The next day, Sir Topham Hat arrived at Tidmoth Sheds to speak with James. James was pretty miserable for he spent all of yesterday and half the day before in the sheds.
"James, I have very important news for you. I have found you a new driver," the Fat Controller boomed.
James looked up and smiled for the first time in these past two days. Finally, he can get out of the sheds and stretch his wheels.
"James, I want you to meet your new driver," Sir Topham moved to reveal a woman behind him. "Sergeant Williams. She has been a drill instructor at a boot camp before. She previously worked for the army."
James looked the woman up and down. She looked really tough with really short hair, no smile, and a well toned body dressed in a military suit. "She looks tough, but my cute charm will win her over." James thought smugly to himself, forgetting his pervious punishment.
"Hello," he beamed with his adorable smiling face.
"You will address me as ma'am!" She spoke sternly.
"Y-yes, ma'am," James sputtered, taken aback.
"Repeat that sentence, young man. You speak like you have crap stuffed in your mouth."
"Yer..Yes, Ma'am!" James said loudly. Even Sir Topham Hat was a bit shocked. He wanted a strict driver for James, but he didn't expect this. Overall, he believes James need more control so he decides to give the driver a try. "Maybe it will work out," he thought. Then he spoke with James.
"James, your job for today is bringing coal to the docks. After that, you will attend Thomas' branch line for he isn't feeling well."
"Yes, sir. I'll get right on it, sir."
After Sir Topham Hat left, James set off with his new driver. He was happy to have finally left the sheds.
"I have a wash down before each of my tasks," he spoke proudly. "It will make me readier than ever."
"Rubbish," the driver scolded. "You'll receive a wash down after all your tasks are completed, just like the other engines. Lack of an unnecessary wash down does not hinder an engine's performance."
"But, what's better than a really useful engine is being useful and looking splendid, hot, and smexy like me," James argued. "I'm not an ordinary engine, you know."
"Silence! Don't take that tone with me, young man!" She snapped. "Sir Topham Hat has informed me of your behaviors. Well, I will not tolerate any misconduct from you. Do I make myself clear!"
"Yes, ma'am," he replied.
Soon, James arrived at the coaling plant. He saw the freight cars full of coal that he had to take. Of course coal cars are filthy, especially for James.
"Yuck, I will not pull that awful mess," James said.
"You will do as you were told," the driver snipped. "Now get to work."
"Y…yes, ma'am."
On the way to the docks, James didn't have a goodtime. He was pushing troublesome trucks from behind and they weren't cooperating. They often shook and rattled, sending coal dust into James' face. By the time James reached the docks, he was a bit filthy. Black coal dust covered his once beautiful red paint.
This didn't matter to Arthur of course. As soon as he heard that familiar "beep beep", he went to greet James.
"Good morning, smexy red," Arthur beamed as he pulled up along side James. As you have noticed, he does have a nice size crush on our naughty little red star (in this story anyway).
"I don't feel so smexy with this filth covering my lovely coat," James muttered sadly, rather to himself since he was too preoccupied to notice Arthur.
"Never mind the filth, James. You always look splendid to me," Arthur stated sweetly.
"…" James finally noticed Arthur. "For the last time, I'm bloody stra-," James was cut off by his driver.
"Enough of that chit chat. Get moving!" she scolded.
"But I wasn't 'chit chattin'. He's always making passes at me even though I'm strai-," he was cut off again, this time with an angrier response.
"I don't want to hear it, James. You will get to work or there will be consequences!"
"See what you did to me," James said to Arthur, ignoring his driver. "Now, I'm in trouble because of you."
"James!" the driver snapped.
James paid her no mind. "And for the last time, I'm strai-,"
"JAMES!"
The driver got his attention this time so he left in a huff.
"And for your last time, and sake, you will take orders from me like a proper engine! Do I make myself clear!"
"Yes, ma'am," James angrily muttered. He had it with this driver.
"I cannot hear you. Repeat that again!"
"Yes, ma'am!" James snapped angrily.
"Don't take that tone with me, young man!"
"Yes, ma'am," James spoke politely this time despite him seething.
"And for your punishment, I'll speak with Sir Topham Hat. You will shunt trucks for the rest of the day, while another engine runs Thomas' branch line."
Will James overcome this dictatorship? Tune in to the next chapter to find out.
James: "You're so mean to me. T.T"
Me: "Aw, I didn't mean it, James. It's just a story, a fanfic at that. You know I love you. You're my favorite engine."
James: "If you love me so much, you wouldn't have written this." .
Me: "Look on the bright side. At least this story gives more chance for people to see what a splendid engine you are."
James: "Oh, yeah." "I am such a hot engine." 3