unice rolls up alongside Bodger, “Turns out that you have quite a ‘fishy’ tales to tell,” says Unice. “Unice! You fool! How could you!” splutters Bodger from the pile of fish. “Well, April Fools,” says Unice. “It’s not funny!” snaps Bodger, “Neither do we,” says a stern voice of Caitlin who arrives onboard Theo The Sensible Engine along with the manager of the colliery and the Manager of Northern Nathan Coal Commission, Bodger subsides with silence. “You have caused strife and trouble, Bodger,” says Caitlin, “I know you like April Fools Day but on this occasion, your pranks have been both dangerous and not funny.” Bodger feels very ashamed, he knows what The New Strict Controller means. “You will not be washed until the end of today but until then you will work hard,” says the manager of Northern Nathan Coal Commission, “Perhaps the smell of fish will teach you a lesson for playing dangerous pranks.” “Yes sir, yes miss,” says Bodger remorsefully.

While Unice helps clean up the mess, Bodger is ordered to shunt coaches and freight wagons for the other engines for the rest of the day with Theo keeping an eye on him. The other locomotives make fish related jokes to Bodger but Bodger just carries on with his work. Bodger thinks that maybe next time, it is better just to tell jokes and play friendly pranks rather than playing dangerous or unfunny pranks which can upset or anger the other locomotives. But I doubt that Bodger will keep his promise, don’t you.