Bubbles the Tractor & Chums
Bubbles Best Performance
By D Rossmaur
Illustrations by Andy Hunt
Copyright 2013 David Rossmaur
Chapter One
As usual, Bubbles and his chums could be found in the barn listening to Stanley’s old police radio, trying to find out if anything exciting was happening or about to happen in Messybrook Cove. But there was no time for adventure today, as the summer fair would be taking place tomorrow and Stanley had to rush around preparing his favourite machines for the event. Stanley polished Bubbles bodywork, to make sure his special tractor would shine with pride. He hoped that with Bubbles help, they had a real chance of winning the grand prize this year.
'Just try to do your best tomorrow, Bubbles and we could be driving home with the winner's cup,' said Stanley as he finished off the polishing by wiping Bubbles nose with his elbow.
Stanley stepped back to admire his handy work.
'There that should do nicely, wouldn't you agree, Bubbles?' he asked, not really expecting a reply.
Poor Larry and Look Out Below felt a little left out in the corner of the barn, because Bubbles was getting all the attention.
'Don't worry, my friends, I'm sure Stanley hasn't forgotten about you,' said Bubbles, trying to reassure his friends.
Stanley looked around the barn trying to find the bucket and sponge.
'Oh there they are,' he said and filled the bucket with warm soapy water.
'Now, which one of you lovely machines wants to be first for a good old fashioned scrub behind the mudguards then?' Stanley asked.
Look Out Below, the lady crane, just shuddered at the thought of having a wash and Larry tried to wriggle free like a puppy dog, when he saw the sponge heading towards him. Stanley had a firm hold of his steering wheel, so Larry wasn't about to roll off anywhere. Bubbles and Look Out Below laughed as Larry started to disappear in a cloud of soapy lather.
'YOU WON'T FIND IT HIC! SO FUNNY HIC! WHEN IT'S YOUR TURN, LOOK OUT HIC!' shouted Larry who had the hiccups, probably from swallowing so much soapy water.
Stanley put a nice warm blanket around Larry to dry him off before starting to clean Look Out Below. By the time he finished, it was getting very late and Stanley said goodnight. Stanley turned off the barn lights and locked the doors securely behind him. Within a few moments, Bubbles and his chums had fallen fast asleep. While he slept, Bubbles breathed out a stream of dozy bubbles that floated around the barn before popping loudly against the roof. Pop! Pop! Pop! Pop!
The noise was so loud that the farmyard chickens were kept awake for half the night and the cockerel wasn't too pleased either, because his interrupted sleep made him miss the break of dawn. By the time Bubbles woke, the sun was already shining brightly as he peered out the barn window to see if Stanley was out of bed. Of course Stanley had been up for hours as he was excited about the summer fair and was racing over to the barn. He opened the barn doors to let the glorious sunlight in and greeted his friends with a loud,
'GOOD MORNING ALL AND WHAT A BEAUTIFUL DAY IT IS.'
Stanley added the finishing touches by tying a bright yellow ribbon around Bubbles chimney, much to Bubbles displeasure. Larry and Look Out could not contain their laughter. But it wasn’t so funny when Stanley pulled the remainder of the ribbon from his pocket.
'Oh, I almost forgot, I have some ribbon for you two as well,' Stanley announced as he cut the ribbon to size.
He tied one piece across Larry's steering wheel and another over Look Out's bonnet like a sash. Now it was Bubbles turn for a giggle.
There was a 'TOOT! TOOT from a vehicle outside, as Eddie the Gearbox announced his arrival in a tow truck.
'Well what do you think of my lovely machines, Eddie?' Stanley asked his friend.
Although Eddie was Stanley' best friend, even he had a hard time trying not to laugh at the sight of the pretty ribbons.
'They certainly look different, Stanley,’ said Eddie politely.
'You look nice, Bubbles,' said Troy the Tow Truck with a large Cheshire cat-like grin.
'Stop it, Troy it isn't funny,' said Bubbles with a frown.
'We should be leaving soon, Stanley,' said Eddie checking his watch.
