Thomas and Friends: Tales from the Mainland Volume 1

by The Blue EM2

The Foolish Dry Cleaner

There were many things that Zipp found grand about the new home she and her family were renovating. The space was perfect for storing all her things, and the rooms were reasonably spaced, meaning she could finally escape from Pipp's snoring. Speaking of Pipp, that girl had converted one of the rooms into her personal walk-in closet to store all her various garments. In Zipp's view, the number of clothes her sister had was completely ridiculous.

Unfortunately, the house wasn't so with the times in other respects. For example, the property needed rewiring as the electrical systems in the existing house weren't up to code, and the plumbing could be better. That would need replacing as well. The biggest problem was also connected to clothing, however.

Back in the old days before washing machines made everybody's lives easier, people washed clothes by hand or by using mechanical appliances (or they paid somebody else to do it for them). As a result, the property had come with no washing machine, yet another thing they had to fit and install. And with the aforementioned water and electrical problems, this meant dirty laundry went to the dry cleaners.

And the most recent parcels were due back today. Zipp had been reusing the same clothes for a few days now, and although not a fashion addict like her sister the thought of something alternate to wear was quite appealing to her after a few days of the same shirt.

She was downstairs late in the evening when the first delivery arrived. She opened the door to see the agent from the cleaning company with a parcel.

"Clothing for a Miss Zara Storm?" he said.

Zipp nodded. "Yes, that's me." She tried to mask her annoyance over her parents using her real name on the order form... again. She took the parcel in her hand. "Is there another one?"

"There's been a slight delay, I'm afraid," the agent replied. "But the remaining parcels will arrive later today."

"Thanks for the delivery," Zipp smiled, and closed the door before hauling the package upstairs and placing it on her bed. "It'll be good to get this lot dealt with."

She tossed her existing clothes in the wash and got changed for bed before opening the parcel. And her heart sank when she did.

Inside were not her clothes. Inside the parcel were several dresses.

"Oh no."

---

In another room in the same property, Pipp was running a livestream. "Good evening, Pippsqueaks! I am totes excited to show you what just arrived in the mail today!"

She moved the parcel onto her bed, set back against the wall to leave space for her streaming equipment. "These just came back from the dry cleaners today! As you know, we don't have any space to wash and dry our own clothes yet- seriously, who builds a house with no electrical wiring?- and you'll get to see items of mine looking their very best!"

Without a moment's hesitation, she opened the packaging and took a look at what was inside.

"What are these? These aren't my dresses! What is going on?"

---

The next day came, and Zipp had no choice but to wear what had been in the parcel. As a result, she slipped one of the dresses on and added some tights to at least feel less silly. Her face was burning red with embarrassment as she made her way off to the engine shed that sat in the harbour.

A distance away, and completely unaware of the shenanigans going on, Pipp also exited the house to try and make her way down to the shed. She was just as embarrassed as her sister. Not to mention seriously uncomfortable. "Ow! Seriously, these jeans really dig into me! They're too tight as well!"

Not only that the shirt was seriously uncomfortable, and the entire ensemble looked ridiculous with her usual choice of boots. She staggered down the pathway, wobbling back and forth and eventually walking into a lamp post.

"Are you alright, miss?" a passerby asked.

"No! I'm in the wrong clothes!" Pipp protested. "The fewer people see me like this the better. I know! I'll apply a filter!"

Meanwhile, Zipp had just arrived at the engine shed. The engines reacted to this sight with a mixture of responses. "Embracing your feminine side?" asked Rebecca, quite jovially.

"No," Zipp replied, as she climbed Charles' cab steps. "Somebody mixed up my clothes at the dry cleaner with somebody else. Now I'm stuck in these all day, and trying to get around in this thing only reminds me even more why I hate wearing skirts."

"Still, could be worse," Charles said.

"How could this be worse?" Zipp asked, as she engaged the ignition key. Just then, she saw Pipp stumble into the depot, seemingly struggling to walk. "Wait a second. Hold here, Charles."

"I can't really go anywhere," Charles replied.

Zipp walked over to Pipp. "Those clothes look oddly familiar. Why are you wearing a pair of my jeans and a shirt?"

"I could ask the same question," Pipp retorted. "That's my favourite dress. You know, the one with the puffy skirt?"

"I know, I look an idiot."

"I feel an idiot, as these don't fit properly." Pipp sighed. "Should we go to the dry cleaner and get this mess sorted out?"

---

The clerk on the desk was most embarrassed when he learned what had happened. "Please do accept my apologies, ladies," he said. "We made a processing error and mixed up the parcels during cleaning. Your clothes were processed for cleaning, but it seems ended up the wrong way around. And I can see it's caused you a fair bit of trouble."

"You think?" Zipp said, indicating to the dress. "I look ridiculous!"

"And these don't fit properly!" Pipp added. "I've been walking like a sailor the entire day!"

