Another request by tate310, this time it's "No Joke for James" from Season 3. Enjoy and comment.

James is a very special engine. He can pull both freight cars and coaches. He loves his red paint and so does his driver.

"You always brighten everyone's day James!"

One morning, James whistled loudly at the other engines.

"Look at me! I'm the smartest engine on the line!"

"Rubbish!" replied Thomas. "We're all useful, according to Sir Topham Hatt!"

"You know what James?" added Percy. "You're getting all puffed up! James fumed away.

Later, he boasted to Gordon.

"I'm the pride of the line!" he said to Gordon.

"I saw you pulling freight cars! You're only a goods engine!"

"I pull coaches too!"

"Not as much as I do!"

"But Sir Topham Hatt has plans for me!" James was only making this up, but Gordon believed him."

"What plans?"

"Wait and see!"

Gordon crossly puffed away.

Thomas was bringing in shiny new coaches when James arrived.

"Are these coaches for me?" asked James hopefully.

"No, these are for Gordon' Express. I'll fetch your freight cars now.

But James was going to pull a trick on the other engines.

"Actually Thomas, I'm taking the coaches! Sir Topham Hatt said so!"

"What about the cars?" asked Thomas.

"Let Gordon take them!" "Come on Thomas!" said his driver. "Orders are orders!"

So James was coupled up the coaches, and puffed proudly away.

A few minutes later, Gordon arrived.

"Where's my new Express coaches?" "Sir Topham Hatt told James to take it, and wants you to take freight cars instead."

Gordon was very cross, as well as his driver.

"When Sir Topham Hatt hears about this, James is in for a lot of trouble!"

Meanwhile, James was enjoying himself enormously.

"What a clever plan, what a clever plan!" he chuffed.

At the next station, Sir Topham Hatt was waiting for him. He was BEYOND angry.

"Some jokes are funny, but this one is absolutely NOT funny. You have caused confusion and delay!"

"Sorry sir." said James.

"You will now stay in your shed until further notice. I hope this will teach you not to take things that don't belong to you!"

That night, the other engines teased James.

"Who will pull the express tomorrow? Not James!" said Gordon.

"It might just be you Gordon!" said Henry. "James is locked in his shed 'till further notice!"

James was very upset.

A few days later, he went back to work. "Hello!" whistled Thomas. "I'm glad to see you back at work!"

"I'm sorry I tricked you!" said James. "Are these my cars?" "Yes!" replied Thomas kindly.

James worked all day at the harbor, pushing and pulling freight cars into place.

"Time to go back to Tidmouth Sheds now James." said his driver. "No cars or passengers, just you, me, and the fireman.

But his driver was wrong.

"Excuse me!" called a man. "I need to get to a very important meeting with Sir Topham Hatt. May I have a ride?"

"Of course!" replied James' driver. Then he whispered to James.

"This gentleman is a railway inspector."

James was most impressed. He went as quickly as he could.

Sir Topham Hatt was waiting on the platform as James arrived.

"This clever engine gave me a splendid ride! You must be proud of him!"

"Yes indeed! James, you are a really useful engine!"