It was a quiet day at Tidmouth Sheds and Percy was all alone. He had just finished his morning's work and was waiting for his next job.

Suddenly, the Fat Controller's car pulled up and Percy was very surprised to see…Lady Hatt. "Sir Topham is sick," she announced grandly. "He has lost his voice."

Percy was worried. "I hope he finds it soon," he wheeshed. All the engines knew what their jobs were that morning, but the Fat Controller was still nowhere to be seen. Now, Percy knew why.

"Sir Topham has given me a list of new jobs," Lady Hatt continued, and she held up a piece of paper. "Gordon is to take his empty Express coaches from Knapford to Brendam Docks. The coaches are filled with new fine china, so he must pull them very slowly."

"Slow coaches," said Percy thoughtfully.

"James is to shunt trucks in the Coal Yard. He must be as busy as a bee."

"Busy bee," wheeshed Percy carefully.

"And Toby," Lady Hatt went on, "is to take coaches of visitors from Maithwaite to the Scottish Castle. This is a special train, so he must go as fast as Gordon's Express."

"Gordon's Express," repeated Percy.

"Now, Percy," said Lady Hatt, "I want you to take me to the engines so I can give them their jobs."

"Yes, ma'am."

Percy's Driver and Fireman soon returned. As they were climbing onboard with Lady Hatt, Thomas puffed in.

"Lady Hatt is Controller for the day," chirped Percy proudly, "and I am to take her around the railway."

"How exciting," replied Thomas and Percy chuffed off.

Suddenly, a big gust of wind blew across the Yard…and Lady Hatt's list slipped out of her hand and flew away. "Oh no," moaned Percy, "what do we do now."

"Don't worry, Percy," Lady Hatt replied, "everything will be fine." But inside, neither she nor Percy were so sure.

When Percy arrived at Knapford, he found Gordon first. Percy came alongside and Lady Hatt stepped onto the platform. "Sir Topham is sick," she explained, "so I am in charge until he gets back." Gordon was surprised. Lady Hatt tried to remember what Gordon's job was. "Gordon…you must pull very slow coaches from Maithwaite to the Scottish Castle," she said at last.

"Oh, the indignity!" huffed Gordon.

But Percy was puzzled. "Ma'am, are you sure that's right?" he asked.

Lady Hatt wasn't sure at all, but she didn't want to disappoint the Fat Controller. "Very sure, Percy," she said, "carry on." And Percy quickly left.

Next, Percy saw James; he was at the washdown. Lady Hatt leaned out of Percy's cab and thought hard. "James, you must be a busy bee."

James gasped. "Do you mean I have to be painted yellow and black?"

"Erm…yes, James."

"But why?" James felt rather bothered.

"Because I'm filling in for Sir Topham today," Lady Hatt replied, "and that's what he asked me to tell you." Percy puffed off, but once again, Percy didn't think that sounded right.

Finally, Percy found Toby in the Shunting Yards. "Toby, you must pull Gordon's Express coaches to Brendam Docks," said Lady Hatt.

"Why?" Toby asked; he was very puzzled.

"That's your job," Lady Hatt replied, "Sir Topham's orders."

The Yard Manager appeared. "Ah, Percy, just in time," he said. "We have some empty trucks that must be taken to the Kellsthorpe Station."

"Come on, Percy," said Lady Hatt, "orders are orders." So, Percy was coupled to the trucks and puffed quickly away.

Late that afternoon, Percy was on his way back to Tidmouth when he stopped at a signal near Crosby Junction. Some children were standing by the tracks and laughing. Percy looked and saw James…with yellow and black stripes all over him.

"Who is that giant strippy bee?!" called the children.

The Signalman was laughing too. "Are you carrying honey?" he teased.

"Bust my boiler," James snorted, but because everyone was laughing at him, the Signalman forgot to change the points.

Gordon was puffing very slowly down the line with some coaches…and James puffed right into him. The children laughed again. "Poor Gordon, what a slowcoach!"

Then, Toby huffed up with the heavy Express coaches. There weren't many of them, but he was still very tired. Suddenly, he saw Gordon and James blocking his way.

"Oh no!" cried Percy and he closed his eyes tightly. Toby braked as hard as he could…but he couldn't stop. He crashed into James and all the fine china was tossed about inside the coaches.

No one was hurt, but Gordon, James and Toby were in a terrible mess. Worse still, they could hear the children laughing and then, they saw Percy and Lady Hatt watching.

Gordon called out to them. "This is ridiculous!" he huffed. "I am supposed to be the fastest engine on Sodor! Not the slowest!"

"I'm supposed to be the reddest engine," moaned James, "Now, no one knows who I am."

"And I'm only a steam tram," wheeshed Toby. "The Express coaches are too heavy for me to pull."

"Oh dear," said Lady Hatt quietly; she knew she had made lots of mistakes.

The Signalman telephoned for help and soon, Thomas and Harvey puffed up with the Breakdown Train. "Cinders and ashes!" exclaimed Thomas, "what happened?"

"I'm afraid this is all my fault," said Lady Hatt sadly. "I don't remember what Sir Topham told me and now, the engines are all doing the wrong jobs."

Thomas, Harvey and the workmen helped the other engines back onto the rails. Then, Lady Hatt looked thoughtfully at James. "What are you doing here anyway, James?" she asked.

"The Shed Master got a telephone call from the Coal Yard," said James crossly. "He said there were lots of trucks waiting to be shunted and I was the only engine available."

Lady Hatt starred…Then, she smiled. "Now, I remember! I was supposed to send you to shunt those trucks and be as busy as a bee." James wheeshed angrily.

"What about us?" asked Toby. "It seems that Gordon and I were each supposed to take the other's train."

"Do you remember anything, Percy," asked Lady Hatt.

Percy thought for a moment. "Gordon and slow coaches; Toby and Gordon's Express," he said slowly.

Gordon frowned. "Toby should be the one taking these visitors to the Scottish Castle."

"That's it!" exclaimed Lady Hatt. "He is, and I had to tell him to go as fast as Gordon's Express."

"I hope I didn't break anything," wheeshed Toby. "The buffet car must be a mess."

"Of course," said Lady Hatt, "Gordon was supposed to take the Express Coaches to Brendam Docks and pull them very slowly so the fine china wouldn't break." The workmen checked the buffet car…and found that none of the china was broken.

By the end of the day, all of the engines were doing the right jobs. That evening, Percy brought Lady Hatt back to Tidmouth Sheds when Bertie the Bus arrived…and out stepped the Fat Controller.

Lady Hatt was surprised. "Topham, you're back! Are you feeling better, dear?"

"Much better, thank you," said the Fat Controller, "I just wanted to check on the engines before you left for home. Was there any trouble?"

"No trouble at all."

"Ahem!" coughed James.

The Fat Controller stared. "Why does James look like a giant bee?"

"…Well…maybe a little trouble," Lady Hatt chuckled nervously, "…but thanks to Percy and the other engines, we were able to get everything done in time."

The Fat Controller looked from his wife to his engines. "From what I understand, there have been no complaints, so it seems that you have done very well," he boomed, "and I am very pleased and proud of you all."

"And I'm very pleased you found your voice," said Percy happily, "and I hope you never lose it again." The Fat Controller smiled and everyone laughed, even Lady Hatt.