Every day, Thomas and Percy pulled the mail train. They collect letters and parcels from stations and take them to their desired destination. Tom Tipper the postman, also helps, driving his smart red van to all the places the rails didn't travel to. He's always ready to help load mail bags onto the trains too. Thomas and Percy always compliment him on how useful of a postman he was.

"Aye!" Tom would agree, "But where would I be without my smart red van. We make a great pair."

That was, until yesterday. Tom wasn't at the platform. A postman they didn't know dumped the bags on the platform and then disappeared.

"What happened to Tom?" wondered Percy.

"And his old van?" said the driver. "No wonder the new postman looks cross. Trying to carry mailbags on a bicycle would make anyone miserable."

Percy kept thinking about Tom overnight. He couldn't sleep. "I hope Tom is alright. Maybe he's just sick or had a special event going on today. I hope he'll be back tomorrow."

When Percy arrived at the station, to the relief of him, Tom was there waiting, but he looked very sad.

"The postmaster decided my van was too expansive to run. The rounds take longer on my bike. I'm sorry; I can't stop to help you anymore."

Percy and Thomas (who arrived at the station before Percy) felt very sorry for Tom. "I wish I could help cheer Tom Tipper up," sighed Percy.

"Well, good luck figuring that out!" encouraged Thomas.

Percy was just thinking about how this could be done when he was rudely interrupted.

A man was shouting at Tom Tipper. "You've got to come back to Sir Topham Hatt's office! He needs you to sign some important papers right away!"

"Oh, dear," replied Tom Tipper. "This is going to make me later still." He was in a hurry and being careless. He propped his bike against Percy's mail van and rushed away.

"Stop!" cried Percy, but Tom was out of sight. There was worse to come. Percy's driver hadn't seen the bike and he started away. "Oh no!" cried Percy. "Now there'll be trouble!" And there was. The bike became loose and fell, and next thing that happened, a crack was heard.

Percy's driver quickly stopped the train. Everyone came running to the scene. Tom Tipper's bicycle was in pieces.

As Tom heard the noise too, he came running out, finding his bike damaged beyond repair. Percy felt ashamed. "I'm sorry, Mr. Tipper."

"Never mind, Percy," sighed the postman. "It wasn't your fault. I should've been more careful about where I had put my bike. But now, I've only my legs to get the mail delivered. Whatever will happen next?"

Percy still felt sad, not for himself, but for Tom. Tom assured Percy he would make sure that Percy wasn't blamed for the accident, and he would still try to keep his position. Percy felt a bit better.

For the rest of the day, Percy felt very overwhelmed with work. The trucks were behaving worse than ever. Sometimes their brakes would slip on or their axels would run hot, and while Percy did his best to keep them under control, the trucks always found new ways cause mayhem.

It had been a long day, but Sir Topham Hatt had two more jobs for him.

"Right, now, Percy…you don't look so well."

"I'm sorry, Sir, I'm just tired."

"I see…well Percy, your still have more jobs tonight. First, you must take this load of empty trucks to the quarry, and then, you still have to pull the mail train."

"I don't know if I can stay awake that long Sir", said Percy. "I'm so sorry; it's just been a very busy day."

Sir Topham Hatt understood. "I'll tell you what, Percy. I'll have Toby help Thomas pull the mail train tonight so you can get some rest."

"Really, Sir?" asked Percy.

"Yes. And Percy…I know you're concerned about Tom Tipper, but let me reassure you, this was not your fault. The bike should not have been there."

Percy was still worried.

"Please, Sir…don't be so hard on Tom. He's a very good postman. He was just in a rush."

"Don't worry, Percy. We've already spoken. You'll see him again tomorrow."

Percy felt better. He delivered his empty trucks to the quarry. Then he saw Mavis.

"Hello Percy," she called.

"Hello Mavis," Percy responded.

"You do look tired."

"I am. I've been very overwhelmed at work, and I'm so tired. I don't know if I can stay awake to make it back to Tidmouth."