"Aren't you two twins?" the clerk asked.

"Dizygotic," Zipp explained. "Means we have the same level of resemblance as normal siblings. And that doesn't mean we can swap clothes. We have different body shapes as well."

"Pray excuse my ignorance," the clerk said. "I'll see to it that the correct items are delivered to you."

"Well, seeing as the items are already at our house, we may as well do it ourselves," Pipp said. "Come on Zipp, we need to swap these over. Do you have a bathroom we can use?"

---

At the end of the day, after a massive sorting session, the two siblings were able to get back to work. Zipp, looking much more comfortable in her usual choice of clothing, fired Charles into life. "Time to get that stuff moved," she said.

She spotted Pipp at the edge of the town, streaming to her fans, and herself looking happier in her usual dress. "Hello Pippsqueaks!" she called. "We had such a crazy mixup earlier. Me and Zipp got our clothes muddled, and it was totes a mess."

Zipp shook her head. "I'll never understand all this internet speak she uses." She and Charles rattled away towards the station, when a thought suddenly went through her mind. "Wait, I know a better place for her to stream."

She brought the diesel to a stop and walked back. "Yo, Pipp?"

Pipp glanced up. "Hey, Zipp! Oh, if some of you new joiners don't know, this is my sister Zipp."

"I know a good place for you to stream from up on the coast," Zipp smiled. "I'll give you a lift."

Pipp grinned. "Thanks Zipp! Let's go!"

The pair set off with Charles as their chariot, brought together by their slightly odd bonding experience. True, siblings don't agree over everything, but at the same time there is nobody closer to you than your family.

Author's Note:

This is an original story, based on a suggestion by Thomlight Sparkle. A bit of my personal experience is also worked in, as myself and my brother experienced such a mixup as well (made more awkward by the fact he's about eight inches taller than I am!).

Another element, which was also pointed out to me by Thomlight, is the possiblity that Pipp and Zipp are different body shapes. This also bears true in the show. Compare:

Pipp is noticably chubbier than her sister, which makes sense as Zipp is an athlete.

Comments

[ScisetShimmerEvan]

There were many things that Zipp found grand about the new home she and her family were renovating. The space was perfect for storing all her things, and the rooms were reasonably spaced, meaning she could finally escape from Pipp's snoring. Speaking of Pipp, that girl had converted one of the rooms into her personal walk-in closet to store all her various garments. In Zipp's view, the number of clothes her sister had was completely ridiculous.

There's something that would make Rarity scream for joy.

And the most recent parcels were due back today. Zipp had been reusing the same clothes for a few days now, and although not a fashion addict like her sister the thought of something alternate to wear was quite appealing to her after a few days of the same shirt.

And I thought my dad was the only one who likes doing that.

Zipp walked over to Pipp. "Those clothes look oddly familiar. Why are you wearing a pair of my jeans and a shirt?"

Seems like the dry cleaner gave them the wrong clothes when delivered. Zipp has Pipp's clothes and Pipp has Zipp's clothes.

Zipp shook her head. "I'll never understand all this internet speak she uses." She and Charles rattled away towards the station, when a thought suddenly went through her mind. "Wait, I know a better place for her to stream."

You and me both Zipp.

[Thomlight Sparkle 1]

I am pleased to see this idea was brought to light. But I honestly do hope that their new home gets their water and electrics all settled so they don't have this same problem again.

But, I don't exactly know how a Sailor walks, so it's not easy for me to imagine it.

[The Blue EM2]

11503680
1. That it would. If the infamous Holiday Special is anything to go by, the same is true for EqG Rarity.

2. I have done it sometimes. My father also does it too, as it means we use the washing machine less.

3. Correct.

4. Indeed.

[The Blue EM2]

11503711
I hope so too. And I'm saying that as the guy who wrote it?

Legs far apart, slight rocking motion. It's designed to counteract the rocking motion of a ship as it sails along and stop a person from falling over. It does look rather silly on dry land, though...

[Thomlight Sparkle 1]

11503922
Ah, so it's kinda like waddling.

And I ain't gonna lie, I wish we could've gotten a part in this chapter that focused on Pipp dealing with the mix-up.

[The Blue EM2]

11503932
I can add it into the chapter if you'd like.

[Thomlight Sparkle 1]

11504198
Sure, I think that would be a good idea. I mean, I do like the way the chapter played out here. But given how the mix-up also effected Pipp, I think that seeing her perspective on it would fit in too.

[The Blue EM2]

11504201
I'll see to getting this updated tomorrow.

[Thomlight Sparkle 1]

11504204
Sounds like a plan. And I will say, I now have 2 new words to my dictionary thanks to this chapter.

[The Blue EM2]

11504205
Which ones, namely?

[Thomlight Sparkle 1]

11504349
jovially and Dizygotic