James Advancing Backwards

Today, on the Island of Sodor, James will be very busy. He had woken up to start his new day. "I am the pride of the railway," He boasted after he woke up. This woke the other engines up as well. "Nonsense," Gordon said. "James," Henry groaned, "This is the fourth time this week that you've said that."

"Right away, Henry," James said, "But now it's the fifth. You need to recount that. Otherwise, you're not really good at counting numbers." "Ugh," Henry groaned, "Smart jack." James soon left the sheds to start work.

Today was a typical day for James. He pulled goods trains and passenger trains for the whole day. "Nothing more," James thought to himself. "Now, James," his driver said, "Don't get too cocky. Remember your first day on the island?"

"Yeah, yeah, sure," James said. "I hope he doesn't end up like those morons who already forgets things," James driver said to himself. Nonetheless, James did his works like normal. "I told you this will be easy!" James shouted. "Oh no," Thomas groaned. "He's going to get into trouble soon," Toby said gravely. "I've heard that!" James called back.

Some hours later, James was resting when the stationmaster came up to him. "Yes," James said, "What do you want me to do?" "I need you to help Duck, Donald, Douglas and Oliver at the ballast yards," he told James. "No problem," James said, "I'll take care of it."

And James set off. "James," the stationmaster called, "Be careful!" "Of course, James didn't listen to the stationmaster's warning.

Soon, James arrived at the ballast yards. The Small railway engines had already collected enough ballast for a whole railway. "Well," James smiled, "What have we here?" "We've got a long train of ballast ready to go," Douglas explained.

"Very well," James said, "I'll take care of them." "Well, you'd better be careful," Duck said seriously, "These ballast trucks are known to behave atrociously." "Yeah, yeah," James replied, "Atrocious, smrocious." "Smrocias?" Duck said, trying to repeat what James had said.

"James!" Oliver shouted, "Do not underestimate these trucks!" "I know what I'm doing!" James replied, "I don't need to listen to little tank engines like you!" "Ugh!" Oliver growled.

James was coupled up to the train of ballast and he steamed off. He is disregarding the nasty behavior of these ballast trucks. "I sense trouble is a brewing," Oliver told Toad. "I agree," Toad said. "We'd better follow him," Duck said, "To make sure he doesn't get hurt." And so Duck and Oliver did. "I'll take some trucks," Douglas said, "And follow him, too."

So the three engines did. At that moment, James was speeding down the line. "Not too hard," James chortled. "Be careful," James' driver ward, but James still wouldn't listen. He was having too much of a joyous time. Duck is right about these trucks.

When James got to the top of the first hill, they played their trick. "Push him! Push him!" the trucks shouted and they banged against each other. "What the?!" James cried as the trucks pushed him down the hill. "Go faster! Go faster!" the trucks shouted.

James ended up losing control of his train and he sped down the hill at twice his normal speed. "I've got to stop!" James cried. His crew tried to reduce steam and put on the brakes, but it was no use. "You've shouldn't have acted like a jerk!" the driver shouted, "Now look what has happened!" "I know!" James cried.

There was nothing they could do. Duck and Oliver got to the top of the hill when they saw the runaway James. "I knew it!" Oliver said. "Come on," Duck said. At the nearest station, Edward was preparing to leave with a passenger train.

Then he saw James charging towards him. "Oh no!" Edward cried, "Help!" "I can't stop!" James cried. The signalmen saw what is happening and he changed the points.

James ended up being diverted onto a siding where he demolished a set of buffers and crashed into an empty shed. Luckily, his crew jumped out before the crash. "Oh no!" Edward cried. Luckily, no one had been hurt. Duck and Oliver had arrived to see James in a complete mess. "I'll go get help," Duck said.

All James could do is just stay there and wait.

Soon, Duck arrived with the breakdown crane and the Fat Controller. He was cross. "James," he said, "Your arrogance today has cause nothing but trouble. Have you've forgotten your past?" "Well," James replied sadly, "Yeah."

"Well," the Fat Controller said, "Now you will learn to be careful with trucks like these ones. Understand?" "Yes, sir," James replied. "And I'll let you figure it out on your own," the Fat Controller concluded. "Yes, sir," James said.

When James was repaired, he met up with Duck and Oliver. "Hey, Duck and Oliver," James said. "Yes?" Oliver replied. "I'm sorry for being rude to you," James said sadly, "Do you think you'll let me help you again?" "Well," Duck said, "We let you help." "But try not to act like a bragger," Oliver said. "Deal," James agreed.

And so for the rest of that day, James helped Duck, Oliver, Donald and Douglas with the ballast trains. Since then, James had never bragged about anything ever again. Well, most of the time. "You can bet on it," James said.