Jmaes and Percy are great brothers- as close as any two brothers can get to be.
But there are times when Percy teases James and the two have a tiff over it.
…
One time Percy thought it would be funny to imitate James in whatever he did.
So when he and James were assigned to work at Brendam Docks, Percy saw that as a perfect opportunity to try out his little experiment.
...
"Hello Salty!" James greeted as they arrived at Brendam Docks.
"Hello Salty!" Peeped Percy, in a tone of voice not unsimilar to James' own.
The red engine noticed, but decided to let it slide. For the moment...
Later, James was talking to Porter whilst shunting. As he did, he saw Cranky lift something off a cargo ship.
"What's in those crates?" He asked curiously.
Porter was about to answer when a voice cut in "What's in those crates?"
Percy grinned cheekily as Porter just looked confused.
"He just said that, Percy." said the American steam locomotive.
"I know." Percy replied smugly, but he didnt say anything else.
Porter did not understand why Percy was being so strange. 'What was the point in copying people?' he wondered.
...
It wasnt long before James did lose his temper withPercy.
Sure, he shouldn't have said what he said, but he thought he said it quietly enough so that Percy couldn't hear him say it.
The story was that Spencer- their dad Gordon's cousin- had entered the docks to collect an important package for the Duke and Duchess of Boxford.
James had muttered to himself. "Slimy silver toad- who does he think he is, croaking out orders to us?"
But unfortunately, Percy had heard- and parroted it out for everyone to hear!
Not only that, but Salty and Porter knew that Percy had been copying James all morning, so when Spencer found out the insult's actual origins... he threatened to tell the Fat Controller and Gordon!
...
When he left, James was very angry.
"Percy, why were you copying me?" he hissed. "Now we'll both get in trouble!"
The little green engine began sniffling. He hadn't meant to get his older brother into trouble!
...
Just then, Thomas came in and saw the two engines. When he observed Percy was upset, he felt greatly concerned.
"Percy, what's wrong?" He asked his best friend.
Percy told him about the copycat business he had been dealing all morning.
"Now I'll get in a heap of trouble!" James added angrily.
"Why?" Thomas asked calmly.
"Well, I said that Spencer was a slimy toad- and he repeated it loud enough for the whole harbour to hear!"
"Well you shouldn't have insulted him, James- you never mentioned whether or not he did something to you- did he?"
Almost mutely, the railway number 5 said no.
"Now Percy, it's not fair to copy people." Thomas scolded, though he was a good deal gentler saying so, because his poor friend was blinking back tears by that point.
"I see that now- I'm sorry James." Percy apologized
"I'm sorry too. That insult about Spencer was uncalled for, and I should have known better than to say it- and get angry at you for repeating it." James replied.
Then he left the docks, leaving the two tank engines wondering what punishment he would recieve.