Gordon the Big Engine sat grumpily at the platform, his blue paint gleaming but his face set in a deep frown. Around him, the other engines chattered, but he paid them little mind, staring ahead as if hoping his goods train would vanish. Somewhere in the distance, a faint, tinny melody wafted through the air—a tune that had haunted him all week.
Percy, bustling up beside Gordon, tried to lighten the mood. "Cheer up, Gordon! The sun is shining, and it's a fine day for a run!" Gordon only snorted, his eyes narrowing as the tune grew louder. "If I hear 'The Laughing Policeman' once more, I think I'll burst a boiler," he muttered.
The Troublesome Trucks waited for Gordon with their usual smirks and giggles. As he backed down onto them, "Ooh, look who's sulking today! Poor Gordon, having to pull trucks instead of coaches," they teased.
Gordon rolled his eyes, steam hissing in frustration. "Just behave for once," he grumbled. But the trucks only snickered, whispering to each other as they hatched their latest scheme.
As Gordon began the long haul, the trucks jostled and clanked behind him. Suddenly, one truck piped up, "We know just the thing to cheer you up, Gordon!" Before he could respond, a chorus erupted from the trucks, singing loudly and off-key.
"Hee hee, ha ha, ho ho ho ho! The laughing policeman, you must know! He always laughs, ha ha ha ha! Hee hee ha ha ho!" Their voices bounced off the hills, mingling with the clatter of wheels. Gordon's face turned crimson with annoyance.
Gordon tried to ignore the cacophony, but the trucks only grew louder. "Ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha!" they sang, swaying side to side in rhythm. His wheels slipped slightly on the rails as his focus wavered, and his pace grew uneven.
"Stop that dreadful song! You're making it impossible to think!" he shouted, but the trucks just sang louder, delighting in his frustration. The song echoed through the cutting, drawing curious looks from a nearby herd of cows.
Gordon[/@ch_1] struggles to regain control.]
Gordon's attention snapped back as the bridge creaked alarmingly beneath him. The trucks, still singing, suddenly surged forward, giving him a sharp jolt. Gordon braked hard, managing to steady the train just in time.
Percy watched from a siding, his eyes wide. "Careful, Gordon! Don't let them get to you!" Gordon let out a deep sigh, realizing how easily he had been distracted.
Gordon shunted the trucks into their siding, his patience worn thin but his pride intact. "Cheer up, Gordon! Wasn't that a fun ride?" the trucks called, but he only glared at them.
"Next time, I'll wear earplugs," he muttered, but deep down, he knew he'd have to learn to ignore their tricks. As the sun warmed his boiler, Gordon resolved not to let a silly song get the best of him again.
