Tess and the Special Delivery

An Adventure of the Flyers

By JT

Morning deliveries usually went pretty smoothly for Tess.

She climbed into Mailbox, checked her delivery bag, and pulled out one last package.

It wasn't a letter.

It wasn't a note.

It was a Find-a-Word for Around Here Lately.

Tess tucked it safely away.

“One more delivery.”

Mailbox's engine came to life.

PUT-PUT-PUT-ROOOAR!

Tess pulled down her goggles and headed for the sky.

Tess climbed above the fence and headed across the yard.

The Find-a-Word was tucked safely behind her.

Rodee flying Look-See, a little red-and-cream plane came around the old oak.

“Morning, Tess!”

“Morning, Rodee.” Rodee looked toward the back of Mailbox.

“What are you carrying?”

Tess smiled. “A special delivery.”

Rodee's eyes widened.

“What kind of special delivery?”

“The kind I'm supposed to deliver.”

Rodee thought about that.

“Can I see it?”

“No”. Tess said.

Rodee looked toward the back of Mailbox. “What are you delivering?”
“A Find-a-Word,” Tess said.
Rodee moved Look-See a little closer. “Can I see it?”
“No,” Tess said.
“Why not?”
“Because I’m delivering it.”
Rodee thought about that for a moment. “Can I see it after you deliver it?”
Tess looked over at him. “Don’t you have rounds to make?”
Rodee grinned. “Probably.”

Rodee tipped Look-See’s wing and started to turn away.
“I’ll see you later, Tess.”
“Rounds,” Tess reminded him.
“Right. Rounds.”
Rodee headed off across the yard while Tess continued toward Around Here Lately.
At least, that was the plan.
A moment later, Tess heard an engine behind her.
She looked over her shoulder.
Look-See was back.
“Rodee…”
“I’m making my rounds.”
Tess looked at him.
“This happens to be one of them.”

Tess finally reached the delivery spot and brought Mailbox down for a landing.

Rodee circled overhead while Tess climbed out and pulled the Find-a-Word from the mail carrier.

“There,” Tess said. “Safe and sound.”

Rodee leaned over the side of Look-See, trying to get a better look.

“Now can I see it?”

Tess looked up at him.

“After I deliver it.”

Just then, a gust of wind swept across the yard.

The Find-a-Word fluttered in Tess’s wings.

Then it was gone.

The Find-a-Word sailed across the yard.
“My delivery!” Tess shouted.
She scrambled back into Mailbox and started the engine.
Rodee banked Look-See around. “Where’s it going?”
“I don’t know. It’s paper!”
The wind caught the Find-a-Word again and carried it higher.
Tess pushed the throttle forward.
“Come on, Mailbox.”
Rodee fell in beside her.
The chase was on.

Tess followed the Find-a-Word as it dipped and twisted through the air.
Rodee pulled alongside her. “Lose something?”
Tess glanced over. “My delivery!”
“I thought you already delivered it.”
Tess stared at him.
“RODEE!”
Rodee nodded. “Right. Paper.”
He pushed Look-See’s throttle forward and took off after it.
Tess shook her head and followed.
The Find-a-Word wasn’t getting away that easily.

The Find-a-Word skipped over the fence and sailed toward the old oak.

Tess stayed close behind it, with Rodee coming up alongside.

For a moment, the paper caught on one of the branches.

“There!” Tess said. “I’ve got it.”

She started toward the tree.

Then a squirrel scrambled along the branch and stopped beside the paper.

The squirrel flicked its tail.

The branch bounced.

And the Find-a-Word took off again.

Rodee watched it sail away. “Well… that didn’t help.”

“RODEE!”

“Right. Paper.”

The Find-a-Word climbed higher, tumbling in the wind.

Tess pushed Mailbox after it, but every time she got close, the paper slipped away.

Rodee watched it for a moment.

Then he pulled alongside Tess.

“I’ve got an idea!”

Tess looked over at him. “Is it a good one?”

Rodee thought about that.

“I’ve got an idea!”

Tess shook her head.

“Go.”

Rodee climbed above the Find-a-Word while Tess dropped Mailbox lower.

“Stay underneath it!” Rodee called.

“I’m trying!”

Rodee circled high and came around behind the paper.

The Find-a-Word fluttered one way, then the other.

Rodee eased Look-See closer.

“Just a little more…”

The paper dipped.

Right toward Tess.

Tess reached out.

Almost.

Tess stretched as far as she could.
The Find-a-Word fluttered just beyond her reach.
Then the wind eased.
“Now, Tess!” Rodee called.
Tess reached again.
Got it.
She tucked the Find-a-Word safely into Mailbox and looked over at Rodee.
Rodee grinned. “So… can I see it now?”
Tess looked at him.
“No.”
Rodee nodded.
“Worth asking.”