SHOWCASE

Kids Showcase

Terry the Tractor

Part 2 of "Terry the Tractor"



Terry wanted a bucket very much. He liked a bucket much
better than a bulldozer. After all, nearly all the other tractors
had bulldozers. He wanted something different.
He thought, "I want a bucket very much. I think a bucket
is so much better than a bulldozer."



He could imagine himself doing lots of exciting work with a shiny, new bucket.



A worker pointed at Terry and said, "We have to put a bulldozer on this one."



"Oh, no.", thought Terry, "I don't want a bulldozer. I want a bucket."
"Maybe", he thought, "if I wish very, very hard they will change their
minds. Maybe, if I wish hard enough they will give me a bucket."



One of the workers could see Terry was disappointed.
He said, "I'm sorry, Terry, but we have no choice.
Our boss told us that you are to have a bulldozer.
Let me tell you what a bulldozer can do. A bulldozer can:
Dig farm ponds.
Push down trees to make roads.
And, push really big piles of dirt.
What do you think now, Terry?"
"Well", Terry thought, "I guess a bulldozer would be OK."
In fact, he was now becoming excited about having a bulldozer.




They put a strong, new bulldozer under Terry's chin. Then, a
worker told him, "Terry, you're ready to go outside now."
Terry drove out of the factory into the bright sunlight. He had to
squint to keep out the sunlight. He was told to park in a large lot. He
looked left and right and was surprised to see so many other tractors there.






Most also had bulldozers, but some had buckets
or other equipment. There were several sizes of
tractors. He was one of the smallest tractors of all.
He waited for many days on the parking lot.
Every now and then another tractor would be
taken away. Terry hoped he would be the next
to be taken. He wanted to go to work.



At last, came Terry's turn. He was loaded onto a big truck.
He was taken for a long ride. Where were they going?
Terry began to wonder if they would ever get there.
He also wondered what kind of work there would be.
He wanted to work. He was made to work. He might be small,
but he would try his best at any job he was asked to do.





They drove past tall mountains and along a river. After the long drive,
the truck came to a place where many machines and people were working.
It was exciting. Terry wondered what they were doing. As he drove off the
truck, someone said they were building a new super highway.
He was very excited about going to work. His new owner came over and
signed some papers. Then he pointed at Terry and said, "Get to work!"




Terry was surprised because the man was so gruff. His feelings
were hurt. But, he did as he was told. After all, he was only a
little tractor and the owner was the boss.
He was put to work pushing huge rocks. He knew right away that this
was going to be very hard work. After all, he saw several bigger
tractors doing the same work. The big tractors also found the work hard.




But, he did his best and moved lots of rocks. He knew that this
kind of work was making him wear out very fast. He knew his
owner should have bought a larger tractor to push big rocks.
Terry's feelings were hurt because his owner did not seem to understand
how hard he was trying. When he spoke to Terry at all he was harsh. He
would say. "Let's hurry up there!", or "We have work to do around here!"






To make things even worse, no one gave Terry the care he needed.
After a while, his engine oil became dirty. Terry needed fresh oil.
But, no one changed his oil. The old oil made his engine sputter and
lose power. Terry began to feel very sick.
His tracks were too tight. This made his tracks and sprockets wear
very fast. But, no one came to loosen them.
He pushed so hard that his frame cracked. But, no one came to fix the crack.
Terry just kept pushing because he wanted to do a good job.



Crunch! It finally happened! Terry broke
down and could not work any more.
His engine wore out because the oil was so dirty.
His tracks wore out and fell off.
And, the crack had broken his frame.



The owner came over to see what was wrong with Terry.
He was very upset and said, "That tractor never was any good.
I'm going to sell it." Terry really felt bad. He knew he had done
his best. He had done the work of a bigger tractor, but no one cared.
He also had not been given proper care. Big tears came into his
headlight eyes. He began to cry.



The owner put up a sign, "Tractor for Sale." A few people came
to see him. But, no one wanted him because he was such a mess.
One day a kind looking man came. He seemed interested in Terry.
But, for a long time he just kept walking around Terry looking
thoughtful and saying, "Hmmm-".
At last the man decided to buy him. As he loaded Terry onto a truck
he said, "You have had bad treatment, haven't you? Well, don't worry.
I'll fix you up as good as new."




The new owner took Terry to a workshop.
Some workers took his engine out and began to fix it. Terry heard
one say, "Oh, my! Look at all that damage." Terry was very upset.
But, he felt better when another said, "We will have to put in a lot
of new parts. But, we will make this tractor run again."



Some other workers took off his worn out tracks and
sprockets. Then they put on new ones.
A welder fixed Terry's broken frame.
When they had fixed all of Terry's problems
one of the workers took him to be painted.
He had to close his eyes to keep from getting paint in them.
With his new coat of yellow paint Terry looked
and felt almost as good as new.





Terry had been treated badly on his first job. But, now he
had a new owner who really cared for him. He liked his new
owner, and he was ready to do any job his owner asked.
He began to wonder what his next job would be.
The next day he was hauled to a place where
new streets and houses were being built.
His new owner wanted Terry to make the ground smooth.
Terry knew it was a job he could handle. And, he
was right. Now he was pushing dirt, not huge rocks.





It was a job for a tractor just his size-and he did it very well.
He could make the ground very smooth with his bulldozer.
Sometimes new tractors came to work there. The owner would
often ask Terry to show them how to do a good job.
Some of the tractors were bigger than Terry. They could push
bigger piles of dirt than he.
Some of the tractors could work faster than Terry.
Sometimes another tractor would make Terry feel bad by saying
something mean. One red tractor said, "You are just a little runt. I
am bigger and stronger than you."



But, Terry would never snap back when someone
was mean. He would only sing this little song.
"I know I'm small and a little bit slow
and I'm not as strong as you.
But, I'll do my job the best I can
there's work for me and you."
Terry was well cared for by his new owner.
Terry knew that with proper work and good
care he could last for many years.
Terry was right. He is still working today.
He has helped build lots of streets and houses.
He is quite proud of all the work he has done.
And, Terry's owner is proud of him, too.







THE END


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