The Special Visitor

The Special Visitor is the third episode of the first season of Chuggie & Pals.

Summary
A visitor comes to Piperville, and both Pete and Rudy want to be the one to pick him up, which leads to a bitter competition between the two.

Story
One morning, Butch Cassidy came to the Piperville Roundhouse with exciting news.

"Morning, engines," said Butch, "I have some exciting news for you."

"Yay, exciting news," the engines cheered.

"A celebrity visitor is coming to town," said Butch, "and he needs one of you to pick him up at the train station this evening."

"Cool," said Chuggie, "Which one of us will pick him up?"

"That I have yet to decide," said Butch, "Now then, here are your jobs for today."

Butch then read the engines their jobs from his clipboard. Chuggie, Roger, Buck, and the twins all got regular passenger duties, Pete got a maple syrup run, Rudy was to take a train of fruit to the local supermarket, Benny was to take some logs to the local sawmill so it can be cut into firewood for the engines, and Atticus was assigned a freight run to Montpelier, the state capitol of Vermont. Once all the jobs had been read, Butch then left in his car, and the engines began conversing.

"Who do you guys think the visitor might be," asked Chuggie, "I myself am guessing it's jacksepticeye, one of my favorite YouTubers."

"I'm hoping it's Philip Rivers, my favorite player for the Chargers," said Roger.

"Maybe it's Craig Schulz," said Benny.

"Who's that," asked Roger.

"He's the son of Charles M. Schulz, the guy who wrote the Peanuts comics," said Benny.

"Nice," said Roger.

"Who are you hoping it'll be, Pete," asked Chuggie.

"My money's on either Kevin Eastman or Peter Laird," said Pete, "They're the dudes who created Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles."

"I'm willing to bet that the guest is Jeff Lynne from ELO and the Traveling Wilburys," said Oscar.

"Nice," said Chuggie, "What about you two, Tim and Tom?"

"Tom and I are hoping it's the Bananas in Pajamas," said Tim.

"Yeah," said Tom, "They're our favorite storybook characters."

"Interesting," said Chuggie, "Buck?"

"Dwight Yoakam, one of my favorite country singers," said Buck.

"Cool," said Chuggie, "How about you, Rudy?"

"Daniel Schwartz, the current CEO of Burger King," said Rudy.

"Nice," said Roger, "Though, why him?"

"So I can ask him for a free lifetime supply of Whoppers," said Rudy.

Rudy let out a laugh, as did the other engines, excluding Pete, who just rolled his eyes.

"You and your Whoppers," said Pete.

Just then, Atticus spoke up as he left.

"You youngsters better cut the chatter and get to work," said Atticus.

"Oh, right," said Chuggie, "Come on, guys, let's go!"

With that, they all dispersed to their jobs, but Pete set off at lightning speed.

"Hey, where are you going in such a rush," asked Roger.

"I wanna get my job done quickly if I want Butch to choose me to take the visitor," said Pete.

"Not if I get mine done first," Rudy said as he too sped off, even faster than Pete.

"Well see about that, Canada Boy," Pete said.

The other engines were quite worried indeed.

"Oh boy," said Chuggie, "This isn't gonna end well."

Meanwhile, Pete had collected his syrup and was taking it to its destination when he had to stop to take on water. As he was filling his tank, Rudy rocketed right by him, laughing and blaring his whistle like a foghorn.

"Come on, slowpoke," said Rudy, "Don't you wanna take that guest?"

Pete growled with anger.

"Darn you, Rudy," Pete shouted, "Just you wait until I get my cowcatcher on you!"

In no time, Pete's tank was refilled, and he sped off. Up ahead, Rudy was enjoying being ahead of Pete.

"Oh, yeah," Rudy said, "Just like James Hinchcliffe!"

His engineer, an anthropomorphic penguin named Speedy Collins, who wore a brown leather lambskin jacket, navy blue jeans, and dark brown shoes, was a little concerned.

"Rudy, don't you think we're going just a little too fast," he asked.

"Ah, you worry too much," said Rudy, "Besides, what's the worse that can happen?"

His answer came soon enough, as they were coming to a sharp bend in the track.

"Uh oh," said Rudy, "That's not good."

There was worse to come, as Rudy was going way too fast. So fast, in fact, that he was unable to slow down in time, and when he hit the bend, he ended up flying off the tracks and slamming into a tree. Quick-thinking Speedy jumped free just in time.

"Are you alright, Rudy," Speedy asked.

Rudy moaned.

"I think so," Rudy said.

"I better warn any other trains coming this way to be careful," said Speedy.

But at that moment, Pete came rocketing down the tracks, and at the last minute saw Rudy's train.

"Augie, stop," Pete cried out.

Pete's engineer, Augie Anderson, who was a muscular teenager with curly brown hair and wearing a white turtleneck under a red jacket, tan bell-bottom pants, a black leather belt with a brass buckle, and white shoes, applied the brakes, but it was too late. Pete crashed right into Rudy's train. Squashed fruit flew everywhere. Luckily, nobody was hurt, but the impact from the crash had caused Pete to derail. As for Augie, he was very annoyed.

"Now I'm going to have to call for help," Augie said.

Later, Tim and Tom arrived to take away Rudy's damaged boxcars that contained the ruined fruit while Chuggie and Roger brought two crane cars and two flatbed cars to lift Pete and Rudy back onto the tracks and take them to the repair yard. In terms of damages, both Pete and Rudy's cowcatchers were severely dented and their front couplings mangled from the impact. With Chuggie was Butch, who was very cross indeed.

