James raced away from the parade and towards somewhere to hide and sulk. Invariably, he decided to hide in the coaling plant, as everyone knew that the coaling plant was dirty and sooty- not somewhere where a proud engine like James would like to go in a bad mood.
He was seething- Percy had humiliated him- in front of all the crowds of Sodor! He wanted revenge, and he sat there and hissed steam whilst he thought about how he could deliver Percy's comeuppance.
"James, you know you can't sit there and sulk forever." His driver told him. "We do have a parade to go back and salvage."
"I don't care- Percy embarrassed me! How can I even dare think on going back to the parade?" His engine asked in response, hissing steam angrily.
"Well, to be fair, that squeaking noise was pretty ridiculous, James." His fireman replied, chuckling softly. "I thought it was quite amusing."
"Well, what do I care? My reputation's down the drain and it's that silly tank engine's entire fault. He should be grounded." James countered childishly.
"Now James, childishness never gets an engine anywhere." His driver told him firmly. "You are being over dramatic, as always."
"Why do you think I'm being over dramatic? He deliberately mimicked the noise I made- whist I was carrying important passengers!"
Just at that moment, a familiar elderly female voice boomed "Just what do you think you're doing?"
James jumped in alarm. It was Dowager Hatt, along with the Earl and Lady Hatt. He gulped nervously.
"Now don't worry ma'am, we'll have a little word with our engine." The driver informed, as he ushered the three guests away back toward the carriage to join the others.
"Well, please do so! I do not tolerate this tomfoolery!" Dowager Hatt snapped, as she, her daughter in law and their friend boarded the carriage again.
Whilst the driver saw to the passengers, the fireman had a stern word with James.
"Now, James, I know you are a proud engine that likes his reputation intact, but acting childish is not doing anything either to get back at Percy's behaviour or gain you sympathy. It's not up to you to decide what happens to Percy- its Gordon's decision as a father as to whether Percy deserves grounding, and it's also the Fat Controller's job to deal with spats like this. Am I understood?"
James sighed.
"Besides, Percy's younger than you." His driver added, returning. "He'll learn that imitating you is not something you like."
A grunt was heard from the red engine. "I can't say I'm happy with it, but I think you're right." He told his crew. "Shall we go back to the parade?" He asked.
"I'd never thought you'd ask, old boy!" His driver replied. "Come on- we have a parade to save from ruination!"
With a magnificent whoosh of steam, and a long loud blare of his whistle, James the Red Engine exited the Coaling Plant.
"Finally- I thought we'd be stuck here!" Lady Hatt exclaimed. "My husband is going to be cross."
"Not as cross as I am, Jane dear." Dowager Hatt replied.
"I just hope we get back to the parade on time!" Alicia Botti fretted, but the Earl took her hand and patted it comfortingly.
"We will I know it. James may be temperamental, but he's still a good and dedicated engine when the time calls to be such." He told her confidently.