Ever since Percy had quit the coal run, James had been stuck working on the coal run by himself. He hated it because he felt really lonely and he was desperate for Percy to work with him more and more.
So he decided he would try and work out a way to get Percy to help him on the coal run.
He soon found his little brother working on the Quarry with Mavis.
"Percy, the Fat Controller told me you're due to help me with the coal run tonight." James said.
"Really?" Asked Percy curiously. "He never mentioned this to me."
"Well, he had to go to a meeting, and didn't have time to find you." James fibbed.
"If you say so- but who's taking the mail?"
"Thomas is." James cut in. "Don't worry Percy, I'll ensure he definitely remembers."
The red engine felt very smug with himself as he left the quarry.
Percy, suspecting nothing, continued shunting.
...
Later that night, before Percy arrived, James quickly halved his long train and set them waiting for his brother to arrive.
Soon, Percy arrived and he was coupled on to the coal trucks. And with that, they set off on their coal run.
James of course felt very pleased with himself. He had gotten Percy to help him out on the mail run! He was a genius.
But what he didn't realize was that ahead of Percy on the other side of the Island, Thomas was just about to head back to Tidmouth. James had forgotten to tell Thomas about the mail run!
That was when disaster struck.
...
An old lady and her cat both protested at the loud noise that had ensued following the crash.
The signalman had been unaware of the fact that Percy was using that route, and he ended up switching Thomas onto the same line- and by the time the mistake had been realized, it was too late.
"Thomas are you alright?" Percy asked in alarm
"I'm fine." Thomas assured, although he was badly damaged. Luckily, his crew had evaded major injuries, but now they were worried for their engine.
As for Percy, he began to cry- he had hit his best friend and he hadn't even noticed!
...
"Don't cry Percy." Thomas said at the Steamworks. "You're not making me feel any better about it."
"Sorry Thomas -I just feel really bad about hitting you and not seeing." Percy sniffed.
"It could have been a lot worse." Victor added. "I say Thomas was lucky to only get damaged buffers and broken coupling rods. Don't you worry my friend, we'll have you repaired in no time."
"Thanks Victor." Sighed Thomas in relief.
Then, a thought hit Percy like an oncoming freight train.
"Thomas, where's the mail?"
"What- I wasn't due to take the mail- you were." Thomas replied, looking confused.
"He's right!" Boomed a voice. "Percy, those mail trucks are in the Yard still!"
...
"But... but James told me Thomas was supposed to take them."
"That's the exact same thing Mavis told me!" He declared. "James! Do you have anything to say for yourself?"
"I'm sorry, Thomas and Percy." James sighed "I didn't mean for the accident to happen."
"It's alright, James." replied Thomas "These things happen. Why did this happen anyway?" He asked.
"I just wanted to work with Percy." James explained.
"You see Percy a lot of the day anyway." Thomas pointed out.
"Yes!" agreed Percy. "We do get to work together- like when you help us Thomas' Branchline."
"And," added the Fat Controller. You should have just asked if you could work with Percy and I'll have made arrangements- you should never attempted to deal with it on your own."
"I know sir- sorry sir."
So James learned a valuable lesson. It didn't matter if Percy wasn't taking the coal run with him. They still saw each other, and they were still friends.