The Midnight Mailbox - Chapter 3 - The Starlight Flag

0:00The starlight flag Emily stood on the porch in her red hoodie and stared at the blue mail box. That is new, she said. The little flag on the side was lifted all the way up. Soft silver sparkles floated down around it. Mail-wisk popped out from behind the flower pot, his tiny blue mail-bag bump in his side. Usually it only wiggles, he squeaked. Emily opened the door and found a round white envelope dusted with silver dots. Inside was a picture of a smiling astronaut, two giant boots and a swirly cloud of sparkly dust. My moon boots are stuck in floating dust, Emily read, I cannot get to the ladder, please help. Mail-wisk put both paws on his cheeks. Floating dust sounds sneezable. Emily looked again. He is not hurt. He is just stuck. We can help. They sat on the

1:02porch step with the letter between them. What even is floating dust? Emily asked. Mail-wisk lifted one paw. Tiny bits that won't sit still. That is not a plan, Emily said. It is a beginning, said Mail-wisk. Emily studied the picture. The ladder was close by. The astronauts' boots were trapped in one big silver pup. There was also a tiny brush tucked in his pocket. Emily tapped the page. Look, he already tried a small brush. That means he needs something wider. Mail-wisk knotted. And gentle so the dust does not fly everywhere. Emily smiled. A pretend dust sweeper plan. Mail-wisk hopped in a tiny circle. Pretend plans are one of my favorite things. They hurried inside. Emily found paper, crayons tape, a straw, a shoebox lid, and a fluffy dust cloth.

2:04On the kitchen table she drew the astronaut, the ladder, and the dust cloud. Then she tried the cloth on a little tray of flour. If she swished too fast, the flour puffed up. If she moved in slow half circles, it slid neatly aside. That is it, Emily said. She taped the cloth along one edge of the shoebox lid and drew it as a wide glider brush. Then she added picture steps. Step one showed the astronaut standing on a flat crate so the boots could be pulled up without stomping deeper. Step two showed the wide cloth glider brushing the floating dust aside in slow careful sweeps. Mail-wisk pointed at the helmet in her drawing. Needs one more step? What kind? Asked Emily? No giant puffing? Move calmly. Emily laughed. That is actually smart. She added one last picture of the astronaut, taking one careful step and reaching the ladder.

3:10Now the plan was ready. But Emily checked the letter one more time. The mailbox always seemed to like careful helpers. She glanced at the silver star mark inside the mailbox door and remembered the little star and wave symbol tucked under the shelf from the pirate stamp letter. Whoever sends these knows how to ask for exactly the right kind of help. She said softly. Mail-wisk adjusted his mailbag. And they keep watching to see if we pay attention. Emily folded the picture plan neatly and slipped it into a fresh envelope. Together they placed it inside the blue mailbox. The sparkly flag gave a bright little shiver. Then the mailbox hummed. The envelope vanished with a soft woosh. For one quiet second, nothing happened. Then silver dust twinkled out of the mailbox slot and swirled into the shape of a round boot print,

4:16a ladder and one big happy star. Mail-wisk gasped. That means it worked. Emily clapped once. The astronaut made it out. The mailbox door popped open again. Inside was a brand new envelope shape like a shell. One tiny drop of water slid down its corner and sparkled in the porch light. Mail-wisk looked at it. Then it Emily. See mail? Emily tucked the shell envelope carefully into her pocket. We can open that tomorrow. She gave the sparkling flag one gentle pat. It had gone still now as if it was pleased with itself. Good job, she whispered to the mailbox. Mail-wisk stood tall on the step. And good job to us, Emily smiled. Yes, especially to your planning skills. As always, visit us at readthetail.com for the next episode. Until next time, sleep well and keep dreaming.