That gave Mavis an idea. "Why don't you stay here for the night? You won't have to worry about another journey."

Percy thought Mavis' idea was a great one. "Thank you, Mavis!"

As Percy puffed round, he entered the shed beside Mavis. "So, Percy, I heard you saying something about being overwhelmed."

"Yes, Mavis. The trucks have been up to their old tricks again, and I had so many jobs to do today; the trucks kept delaying them."

"Is that why you're not taking the mail train tonight?"

"Yes, Sir Topham Hatt agreed to give my duties to Toby so I could have a rest."

"Percy, I think I know what's going on with you. You're feeling put upon."

Percy was confused. "Put upon?"

Mavis explained. "Put upon is when someone has been taking advantage of due to your good nature. In your case, the trucks are taking advantage of your situation of work."

"It's not just that. Some of the bigger engines like to laugh at me, thinking I'm just a silly little engine."

Mavis smiled. "I know you're not, and so do Thomas and Sir Topham Hatt." Then she decided to change the subject. "I heard about your accident with Tom Tipper's bike."

Percy gulped. He was worried again, but Mavis reassured him. "Tom Tipper's a good man. He just made a mistake. And at least he had a reason to do so. Not like when," she gulped, "when I didn't listen to Toby's advice at the level crossing, or asked the trucks to bump me, and then they nearly bumped Toby off the rails."

Percy sympathized with Mavis' situation. "You know, you weren't the first engine to ask the trucks to be bumped; I did it too once."

Mavis was surprised. "Percy…you?"

"Yes, a few years ago. Would you care to hear about it?"

"Yes, please, Percy!"

"Well, at that point, I believed water to not be a problem. I had a saying: 'water's nothing to an engine with determination'. There was a danger sign on the quay. It told engines not to pass it. Thomas warned me, but I didn't listen. I should've listened to Thomas; he went passed a danger sign once, and fell down a mine, and had to be rescued by Gordon, but young, naïve me was too curious to listen.

One day, I asked the trucks, 'will you give me a bump when we get to the quay?' The trucks giggled and chattered about it. 'On! On! On!' they yelled. I thought they were helping. My plan was to pretend to stop at the station, but the trucks would push me pass the board. Then I'd make them stop. I thought I could do that easily. It started going according to plan. I stopped, the trucks told me to 'Go on!', and they started pushing me. However, they did so too well, and nocked my driver and fireman off the footplate.

I didn't realize that the foundations of the quay had sunk, and that the rails had sloped downwards toward the sea. I was frantic when I realized. I kept shouting. 'OW! That's enough!' but next thing I realized, I was sunk."

"You must have felt very scared," shrieked Mavis.

"Yes, but I felt sillier for believing I could trust the trucks. The Fat Controller was also very cross at me. 'You are a very disobedient engine,' he told me.

I knew that voice without even looking up to him. He had witnessed the whole accident. 'Please, sir. Get me out, sir. I'm truly sorry, sir.'

'No, Percy,' he said sternly. 'We cannot do that until high tide. I hope this'll teach you to take care of yourself.'

'Yes, sir," I said in agreement.

It was dark when floating cranes arrived to rescue me. I was too cold and stiff to move by myself, so Henry had to take me to the works. He teased me about the whole incident. He even suggested I'd like it better next time. But I'm quite determined there won't be a next time."

Mavis was left in shock. She knew Percy could be cheeky, but she never thought he would let simple curiosity get the best out of him so badly. When she was able to speak again, she was curious. "Did you always act like this, as in your early days on Sodor?"

"Well, that depends on if you want to hear about it."

Mavis smiled. "If I didn't want to hear about it, I wouldn't have asked."

"Alright then…want me to start from the start?"

"Yes, please."

