A/N This is based on Percy, James and the Fruitful Day.

Hey, it's me, Percy and I shall tell about how I got messy once. James comes into this story as well.

It was a splendid morning on the Island of Sodor. James was feeling very pleased with himself. His red paint gleamed in the sunshine as he sped along the line. He reached the junction just as I puffed in with some freight cars. James was surprised to see me. When we met up, I could see how pleased with himself he was that day.

What are you doing here, Percy? You should be at the station by now!

"I know," I sighed. These cars have been troublesome all morning."

"That's no excuse, Percy! Nothing should stop us! Sir Topham Hatt relies on us to be on time! Now if you excuse me, I'll be on my way!"

And James puffed importantly away.

"Bossy buffers," I muttered. He takes over for a bit now, with the story, as the next part was all about him and our friend Thomas. They've got a friendly rivalry, as James can be cheeky, sometimes, like us.

Hey, it's me, James, the splendid red engine. I arrived at the harbor. It was market day. The harbor yard was filled with the sweet smell of fruits from faraway lands. The fruit was delivered in big ships. I watched as strawberries, oranges, melons and bananas were carefully loaded onto my cars. Then, I set off for the station on the Main Line. On the way, I met Thomas.

"Really reliable, that's me!" I panted. "Pity the same can't be said for Percy! Goodbye!" I heard Thomas and his coaches talking as we parted.

"What was all that about? gasped Annie and Clarabel.

"That was trouble. Trouble for James. Just wait and see."

Back to little green me again. I was back in the yard and busy shunting. I had the cars in good order and was making up for lost time. But the stationmaster had bad news.

"What's happened?" asked Driver.

"James's brakes are jammed. We need Percy's help right away."

I quickly set off to the rescue. James was stuck on the line and looking glum. I couldn't help laughing.

"Got yourself in a bit of jam, eh James? A "sticky situation?" I was feeling cheeky.

"Be quiet! It's not funny having jammed brakes!"

"And not very reliable, either. I'm surprised you let it happen, James. Nothing should stop us engines."

"That's enough, Percy," said Driver. "Can you push these cars?"

"Of course I can. There's no time to lose. James had done too much of that already."

James angrily hissed steam as I was coupled to the cars.

"Off we go!" I said. "I'll have to go fast to get there on time. Those big engines are so unreliable."

"I'm so driven nuts," snapped James.

"Be careful, Percy," called Driver.

But I was in a hurry. I didn't see that the switch had failed and that I had been diverted onto a siding.

"Look out, Percy!" shouted Driver and he applied the brakes.

But it was too late. I crashed into a van on a fruit train.

Driver and Fireman had jumped clear, but squashed fruit squirted all over me. I was all covered in fruit.

No one was hurt. Sir Topham Hatt arrived.

"Percy, you were not to blame for the switch failure. But I do not run a jam factory."

"Yes sir. No sir." And I squelched sadly away. Driver comforted me. That night, the shed was silent. James and I felt very sorry for ourselves. Driver did his best to soothe me before my crew left. At last, Thomas spoke.

"You know.." he said to no engine in particular. "There's more than one way to get jammed. We all learned that today."

Still, there was silence.

"What's more, we also learned that sometimes when engines help each other out of a jam, things can still go wrong." My friend finally got a reply.

"So" said a voice.

"So, that means we learned a lot today. And therefore..."

Then came a chorus.

"We're Really Useful Engines after all."

A/N To old readers: An e-friend told me I posted the same chapter twice, so Chapter 73's different now.