Eddie was right; time was ticking, so Bubbles, Larry and Look Out Below were loaded quickly onto the back of Troy. Before driving out of the farm, Stanley turned and waved goodbye to his lovely wife June, then it was off at full speed to the Summer Fair.
Chapter Two
This was the first time Bubbles or his chums had ventured so far from their barnyard home and it was going to be quite an experience for the three excited machines.
They loved looking at all the unusual sights during their journey to the showground, especially when Troy drove past a row of big metal chimneys.
'Wow! What are they?' asked Larry.
'That’s an oil refinery where petrol is made,' Bubbles explained.
'Pooh! All I know is it smells like an awful place,' said Look Out Below covering her nose.
The sightseeing ended as they approached the showground entrance. Inside, tractors and traction engines of all shapes and sizes filled the showground car park to the brim. It really was going to be a special day for everyone. It was at this point that Bubbles started to feel butterflies in his engine.
'I hope I can live up to Stanley’s expectations,' he said nervously.
'Of course you will lad. In fact, judging by the age of some of the other competitors, you should stroll to victory,' said Larry.
But Larry spoke too soon, because at that very moment a large truck drove up alongside them and completely blocked out the sunlight. It was carrying what could only be described as the world's biggest tractor.
'Now that's what I call a grand entrance,' said Look Out Below.
Bubbles swallowed nervously as he tried to read the name along the side of the enormous tractor.
'I can't see what it says?' said Bubbles.
Larry leant forward.
'I can, G-O-L-I-A-T-H,' he said.
Bubbles took another huge gulp as Goliath peered down his turbo charged bonnet at the little tractor.
'Pretty bow!' roared Goliath.
'You don't frighten me,' said Bubbles trying to be brave.
'THAT'S TELLING HIM BUBBLES!' shouted Larry.
'Be careful you don't wrinkle your pretty ribbon either, little lawn mower,' said Goliath.
'Why don't you pick on a machine your own size, you big bully?' said Bubbles as he drove over to Goliath.
Goliath was not amused and growled at Bubbles. Stanley started to worry also when he found out that Goliath would be competing against Bubbles in the tournament. He tried to reassure Bubbles with a pat on the bonnet.
'Just promise me you'll be careful, Bubbles,' said Stanley.
Bubbles revved his engine in reply.
Chapter Three
'Ladies and gentlemen, the main arena event, the tractor competition, is about to start. Would the contestants please stand by,' the arena judge announced.
Before the competition began, Eddie drove Look Out Below round to the vintage vehicle display area. Larry was rolling around inside her bucket like a football, until she decided to tip him out, because he was being annoying.
'Ouch! That hurt!' said Larry.
Look Out Below just chuckled.
'This is a wonderful spot, Larry. We have a bird's eye view of the showground from here,' said Look
Out Below.
Larry was busy jumping up and down trying to see for himself.
'Oh for goodness sake Larry, hop back into my bucket,' said Look Out.
Larry wasted no time and immediately hopped up into the bucket to see where Bubbles was. It seemed like ages before Bubbles and Goliath finally entered the arena and when they did, both tractors were looking very serious about the task ahead.
'LOOK - THERE'S BUBBLES!' shouted Larry as he waved with great excitement.
'Would you mind keeping the noise down please as I’m trying to concentrate,' said a rather rude, but very elegant crane parked beside them.
'Oh pardon me, madam,' said Larry as he tipped his tartan cap to apologies.
Sitting high up on top of the tall crane's lifting arm was a rather nervous looking cameraman and the slightest movement would surely topple him from his perch. Suddenly Bubbles whizzed past like a tornado during his warm-up lap in the arena. The gust of wind blew Larry's favourite cap right off his head and made the tall crane feel a little wobbly.
While Bubbles dashed about, Goliath remained perfectly still, with only the purring of his engine to be heard. Bubbles smiled nervously at Goliath as Stanley parked next to him on the start line. The arena judge made another announcement;
'Ladies and gentlemen, our first event will be the log pulling competition. Twenty very heavy tree trunks have been piled high at the end of the arena. Each tractor will be required to pull the load along the entire length of the arena in the fastest time possible, to score points,' he said.