"I originally worked on the Great Western Railway. I was very cheeky and caused more problems than did any actual work. I was soon put in a workshop, where other controllers would happen to find engines they'd want to buy. I was fortunate enough to be found by Sir Topham Hatt. He bought and named me, and he told Edward to show me around. At that time, Henry, Gordon, and James were fed up with shunting their own coaches and trucks. So, after seeing my will to work, Sir Topham Hatt locked up the three big engines in the shed for a week, and while Thomas and Edward ran the main line, I ran our branch line. At first Thomas was concerned, but afterwards, he quickly grew to like me, and we have been fast friends ever since.

Once the three big engines were released, we were allowed to go have fun on the branch line for a few days. Edward and I loved shunting, and once that was over with, I was waiting for the signalman to change the points so I could head back to the yard. Edward had warned me 'Be careful on the main line. Whistle to the signalman that you are there,' but I had forgotten. From what I was told, the signalman had dozed off, as he had set all the points he needed to for about an hour. I waited and waited. The switch was still against me so I couldn't move.

Then I was shocked when I looked ahead, for rushing towards me was Gordon with the express. 'Ohh!' he groaned. 'Get out of my way!' he yelled. My driver and fireman jumped clear, and I shut my eyes."

Mavis gasped. "What happened?"

"I opened my eyes, seeing that Gordon had stopped with his buffers just a few inches from mine, but I had begun to move. 'I won't stay here! I'll run away!' I yelled. I went straight through Wellsworth and was so frightened, I ran right up Gordon's hill without stopping. After that, I was tired, but since my driver and fireman had jumped clear, I couldn't stop. Thanks, however, to the signalman at Lower Suddery, he kindly set the switch, ending in a bank of Earth.

I was relieved. The workmen helped dug me out, and they gave me a drink and some coal. Even Gordon was pleased to see me, saying that by starting so quickly, I had prevented a nasty accident, and he helped me out of the bank of Earth.

From then on, I became the new station pilot at Knapford, shunting coaches for the other engines to take out on journeys. I worked there for a while, playing jokes when I could and enjoying being with the other engines."

Mavis was still interested. "Tell me more."

Percy started to laugh. "Well there was that one time when I wanted a scarf."

Mavis was puzzled. "I'm sorry Percy, but did you just say at one point you wanted a scarf?"

"Yes, Mavis. I always felt so cold in winter, and I would see other people wear scarves, so I felt a warm scarf around my funnel would be a good way to keep warm."

"But, Percy, you keep warm in your boiler."

"I know, but I was too conceited to realize. That was, until one day, when I, being the cheeky engine I was, decided to sneak up on the coaches for Henry's visitor train to surprise them, but instead, I accidentally crashed into Sir Topham Hatt's baggage trolley. Baggage, clothes, and sticky jam flew up into the air and fell all over me and Sir Topham Hatt. He was very cross with me.

On my lamp iron was The Fat Controllers top hat. On my funnel, Sir Topham Hatt's best trousers coiled willingly.

Sir Topham Hatt seized the top hat. 'Mine!' he said. 'Percy, look at this!'

'Yes, sir. I am sir.'

'My best trousers too!'

'Yes, sir. Please, sir.'

'We must pay the passengers for their spoiled clothes, and my trousers are ruined! I hope this will teach you not to play tricks with the coaches!'"

Percy lightened up. "And then came the funny part."

"What's the funny part about an accident?'

"Well, as I was being cleaned up, I saw James who couldn't help laughing. 'Hello Percy. So, you found a scarf, eh? But legs, go in trousers, not funnels.' At the time, I felt really silly, but looking back, he does have a good point, now does he?" And Percy started to laugh and laugh. Mavis couldn't help but join in. When they had recovered, Percy continued.

"So, for a while, even after that experience, I kept making jokes. Eventually, though, I went too far."

"Too far? Did you hurt anyone?"

"No, but I was very rude to Gordon and James. I told Gordon to hurry up, then showed him a line of dirty coal trucks. And I told James to stay in the shed, saying Sir Topham Hatt would come see him. James believed me, leaving Edward, Henry, and Gordon to do James' work as well as their own, until an inspector arrived, reminding James that Sir Topham Hatt was on holiday. Though I wisely disappeared from their sight, when The Fat Controller did return, he scolded me for causing so much trouble.

