Hannah  

Braydon Runs While Storks Fly

Garan ruffled his feathers and re-gripped the blue blanket in his beak. The baby boy was still sleeping soundly. As his spread his wings to do his job, his boss, Willard, frantically yelled, “Wait!” Hearing this, Garan turned around.

“You mustn’t deliver that boy!” shouted Willard, his gray wings waving to catch Garan’s attention.

“Why not?” questioned Garan. “I don’t understand.” He had been in the baby delivery business all his life, and had never heard of a baby who wasn’t dropped on someone’s doorstep.

“His parents aren’t…” Willard paused. “Ready.”

“What do you mean?” asked Garan nervously.

“Oh, it is all very complicated. Come to my office and we shall chat.”

From this confusion and surprise, Garan felt sick from his beak down to his talons. Curiously looking at the boy in the blanket, Garan hurried after Willard.

*  *  *

“You should probably sit down,” Garan said carefully.

Heidi sat down at the old worn table and gently stroked the baby’s check with the tip of her wing.

“Well, that boy was unable to be delivered.” Garan looked into the kind eyes of his wife as he spoke. “I do not know the details, but for some reason this child’s parents could not have him.” Garan hesitated before finishing. “We are to raise him.”

The shock was apparent. Heidi’s eyes bulged looking at the tiny boy. After a few minutes of silence, Heidi spoke. “If we are to be his parents, then he will grow up with storks.” Garan nodded in reply. Heidi scrunched up her brow in thought as she peered curiously at the child.

“What shall we name him?” Garan asked patiently.

“Braydon.”

*  *  *

The next fourteen years were ones of growth. Braydon learned that he could not fly, by trying to do so off the roof, while Garan won an award for the most deliveries over five years. Braydon ran, while storks flew, and Heidi kept busy cooking for all the storks who didn’t return from their delivery until the middle of the night.

Years came and went, seasons changed. Warm showers of rain became cold, and eventually changed to snow. The sun rose each morning, and set each night. Eventually, those fourteen years passed.

The crisp autumn air filled Garan’s lungs as he headed for London. A smiling baby girl dangled down from his beak in a pink blanket. Horns screeched and sirens howled while scooters rumbled past. Garan made a curve, heading north of the immense city, and made a stop at 35 Cherry Street. Re-securing the pink blanket to protect the child on the doorstep for this blustery day, Garan headed back to the Island of the Bambinos. He landed on the deck, and walked through the small city. A sweet smell of sugar filled the air as he walked by a pastry shop, and the sellers in the market shouted out for customers.

“Come and get some freshly-fished mullet!”

“Peanuts! Get your hot, roasted peanuts!”

“Scarves! Made of great flying materials!”

At the edge of the city, Garan passed The Factory on his left. The building stood twice as high as the shops and its brick walls seemed to never end into the distance. Garan turned into the arrangement of tan, dome-shaped houses to his right and eventually made his way to 72 Wing Lane.

As Garan closed the front door behind him, he heard Heidi call “Evening Dear!” over the noise of the faucet she was washing the dishes with. “The boys are watching a film in the den.”

“Ok,” Garan replied. He went into the den where a boy and four storks were throwing popcorn at each other. “Happy Delivery Day Braydon!” Garan said over the laughing boys.

“Garan!” Braydon jumped to his feet and hugged the only father he had ever had.

Just then, Heidi walked in with a towering cake. There were two layers, the top one slightly smaller than the other. A light blue frosting blanketed the cake with a white “Happy Birthday Braydon!” on the top. Fourteen candles circled around the writing, each glowing with an orange flame. They all joined in on a round of “Happy Birthday” before devouring the cake. They finished the film, and sent Braydon’s friends home. Braydon opened his presents to find out he was given peanuts, a scarf, fish jerkey, and chocolate from his friends. Garan and Heidi gave him a new set of specially made human clothes, and Willard gave him some shoes big enough for him. The rest of the night was for sleeping.

The bright, gleaming sun streamed through Braydon’s eyelids, waking him with a blinding light. His cheeks, usually dark in shadow from his prominent cheekbones were filled with morning light. Wondering what was for breakfast, he rolled out of bed and made his way into the kitchen. At the table, a mound of pancakes drowned in syrup awaited him. “Thanks, Heidi,” Braydon murmured gratefully.

“You’re welcome, Braydon,” Heidi replied cheerfully. She had had a very good morning; she went for a flight with some friends discussing scarves, the milk-stork delivered fresh milk, and Garan didn’t leave a coffee ring on the table.