'Step aside little tractor, while I show you just how easily it can be done,' said Goliath nudging past Bubbles.
When the starter flag dropped, Goliath raced off across the showground, grabbed hold of the logs and dragged them back in record time, earning himself maximum points. Both the crowd and the judges were amazed. The worrying thing for Stanley was just how easy Goliath had made it look. It really was going to be a tough competition for his little tractor. The pressure was all on Bubbles now as he glanced over at his chums, for some much-needed moral support.
Eddie gave Stanley the thumbs up, while Look Out Below blew Bubbles a gigantic kiss for good luck. Larry shouted;
'GOOD LUCK, LADDIE!' at the top of his voice, which received another disapproving glance from the elegant crane.
‘Ladies and gentlemen, our next contestant is Bubbles, a fully restored BM20 Tractor from Sweden,' the judge announced.
As you can well imagine, Goliath was not impressed and he yawned loudly trying to put Bubbles off.
It worked, because when the starter flag dropped Bubbles wheels spun in the mud. He slipped and slid all over the showground before finally reaching the logs. Bubbles tried desperately to pull the heavy logs across the field, but without much success.
'Now try to remember what I said, Bubbles. Just take it nice and steady. You can do it,' said Stanley.
Stanley worked his way through the gears trying to help Bubbles get a grip. Slowly but surely, they edged forward in the muddy field. The little tractor was so determined to complete the task that he pushed his already overloaded engine to boiling point as steam started to pour from the bonnet. Stanley leant forward to pour a pint of refreshing water into Bubbles radiator to cool him down.
Suddenly without even realising it, Stanley and Bubbles had crossed the finish line, earning one point for their sheer determination. The crowd cheered with delight.
'See I knew you could do it, Bubbles. Good lad,' said Stanley giving his tractor a big hug.
After the next three events, Goliath was still ahead and now just two points separated them. There was still hope for Bubbles as the tractors lined up for the last event, the ploughing competition. Bubbles knew he had to win this if he wanted to even the scores, but unfortunately for him, Goliath and his equally nasty owner had other plans.
'We can't take any chances Goliath and these nails should do the trick,' said the nasty farmer.
He pulled a handful of sharp nails from Goliath's toolbox and hid them in his coat pocket. Goliath drove up and down the field making a pretty ploughing pattern, while his owner scattered the nails behind them. By the time Goliath had finished, the arena was littered with nails like a spiky minefield. Poor Bubbles was totally unaware of the danger ahead, as he waited at the start line
Chapter Four
'I don't trust those two, Bubbles,' warned Stanley as he noticed their overconfident smirks.
'Now just be careful, Bubbles, please,' added Stanley.
But it was too late, Bubbles wasn't paying attention and just raced off without looking.
'Now don't go too fast! Slow down, try to concentrate,' said Stanley.
'Victory is just around the corner. This is too easy,' said Bubbles.
Suddenly Bubbles was stopped in his tracks as he drove over two very sharp nails, which burst his front tyres. They exploded with a double bang and went flat straight away, as Bubbles sank in the mud like a submarine.
'If only I had listened to Stanley, this would never have happened,' Bubbles said with a sigh.
While Bubbles was struggling to get free from the mud, Goliath and his owner were already starting to celebrate their victory at the finish line.
'Nice one, boss. It certainly showed that goody two shoes,' Goliath said as he gloated.
Poor Bubbles, he did look a sorry sight stuck in the thick gooey mud and his situation looked hopeless. Meanwhile during all the excitement in the arena, the crowd's attention had turned to a more serious incident. Because the noise from the exploding tyres made the tall crane wobble about and the already nervous cameraman fell out of her bucket as a result.
'LOOK OUT BELOW!’ the cameraman screamed as he fell towards the ground.
Fortunately for the cameraman it was going to be his lucky day, for the screaming of her name made Look Out Below look up and in doing so, she caught the cameraman in her bucket.
