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- "I was so busy trying to find a best friend, I didn't realise I was surrounded by them all along!"
- ― Emily
Emily's Best Friend is a magazine story released as part of the "Classic Thomas Story Collection" series and illustrated using images from the television series.
Plot[]
One day, Sir Topham Hatt arrives at Tidmouth Sheds with important jobs for the Steam Team. He tells his engines that there is to be a grand unveiling of a sand sculpture in Tidmouth Town Square and he needs everyone working in pairs. The engines are all paired off and given their jobs. All that is except for Emily who feels sad as she watches best friends Thomas and Percy puff off together.
Emily decides to find herself a best friend and soon, she spots Philip. Emily asks the little diesel boxcab to accompany her to Brendam Docks to collect sand. Philip is delighted to be Emily's best friend, but he already has his own jobs to do. As Philip rolls away, Emily spots Rebecca and Gordon having fun and still wants a best friend to work with.
Emily keeps asking every engine she meets if they will come with her to collect the sand and she calls each one her best friend. Edward, Henry and Marion are all pleased to be Emily's best friend, but all of them are too busy to join Emily on her job. Then, there's trouble as all the engines Emily had called her best friend come along at once. Emily quietly says they are all her best friends.
Emily realises that her search for a best friend has caused her to forget to collect the sand. When she finally arrives at the docks to collect it, the sand is nowhere to be seen. Emily is sure Sir Topham Hatt will be upset with her.
Emily is worried when she arrives at the town square. She whispers to Thomas that she's lost the sand and the sculpture won't be able to be finished. Luckily, Thomas tells her that he had seen she'd left the truck of sand and delivered it for her. As the sculpture is unveiled, Emily concludes that she was so busy trying to find a best friend, she didn't realise she is surrounded by them all along.
Characters[]
- Thomas
- Emily
- Philip
- Sir Topham Hatt
- Edward (speaks in speech bubble only)
- Henry (does not speak)
- Gordon (does not speak)
- Percy (does not speak)
- Marion (does not speak)
- Rebecca (does not speak)
- James (cameo)
- Nia (cameo)
Locations[]
Trivia[]
- This story is based on the twenty-fourth series episode of the same name.
- Unlike the episode:
- Henry, Gordon, James, Percy, Nia, Rebecca and Marion do not speak.
- Reg does not appear, nor is he mentioned.
Goofs[]
- Philip is said to have "peeped", despite being a diesel engine with a horn.
Gallery[]
