James has often heard of Bertie. From what he knew, he was bus, and Thomas once had a race with him. But that was where his knowledge ended.
But his curiosity didn't end so soon. He often wondered what Bertie was like.
"Hm I hope I'll meet Bertie someday." he said to himself.
...
He did- albeit rather unexpectedly!
Thomas had been pulling Annie and Clarabel as usual on his Branchline a few days later, when he became tired and wheezy. On closer inspection, they found something wrong with his tubes, but no one could fix him, so he was taken to the Steamworks by Toby.
James was sent to pull the rest of Thomas' trains, as Percy was too busy to take them.
"At last I'll get to meet Bertie!" He cheered.
...
As James chuffed down the line later that morning, he heard a horn
"Hello Thomas-wait you're not Thomas!"
No Im James he explained.
Well I'm Bertie!" Said the voice.
When the red engine looked over at the road by the line, he saw a small red bus. He had a friendly face, and seemed cheerful and optimistic.
James snorted.
"Hmph- I don't see why buses should be allowed to be red!" he declared snootily. "Now if you'll excuse me, I have passengers to take!"
He steamed off for the next station.
...
At Hackenbeck Station, James simmered for a good while before he saw his friend from the flour mill.
"Hello Sophie!" Called James.
"Hello James! I wasn't expecting to see you on a Branchline." Sophie teased.
"Well, Thomas got sick so I'm doing his trains for now." Explained James.
"I'm glad- you're a good friend James." Sophie told him.
"Really, how would you know?" Asked James, flustered slightly.
"We're friends silly! Don't you remember our time at the flour mill? You know, I thought I was going to have a hard time making new friends."
"What about Thomas?"
"We only spoke a few times. He couldn't stay for long- and my colleagues think Im a nut-klutz- a combination between crazy and just plain clumsy. You're the first proper friend I had to talk to, James- well since I first took up the flour mill job."
Come to think of it, James had had a hard time making friends with Sophie too- he found it difficult to come up with things to talk about- but they managed to break the ice.
Deep down, James felt bad for what he said to Bertie earlier. The little bus did try to be nice, but James just snubbed him.
Right, I should get going Sophie it was nice talking to you James told her and he hurried away.
He had to make an apology.
...
Bertie was fuming as he made his way back the way he came.
"How dare he! How dare he!"
"Now, now Bertie- I know you're upset, but you should just ignore that engine." Soothed his driver.
"I suppose you're right." agreed Bertie- but he was still cross.
Just the he heard a whistle he vaguely recognized.
"Oh bother!" He huffed. "It's James!"
"Bertie- Bertie wait, please!" James called out
"What James?" Huffed Bertie crossly.
"I'm sorry for what I said earlier. I didn't mean any of it. I think red suits you."
Silence stemmed and took hold of the atmosphere. Then, Bertie smiled and said.
"You're forgiven."
Then he began to laugh!
The red engine was surprised by this, but he joined in nevertheless.
So James had made a new friend in Bertie, and learned that making friends is never easy, so judging a book by its cover is never the right answer.
You judge what was inside.