But the very next day, I was still being cheeky. 'I say, you engines,' I said 'I'm to take some trucks to Thomas' junction. Sir Topham Hatt chose me especially. He must know I'm a really useful engine.'

'More likely he wants you out of the way,' grunted James. This should've been a signal for what was to come, but I felt too cheery.

Gordon then looked at James, 'James and I were just speaking about signals at the junction. We can't be too careful about signals, but then I needn't say that to a really useful engine like you Percy.' I felt flattered.

'We had spoken of backing signals,' put in James. 'They need extra special care, you know. Would you like me to explain?'

'No, thank you,' I boasted, 'I know all about signals.' In reality, there are no such things as backing signals, but I didn't know.

Later that day, I found a signal. The signalman was trying out a new experiment. When the signal moved to show line clear, its arm moved up instead of down, but I thought otherwise. 'Down means go, and up means stop, so upper still must mean go back. I know; it's one of those backing signals.'

'Come on, Percy!' said my driver, 'Off we go!' but I went in reverse. 'Stop! You're going the wrong way!'

'But it's a backing signal,' I protested, and I told them about Gordon and James. My driver couldn't help laughing. He then explained to me about signals that pointed up.

'Oh, dear,' I said. 'Let's start quickly before they see us,' but it was too late. Gordon had seen everything.

That night the big engines talked about signals. They thought was funny, but we both know they were being very silly."

Mavis felt sorry for Percy, but Percy just laughed.

"What? Are you finding another of your mishaps funny?"

"Kind of, but more so how I paid them out."

"How did you do so?"

"Well, it happened on the day Duck arrived. I was feeling tired, and Gordon and James' attitude made it worse. Not to mention, Henry started hearing the news and he joined the two on the act. The Fat Controller understood this, and considering Duck is bigger and stronger than me, The Fat Controller thought Duck could manage to work alone. He then invited me to help build his new harbor, with Thomas and Toby helping out too, and afterwards, I would help run Thomas' branch line. I agreed instantly."

"So, that's how you got to work on this line?"

"Yes, but…"

"That doesn't sound like evening out the score much to me."

"Let me explain. After Duck arrived, the three big engines decided to treat Duck the same manner of treating me, teasing him, ordering him about, and wheeshing steam at him.

"The big engines wheeshed at you?"

"They did when I first came, but they stopped when I wheeshed steam back at Henry in a greater rate any of the bigger engines ever could. Even Edward complimented me on it."

"Percy, you never cease to make me more impressed!" Mavis complimented.

"Thanks Mavis!"

"Continue, now, Percy."

"Well, I was very cross at the big engines. I came up to Duck. He tried to reassure me 'They'll get tired of it soon.'

'No, they won't. They've been doing it for weeks.'

'Do they tell you to do things Percy?'

'Yes, they do.'

'Right, we'll soon stop that nonsense.' He whispered something. 'We'll do it later.'"

Mavis was curious. "What did you do?"

"I sat on the turntable, whereas Duck was behind me, blocking the entrance to Tidmouth Sheds. Gordon, James, and Henry were furious. Suddenly were heard shouting from a voice we know too well. 'Stop that noise!' The Fat Controller bellowed.

'They won't let us in!' hissed Gordon.

'Duck, explain this behavior!'

'Beg, pardon sir,' he began, 'but I'm a great western engine. We do our work without fuss. But, begging your pardon, sir, Percy and I would be glad if you would inform these engines that we only take orders from you.'

The big engines whistled angrily.

'SILENCE!' thundered Sir Topham Hatt. 'Percy and Duck, I am pleased with your work today, but not with your behavior tonight. You have caused a disturbance.' We felt bad, as Gordon, James and Henry sniggered quietly, until Sir Topham Hatt turned around to face them.