"I'm very disappointed with you both," he said, "You were both going way too fast and look where you ended up!"

Both Pete and Rudy felt very guilty.

"Because of your incompetence today, neither of you will be bringing the visitor," said Butch.

Pete and Rudy were shocked.

"But Butch," Pete said.

"No buts," said Butch, who then turned to Chuggie and Roger, "Take 'em away, guys!"

With that, once Pete and Rudy were loaded up, Chuggie and Roger set off. On the way, Pete and Rudy began to bicker.

"This is all your fault," said Pete.

"My fault," Rudy asked, "You're the one who wanted to get his job done quickly first!"

Chuggie then whistled loudly.

"Will you two shut up," the green engine roared.

"Yeah," said Roger, "You're both guilty because of your stupidity. You could've seriously hurt or killed someone!"

But Pete and Rudy kept bickering. They were still bickering by the time that reached the repair yard. After dropping the two arguing engines off, Chuggie and Roger went back to the Roundhouse.

"Alright guys, since Pete and Rudy are currently out of commission," said Butch, "that eliminates two candidates. But we still need to decide which of the remainder of you will be the one to bring the special guest over."

Roger spoke up.

"Me and Chuggie were thinking that Benny could do it," he said.

"Yeah," Chuggie chimed in, "He's never had this kind of job before."

"Does anyone else agree," Butch asked.

All the other engines whistled in response.

"Alright, it's settled then," said Butch, "The job's yours, Benny."

"Alright," Benny said.

With that, Benny left and set off for Piperville Central Station. When he arrived, he found a teenager with wavy brown hair, white eyes, and wearing gray glasses, a white t-shirt under a green track jacket, a black belt with silver plates, black jeans, and black sneakers. He also had a guitar case slung over his back.

"Hi," the teenager said.

"Hello," said Benny, "Are you the visitor?"

"Yes," said the teenager, "I'm Jimmy Wigg."

Benny was surprised.

"You're that famous teen singer all the girls from the high school have been talking about lately," said Benny.

"Yup," said Jimmy, "Can you give me a lift to the Roundhouse?"

"Sure," said Benny.

Jimmy climbed into Benny's cab and they set off. They soon made it.

"Thank you, Benny," said Jimmy.

"You're welcome," said Benny.

Chuggie and the others then came out.

"Hello, Chuggie, Roger, Oscar, Tim, Tom, Atticus, Buck," said Jimmy.

All the engines were shocked.

"How do you know our names," asked Oscar.

"I created every single one of you," Jimmy said.

All the engines were dumbfounded.

"That's so cool," said Tim.

"Yeah, it is," said Tom.

"Say, Jimmy," said Butch, "Think you can sing us a song?"

"Sure," said Jimmy, "How about some good ol' John Denver?"

The engines cheered and Jimmy then got out his guitar.

"Hey, maybe you all can sing along, too," he said.

Jimmy then began playing "Take Me Home, Country Roads" by John Denver, and everyone sang along with him. When they were done, they all cheered. 
 * 🎵Almost heaven, West Virginia
 * Blue Ridge Mountains, Shenandoah River
 * Life is old there, older than the trees
 * Younger than the mountains, growing like a breeze


 * Country roads, take me home to the place I belong
 * West Virginia, Mountain Mama
 * Take me home, country roads


 * All my memories gather 'round her
 * Miner's lady, stranger to blue water
 * Dark and dusty, painted on the sky
 * Misty taste of moonshine, teardrop in my eye


 * Country roads, take me home to the place I belong
 * West Virginia, Mountain Mama
 * Take me home, country roads


 * I hear her voice, in the mornin' hour she calls me
 * The radio reminds me of my home far away
 * And drivin' down the road, I get a feelin
 * That I should have been home yesterday, yesterday


 * Country roads, take me home to the place I belong
 * West Virginia, Mountain Mama
 * Take me home, country roads


 * Country roads, take me home to the place I belong
 * West Virginia, Mountain Mama
 * Take me home, country roads
 * Take me home, (down) country roads
 * Take me home, (down) country roads🎵

"That was great, Jimmy," said Tim.

"Yeah," said Tom.

"Well, that's great," said Jimmy, who then looked at his watch, "Well, better head to my hotel. I have a gig coming up."

"Alright," said Atticus, "Take care, Mister Wigg."

"Same to you," said Jimmy.

A taxi cab pulled up and Jimmy left in it while the engines all said goodbye to him, and the next morning, Pete and Rudy came out of the repair yard and back to the Roundhouse.

"So, who was the special guest," asked Pete.

"It was that Jimmy Wigg guy all the girls from the high school are crazy over," said Roger.

"Yeah," said Chuggie, "And believe it or not, he created us! Every single one of us!"

"Wow, really," asked Rudy.

"Yup," said Benny, "And he led us in song, too."

"Yeah," said Roger, "We sang "Take Me Home, Country Roads" by John Denver."

"And you guys missed it," said Oscar.

"Aw, man," said Pete, "that totally stinks!"

"Then again," said Rudy, "It serves us right."

"Yeah," said Pete, "it kinda does."

"Hey, cut the chatter, will ya," said Buck, "Butch is comin'!"

With that, the engines all prepared for what jobs their boss had for them this time.

The End

Moral
Actions have consequences.