I do not own Thomas the Tank Engine and Friends. They are strictly the property of both the Awdry family and Britt Allcroft, this story is both strictly for entertainment and never profit.

Episode 35: Percy and the Signal, Original Airdate: October 15th, 1984

It was a cool afternoon on the Island of Sodor. Percy was on his way to Rainbow's End Creche to pick up Lucy. Thomas and Howard were unable to due to an important delivery of stone from Anopha Quarry, because of this Thomas had asked Percy to pick Lucy up from playschool and had phoned ahead to inform Reverends Awdry and Boston of the plan.

He arrived at the playschool and knocked on the door, it was answered a minute later by one of the teachers.

"Hello there, you must be Percy Avonside?" asked the teacher.

"That I' am" replied Percy.

"Please follow me" said the teacher.

"Righto" said Percy.

The teacher led Percy into the main room where all the children were listening to a bible story that Reverend Awdry was reading to them. Lucy turned to see Percy coming into the room and was pleased to see her honorary uncle.

"Uncle Percy" said Lucy excitedly as she got up and waddled over to him.

"Hello there Lucy" said Percy happily as he picked up his honorary niece, "have a fun day?".

"Fun day uncle Percy".

Reverend Boston had just come in with a tray of milk and chocolate chip cookies for the children, both he and Reverend Awdry smiled at the warm scene between Percy and Lucy.

"Hello there Mr. Avonside" greeted Reverend Awdry, "here to pick up Lucy I see?".

"That's right" said Percy, "Thomas was busy today with an important delivery of stone from Anopha Quarry and so he asked me to pick her up".

"Well that was mighty kind of you" said Reverend Boston, "it shows that you really are a true friend to him".

"Thank you" replied Percy with a smile as he then remembered something, "now I've heard that Thomas sometimes tells this group a story?".

"Story, story" said Lucy excitedly.

"Have a story do you?" asked Reverend Awdry.

"That I do" replied Percy, "so get everyone into a circle please and pass out the milk and cookies".

Reverends Awdry and Boston both got everyone into the Storytime circle and gave each little boy and girl a class of milk and four cookies each, they gave one to Percy.

"Right then" said Percy as he sat down in the chair, "have any of you ever been cheeky?".

The boys and the girls all just gave Percy mischievous looks, he took this as a sign that they had.

"Well there was one particular month that I was extremely cheeky" said Percy as he began the story, "and because of that Gordon and James decided to play a trick on me, a trick that involved backing signals".

(Story Begins)

Percy Avonside was a young engine driver who both lived on the Island of Sodor and drove a green Avonside Industrial Saddle-Tank Engine with the number 6 painted in yellow on its side.

He worked as the station pilot for Knapford station arranging the trains for Gordon, James, and Henry's engines to take away. He even works in the yards, pushing a pulling trucks in their proper places. Although he was a hard worker, he did love playing jokes, but they did sometimes get him into trouble.

One morning he was feeling cheeky indeed. He found Gordon who was in the yard getting ready for his next train, he quietly drove his engine right next to his A1 and blew his whistle.

"What the?" cried Gordon in shock, "Percy what are doing?".

"Hurry up Gordon the train is ready" said Percy.

"What it is?" asked Gordon, his annoyance being replaced by shock.

"Sure" said Percy as he pointed over to the siding, "its over by the shed".

Gordon then hurried off to pick it up, unbeknownst to him, Percy had a mischievous look on his face. When Gordon got to the siding, he saw that the "train" was a line of dirty coal trucks. A cross Gordon then thought of how he could pay Percy back.

Now it was James' turn. Percy found him polishing his engine over at the works shed at Tidmouth sheds, he felt that it was his turn now.

"Stay in the shed today James" said Percy as he came up to him.

"Why?" asked James confused.

"Sir Topham Hatt said that he'll come and see you" Percy told him.

"Ah" said James as his confusion was replaced by a prideful expression, "he obviously knows that my engine is the finest on Sodor. Why he must want me to pull a special train".

Percy then hurried off as James remained behind. Because of that, Thomas, Lady, Edward, Henry, Gordon, and Toby had grumbled dreadfully, they had to do his work as well as their own. This of course didn't go well with them, they even voiced it to him as their all passed him that day.

"Lazy prick" grumbled Gordon as he passed with the Wild Nor' Wester.

"Ass" snapped Henry as he passed with a passenger train that James was meant to take that day.

