The Goodnight Letter That Blew Away

Up on the moon, there was a tiny post office.

The mailbox out front said—"Moon Post Office."

Every evening, the stars mailed their letters here.

And inside the letters were not words, but sweet dreams.

In the post office lived a little owl, and his name was Dudu.

Dudu's feathers were deep blue, dotted with tiny silver speckles.

He wore a little mail cap and carried a great big mail bag.

Dudu's job was to deliver goodnight letters to children's windows down on Earth.

Tonight there were three letters to deliver.

The pink one was for a little girl who loved flowers — inside was a dream of gardens.

The lavender one was for a little boy who loved dinosaurs — inside was a dream of flying on a dinosaur's back.

The sky-blue one was for a child who was afraid of the dark — inside was a dream full of starlight.

Dudu tucked the letters gently into his bag.

"Goodnight letters, away we go!"

Dudu spread his wings and hopped right off the moon.

Doo—doo—

He was flying!

Past the stars, through the night sky, down toward Earth.

He flew and flew, and flew and flew.

Up ahead was a great big cloud.

Dudu didn't see it.

"BUMP—!"

Dudu crashed right into the cloud!

Mr. Cloud woke up, frowning.

"You again!"

Dudu wriggled out of the cloud, cap crooked, feathers every which way.

"Sorry, Mr. Cloud. Tomorrow I promise I won't bump into you."

(But he said that every single night.)

Dudu kept flying down.

Suddenly—WHOOSH—!

A great, great gust of wind!

His mail bag blew open!

All three letters flew out!

"Oh no! My letters!"

Dudu chased after them as fast as he could!

The pink letter—caught it!

The lavender letter—caught it!

But the sky-blue letter blew far, far away.

Dudu watched it drift farther and farther.

Dudu landed on a tall tree, all out of breath.

He looked at the two letters in his claws.

Then he looked toward where the sky-blue letter had flown.

"That letter is for the child who's afraid of the dark."

"If the starlight dream doesn't arrive tonight... they'll be so scared."

Dudu took a deep breath.

"That letter MUST be delivered!"

Dudu tucked the two letters in tight and flapped with all his might.

The wind was so, so strong.

He wobbled this way and that.

Doo—doo—doo—

"Phew—what a windy night. But the mail must get through!"

He flew and flew, and flew and flew.

And then Dudu saw it!

The sky-blue letter, caught on the branch of a tall tree.

The moonlight made it glow, soft and bright.

"Found you!"

Dudu picked up the letter, ever so carefully.

Dudu flew to a little window.

Inside, a child was curled up tight under the covers.

The room was dark, dark, dark.

Dudu gently laid the sky-blue letter on the windowsill.

The letter opened, and blue starlight came floating out.

One sparkle, two sparkles, three...

The whole room began to glow.

The child saw the starlight, and slowly began to smile.

Eyes closed, blanket hugged close.

Not scared anymore.

Dudu peeked from the windowsill.

"Heh heh. Delivered."

Three letters, all delivered.

Dudu flew back to the moon and hung up his cap.

He gave a great, big yawn.

"Phew—what a long night."

Dudu snuggled into his little blanket.

Outside the window, the little lights on Earth went out, one by one.

All the children were dreaming sweet dreams.

Dudu closed his eyes and whispered—

"Goodnight. See you tomorrow."