'As for you,' thundered Sir Topham Hatt, 'you've been worse. You made the disturbance. Duck is quite right. This is my railway, and I give the orders! And Duck and Percy, if this sort of behavior happens again, inform me immediately than cause any more disturbances.'

'Yes sir,' we both said.

Afterwards, I was transferred over here, while Duck managed to easily do the work alone. I've worked here ever since."

"That was an amazing story, Percy! I knew that you were a mischievous engine, but never to that extent. You've definitely matured since your early days."

"Definitely Mavis."

"So, after you transferred over to Thomas' branch line, what was different about it then compared to now?"

"Well, for one thing, it was much smaller and less busy. Don't give me wrong, it was still massively popular, but there were three engines running it. Now, there are five."

"You mean Daisy and I, right?"

"Yes. Another difference was Thomas' attitude. He was way more boastful and conceited than he is now. When I first arrived, he boasted that blue was the only proper color for a really useful engine. One day, he was resting at the coal hopper, when I arrived to fill my trucks full of coal. Thomas was being cheeky like normal, but the trucks pushed me a bit too far, and the last load of coal fell on Thomas instead of the final truck. While it was an accident, I still laughed.

I stopped laughing that night, though, when Thomas thought I had made his paint dirty on purpose. 'Fancy a really useful blue engine like Thomas would become a disgrace to Sir Topham Hatt's railway,' I said. Admittedly, I went a bit too far with what I said that night, but I would soon eat my words the next day.

I went to get a drink after bringing some trucks to Tidmouth. But as I approached the water tower, I couldn't stop, and the buffers didn't help. Next thing I knew, I was wheel deep in coal. Thomas had seen everything. 'Now, Percy has learned his lesson too,' I heard him chuckle to himself.

There were rumors afterwards that our quarrel went on for longer than it did, with Thomas calling me a drip, and us throwing more insults around at each other, until Thomas broke down. The rumor claims that I refused to help him until I was reminded of the passengers, and after I came to the rescue, we became friends again. I'd like to confirm these rumors as false. We made up the night I had the accident, agreeing in the future to be more careful of coal. The accident did happen, but we were not in a quarrel then; in fact, I was devastated."

"So, if I may try to piece the rest together, I heard from Thomas the time he crashed into a stationmaster's house, and from Daisy, how she acted when she first came to the island. Then you had the accident with the brake van, and how you had to go to the works. Am I pretty much caught up?"

"Yes, you are. Of course, there were other, smaller incidents, but nothing as major."

"Like the switch failure ending you up in a jam?"

Percy blushed. "Yes…how did you know about that?"

"The news spreads far and wide around Sodor rather quickly."

Percy was getting tired. "I think we should try to get some sleep now, Mavis. I'm very tired. It's been a long day."

"Alright then Percy, but tell me more stories when you have the chance, alright?"

"Yes, Mavis. Goodnight."

"Goodnight."

As Percy slept, he continued thinking about Tom Tipper. But Mavis was thinking about something else. She was thinking about Percy, and realized that, compared to what he had done, she was lucky not to have such misfortunate experiences. She also gained more respect for him, being so willing to talk about his past experiences that most just try to forget even happened. And yet, underneath all that. Percy had always been Percy, while maturing, always had a good heart and a sense of fun. Due to such, she decided the next time they hung out like this, she would tell him something she never told any engine on Sodor.

The next day, Percy arrived at the station when he saw Tom Tipper, who was smiling. Then, something caught his eye. "Is that a smart new van, I see?"

"It is indeed," smiled Tom. "That accident did me a good turn, Percy. Sir Topham Hatt and my chief talked it over, and they agreed that a new van would do the job. Much better than another bike, and worth the expense. Now, I can always be on time again!"

"So, I did help," beamed Percy, "but by accident you might say."

Mavis rolled up. "See, Percy? I knew things would turn out alright. As you've shown, accidents can lead to good things happening that might not have happened otherwise."

Percy smiled in agreement.