The Adventures of Digger Don: Digger Don Buys a Bobcat

Digger Don and Dianne sat down for breakfast on Digger Farm. Rascal the Dog lay under the table waiting for his piece of toast. “It’s time to go to work,” said Digger Don. Digger Don and Rascal went down to the barn where he kept all his digging tools as well as his digging machines, Bert the Backhoe and Ted the Tipper. As he opened the barn door, he shouted, “Good morning boys!” Bert and Ted started up their engines. But for some reason, this morning, Bert’s diesel engine would not start! “Are you alright?” cried Digger Don. But Bert could not answer. He just moaned and groaned and blew out thick black smoke. “Oh my goodness” said Digger Don. “Quickly, shut down your engine Bert” Digger Don called Mike the mechanic on his phone and before long Mike’s old pickup came clattering down the road to Digger Farm. Digger Don told Mike what happened to Bert. “It looks like his engine is very tired” said Mike. “Do everything you can to make him better.” Digger Don told Mike Bert had been helping Digger Don for long but now he needed to rest so Digger Don decided he would buy a new machine to help him with his digging. Digger Don took Rascal and jumped into Ted the Tipper’s cabin and off they went to the digging machine yard in Tumble Town. Simon the Salesman saw Digger Don and asked, “How can I help you today, Digger Don?” Digger Don told Simon what had happened to Bert and how he needed a new digging machine to help him get his work done on time. They walked down the row of digging machines and at the very end stood a digging machine like no other. “What type of digging machine is this?” said Digger Don “He’s called a Bobcat,” chuckled Simon. “A bobcat! How can he be a bobcat? A bobcat is a big cat that lives in the forest” Digger Don replied. Simon chuckled some more. “I’m told that, for his size he can dig better than any other machine in the row.” “OK!” said Digger Don. “That’s good enough for me. I’ll take him.” The bobcat was so excited when he heard he heard the news, he quickly started his motor and raced down the row of machines to wait at the gate. As he neared the gate he slammed on his brakes. With the sudden stop, his bucket dug deep into the ground. He went straight up on to his nose and a big cloud of dust rose into the air. “I hope he’s all right!” Simon shouted. “He sure is fast” said Digger Don as they both ran after him. When they got to the gate the cloud of dust settled and there stood the bobcat, smiling at them as if nothing had happened at all. Ted was very surprised. Digger Don explained, “We have a brand new digging machine Ted, and you can carry him home safely in the back of your tipper.” Ted was very proud. Most of the time he only carried dirt in his tipper; but now, he was carrying a brand new digging machine. “Come on, Rascal, let’s go and show Dianne our new bobcat.” As Rascal jumped in the cabin Ted started his big motor and took them all back home to Digger Farm. “What do you think we should call him?” Digger Don asked Dianne Dianne thought for some time. “Hmmm, how about Robby,” she said. “That’s what we will call him, Robby the Bobcat.” Robby was so excited he kicked up his bucket and spun round and round in circles on his back wheels. Everyone marveled at his display! “OK, OK,” chuckled Digger Don. “That’s enough excitement for today. Into the barn with you and get a good night’s rest. In the barn, Digger Don introduced Bert and Robby. “Robby, this is Bert. He isn’t feeling well at the moment. He has been digging for a long time and if you listen to him carefully you’ll learn how to become a great digging machine. Just like him.” Robby listened carefully to Bert until it was time to sleep but as he watched Bert and Ted close their eyes, he was too excited to join them. Today had been a big day. He had found a new home. He had made new friends. He had been given a new name. Eventually, Robby closed his eyes as well and finally fell asleep. And in his sleep, you could hear him begin to purrrr happily, just like a bobcat. He dreamt about working. “Tomorrow, I will show Digger Don how good I can dig.” THE END