'Wow! What a catch!’ said Look Out feeling very pleased with herself.
Sadly Larry had been too interested in the arena events to witness the great moment, but the tall crane had something to say about the matter;
'It was simply a lucky catch, sweetie, and I bet you couldn't do it again,' she said.
She was probably right, but Look Out Below didn't care, because once in a lifetime was good enough for her. Besides, the applause from the crowd and the cameraman's gratitude, were recognition enough for the usually rather clumsy crane’s achievement. In fact the cameraman was so grateful, that he decided to remain in the safety of Look Out's bucket for the rest of the event, much to the disgust of the tall crane, who just huffed with displeasure.
Chapter Five
Bubbles had seen his friend's wonderful catch and this lifted his spirit. With one enormous mouthful of air, he managed to inflate the tyres just long enough to escape the mud and head for the finish line.
'LOOK - BUBBLES HAS DONE IT. YIPPEE!' shouted Larry as Bubbles crossed the line.
Stanley was so excited that he threw his cap in the air, while Bubbles was just pleased to finish in one piece.
'I think someone's been cheating, Bubbles, don't you? And we both know who,' said Stanley as he patted Bubbles.
Bubbles could only nod as his front wheels throbbed with pain. He limped towards Goliath and growled ferociously at him with his top lip turned up. Now the competition was really on as Bubbles was determined to wipe that ridiculous smirk clean off the big bully's face.
Eddie rushed over with replacement tyres and swapped them over in Grand Prix speed. Stanley looked down at the puncture holes in Bubbles tyres and could see the nails sticking out, which made them look like two scruffy hedgehogs in need of a good brushing. At this point Goliath drove past and chuckled.
'Too bad small fry, looks like the best tractor won,' said Goliath.
His gloating was short-lived though as the arena judge made an important announcement.
'Ladies and gentlem
en, my fellow judges and I have decided that as a reward of Bubbles courageous efforts, he should be awarded full points, plus two bonus points for his rather unusual ploughing pattern,' said the judge.
Stanley and Bubbles looked back and laughed with delight at the very funny ploughing patterns left in the mud from all their slipping and sliding about. Goliath and his owner were not so pleased, as their unsportsmanlike conduct had backfired on them. It served them right, because cheats should never prosper.
‘We'll see who has the last laugh!' said Goliath with steam pouring from his chimney like a raging bull.
It was a tie for first place and the judges decided to have one last event to find a winner, which would be a good old fashioned one mile race for the finish line. When the starter flag dropped Bubbles and Goliath roared away at top speed.
'They're off and it's Goliath leading by a bonnet, tailed closely by Bubbles,' reported Larry like a horse racing commentator.
The tractors were bonnet to bonnet at the first bend, when Goliath decided it was time to play another dirty trick on Bubbles. He sprayed mud into Bubbles windscreen, making Stanley cough and splutter as Bubbles swerved wildly to avoid a collision with the crash barrier. Stanley turned the wipers to super-fast speed and managed to clear the windscreen before they crashed. This slowed Bubbles down and now he had some serious catching up to do.
'COME ON, BUBBLES!'
'COME ON LADDIE!' Larry and Look Out Below shouted from the sideline.
Bubbles heard their words of encouragement and put his head down to squeeze a little extra speed from his engine. Once again he was bonnet to bonnet with Goliath, but something special was needed if Bubbles had any hope of winning the race.
'I think it's time for a little magic,' Bubbles said as he started to stretch his muddy bonnet out as far as it would go.
Looking more like a racing car now than a vintage tractor, Bubbles got those vital few extra inches he needed to literally win by a nose. And what a shiny nose it was at that!
'YES, WE DID IT, BUBBLES!' Stanley cried.
The crowd cheered with delight and Larry celebrated in his own way by leaping up into Look Out's bucket, much to the cameraman's surprise.
Now it was Bubbles turn to celebrate and he jigged up and down in the middle of the showground like a wild stallion, as poor Stanley held on like a rodeo cowboy.