"Honestly James" growled Thomas as he and Howard passed with Annie and Clarabel, who both gave James dirty looks from the coach windows.

"You're a lazy bum you know that James" said Lady crossly as she and Burnett passed him that day.

James just smirked and ignored her, for that Lady used her magic to make James' L&YR dirty again, making frantic and clean it once again.

Edward didn't say anything as he passed by with the log train that James was meant to pull that day, instead he just scowled angrily.

Toby did the same when he passed him.

At last the inspector arrived, he had heard of James' refusal to come out of the shed and decided to see what the situation was for himself.

"Show a wheel James" he said as he came to the works shed, "you can't stay in here all day".

"Sir Topham Hatt told me to inspector" said James grandly, "he sent me the message this morning, he's obviously a special train for me to pull".

"He did not" said the inspector in confusion, "how can he? He's away for a week".

James' face fell upon hearing that.

"Oh" he said before he turned as red as his engine's paintwork realizing that Percy had tricked him, "oh that little prick?".

Percy had wisely disappeared to avoid James' wrath. When Sir Topham Hatt returned, he did see James and Percy too. Both drivers wished that he hadn't.

"No more tricks the pair of you" he told them sternly, "this railway doesn't need confusion and delay whilst I'm away".

"No sir, sorry sir" replied James and Percy together.

A few days later, Percy was at Tidmouth yards with Gordon and James. Percy was to take a goods train to Thomas' junction, although that day he was being careless.

"I say guys" Percy told them, "I'm to take some trucks over to Thomas' junction. Sir Topham Hatt choose me especially for this job, he must know that I'm a very useful engine driver".

"More like he wants you out of the way" grunted James quietly.

Gordon however smirked and whispered something to James who smirked in return. The two of them began to pretend that they were having a conversation, but in truth they were both making a plan to pay Percy out for his teasing.

"Say Percy" said Gordon, "me and James were just talking 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 driver like you Percy.

Percy felt flattered by Gordon's words, but what he didn't know was that he was being played like a fiddle.

"Me and Gordon were also talking about backing signals" said James, "they need extra special care you know. Would you like me to explain?".

"No thanks James" said Percy, "I know all about signals".

But secretly Percy was worried, he had never heard of back signals before and wondered how he would recognise them.

"I wonder what backing signals are?" Percy said to himself, "never mind, I'll managed.

He collected his trucks and left Tidmouth yards. He whistled hello to Thomas when they passed each other and Suddery Castle, soon he came to Elsbridge station. He then saw that the signal there was down.

"Oh bother" said Percy annoyed, "it's at danger".

The signal then moved to show "Line Clear". Its arm moved up instead of down, Percy had never seen that sort of signal before and was surprised.

"Down means "go" and up means "stop"" said Percy to himself, "so upper still means "go back". I know its one of those backing signals".

"Alright Percy" called the guard from the brake van, "off we go".

And Percy did go, but much to the guard's surprise he began moving backwards.

"Stop" called the guard as he pulled the breaks, "you're going the wrong way".

"But it's a backing signal" protested Percy.

The guard the hopped down from the brake van and came up to Percy's cab as he told him about Gordon and James, the guard then laughed and explained about the signal.

"Oh dead" said Percy in realization that he had been tricked, "let's start quickly before anyone sees us".

The guard nodded and quickly rushed back to his brake van and released the breaks. However, they were too late, Gordon passed them with two green express coaches, he had seen everything. Percy saw the grin on his face as he passed, he knew that both he and James were going to give him hell tonight.

That night both Gordon and James talked about signals as Percy arrived at the bunkhouse at Tidmouth sheds, they both thought the subject was funny. Percy thought that they were being very silly indeed, luckily for him, Henry sympathized with him.

(Story Ends)

"And ever since then" said Percy as he finished the story, "I was careful never to be cheeky to either Gordon or James ever again".

The children all clapped their hands in thanks for Percy telling them the story, even Reverends Awdry and Boston were impressed.

"That was a very good story young Percy" complemented Reverend Awdry.

"At least you learned not to be so cheeky," said Reverend Boston.

"That I did" replied Percy.

With that, Percy then grabbed Lucy's bag and took her hand before leaving Rainbows End and heading back to Thomas' house with Lucy.

And done and I must say I'm pleased with how it turned out. Anyway please be so kind as to leave a preview and as always, see you all next time.