The engines at Tidmouth Sheds looked at the empty berth.
"Who's missing?" asked Gordon.
Thomas sighed. He had thought of a great story to tell the engines, but someone was missing, and no one could place who.
They thought and thought. Eventually it got to the point where they were guessing who was absent.
"Is it Edward?" Asked Henry
"No I'm here." Edward replied. "It's obvious Thomas and Gordon are both here. Duck perhaps?" He suggested
"I'm right here!" Duck huffed.
"Ah, so you are." Replied Edward sheepishly.
"So Duck, Thomas, myself, Edward and Henry are here." Said Gordon pompously. Who does that leave?"
"I'm here!" added Percy "It's James who's not here."
"Well where is he?" Asked Duck. "He likes hearing about the day's events."
"I wouldn't be surprised if he's dawdling in the coaling plant, grumbling about dirty trucks in dirty sidings." Henry said crossly.
"Or maybe he found some tar wagons to run into!" sniggered the big blue engine.
Suddenly Thomas remembered where their friend was.
"He's doing the coal run." He informed. "It is winter, after all. Someone has to do it."
"Well then he'll miss the story." Duck voiced.
"Pity." said Percy.
"Just the first bit," Thomas replied. "We can fill him in when he comes back."