It was spring on the Island of Sodor, and springtime on Sodor attracted visitors to the island to see the flowers in full bloom and enjoy the sunny and beautiful weather following a cold winter.
The engines have to work very hard, and they take a lot more passenger trains, but they don't mind as they get more work than they might sometimes do in winter.
One day, the Fat Controller came to see Percy and James, who were in the sheds at Tidmouth.
"Percy, you can have a day off today, because you have worked hard this past week." He told the green saddle tank engine.
"Thank you, sir!" Percy replied.
Then he turned to speak to James.
"James, I need you to do an important job for me. You are to take trucks of hay to Farmer McColl's fields."
"Yes sir!" Piped the red mixed traffic engine excitedly, blowing his whistle once.
Then the Fat Controller turned, and made his way to his familiar blue car, and he got in before he drove away.
Percy felt uncomfortable about the idea of James doing jobs for the Fat Controller and he was to be left alone.
"Can I help you, James?" He asked, helpfully.
"No thanks, Percy. This is my first proper run out on the line after being stuck in the shunting yards for so long! Besides, he gave you the day off!"
James blew his whistle again and set off to do his job.
Percy felt the feeling of loneliness seep inside him. It was swelling – until he had an idea which made him a lot better, and even stopped the increasing solitude he was feeling.
"I'll follow James! That way, I can make myself even more useful if he has an accident!"
And with that, Percy chuffed away.
...
He puffed on and on through the country, keeping an eye for James.
"Where has he got to?"
Soon, he found him waiting at the hay- yard patiently for his trucks to be loaded with hay, and he was humming a jovial tune when he saw the familiar green engine.
"Percy, what are you doing here?"
"I got lonely, so I came to help you!"
"Percy, please can you go home?" James asked politely and nicely, so as not to upset his friend.
However, Percy paid no heed to James' request, and so when James left the hay- yard for the farm, he followed the red engine, being super careful not to get himself detected.
...
After a few minutes, James arrived at Farmer McColl's farm. Percy arrived not too long after him.
"Hello James! Ah, you've brought my hay! Well done - you are a 'Really Useful Engine'!"
He then spotted the little green number six engine beside James.
"Oh, hello Percy- wasn't expecting to see you, too!"
Now James was cross.
"Percy, why are you still following me?"
"I already told you at the hay- yard. I'm lonely." Percy explained politely, trying not to come across as a selfish engine. "I just wanted some company, and I wanted that company to be you. That's why I was following you, James. I'm sorry."
"You should return to Tidmouth and rest." Farmer McColl suggested kindly.
Percy sighed, and puffed away, feeling very sad.
...
That night, James returned after acting as a substitute for Percy on the mail train.
"You know what I think, Percy?"
"What, James?" The other engine asked curiously.
"We all need time to be away from each other sometimes. But there's no shame in admitting you miss your friends.
Percy agreed that this was as wise as something Edward would say.
And the two settle down to sleep.