Soon enough, Braydon’s friends came over to go to school with him. Running his hand through his short dark hair, he chased them out the door. The four storks immediately took flight for school, with Braydon running right beneath them. This was the way every school day went. Storks can’t keep up with humans walking, and humans can’t fly, so the storks flew while Braydon ran.

They all gathered in front of the school before going to class.

“I beat all of you this time,” Tanner said before anything. They continued talking about things like Albert’s rock collection, and Evan’s siblings, until the bell rang, and they went to class.

The day progressed pretty normally. They had a Language Arts class focused on writing, they had to fly (or run in Braydon’s case) a mile in flight class, but then History came.

“For homework tonight, I want you to trace back a few generations to see where you came from,” Mrs. Bird told the class sweetly in a high-pitched voice. “I want you to find out the country, the city, and when you family came to the Island of Bambinos.” The class stirred with excitement, telling their neighbor how their family came from Russia, or maybe Ecuador.

What about me? Braydon wondered. I don’t know where I’m from because I don’t have parents. Where are my parents? Why am I not with them? Why am I on the Island of Bambinos? He knew that Mrs. Bird would just tell him to find out where Garan and Heidi came from, but they weren’t his parents. Where am I from? Braydon pondered this question but did not know the answer. It was then he realized he was lost.

The bell rang, but Braydon didn’t move, deep in thought. He knew he was born here, but it is not where he was supposed to grow up.

“Hey Braydon!” Evan called him from the hall.

“Oh, hey.” Braydon shook his head, returning to the empty classroom.

“Are you coming?” Evan asked impatiently.

“Yeah.” With this, Braydon grabbed his books and followed Evan outside. “Where are Albert and Tanner?”

“Dunno. Working on some project, I think. Do you want to come over?”

“Sure.” They continued talking, mainly about how stupid flight class was, until they reached the last house in the neighborhood.

Visiting Evan’s house was always entertaining. Evan had five siblings, three of them were younger. Whenever Braydon came over, there was always a fight of some kind, and everyone was always was coming and going.

A paper airplane shot past Braydon’s ear and a toy car hit his foot as he walked in.

“Whoa. Did you see how far that one went?” Evan’s little brother Cole yelled across the house.

“Beep, beep,” the youngest child Patrick called as he put the car in reverse. Then he continued going forward with a “Vroom, vroom.”

Evan and Braydon made their way to the kitchen, tripping over dolls, action figures, and a pile of shoes.

In the kitchen, nine-year-old Sharon screamed, “I don’t want to go to the doctors! I’m not going,” and started bawling. Mrs. Largo was trying to calm her down while making a salad.

“Hello Braydon! How nice to see you!” Mrs. Largo always pampered Braydon, ignoring the six screeching shouting children of her own.

“Hi.” Braydon made a small smile. Then he directed his attention to the crying stork in Mrs. Largo’s wing. “Hi, Sharon.”

Her only response was stomping her feet and banging her fisted wings against the cabinets.

They went into Evan’s room to procrastinate doing homework. They really were playing cards, reading magazines, and making fun of their flight class instructor.

“Do you wanna play catch?” Evan asked.

“Sure, go up high this time.” They stayed out until Evan was called in for dinner. Braydon thanked Mr. and Mrs. Largo and Evan before leaving.

“Come anytime dear!” Mrs. Largo called after him.

When Braydon got home, Garan and Heidi were waiting for him at the table. Heidi insisted that they ate together. Tonight, they were having mullet.

After dinner, Braydon asked Garan about where he came from. Garan explained how they had come from Florence, Italy. His great-great-great-grandfather needed a job, so he came to the Island of Bambinos.

All that night, Braydon tossed and turned while he slept, not knowing where he should be.

*  *  *

A week passed, and Braydon never stopped thinking about where he was from. He got a 94 on someone else’s past ancestry. After restless nights, vacation had come. He decided to use those two weeks.

“Garan, can I talk to you?” Braydon asked bravely.

“Uh, sure.” Garan was confused. He knew it was something serious.

Braydon explained how he didn’t know where he was “from” or supposed to live. He also added gently that although Garan and Heidi were the most important people in the world to him, he still didn’t know his real parents. Then Braydon asked the big question. “Why am I here, with storks?”

Garan sighed before answering. “You, Braydon, were supposed to be delivered in America. Jacksonville, Florida, to be exact. Why? I do not know. All I was told was that your parents weren’t ready. You were going to be delivered, but something came up. That is all I know.”

Hearing this, Braydon looked down at the table. He looked at all the scratches and dents that looked like some exotic puzzle. Hunched over in thought, he wondered how he could find out. Suddenly, he perked up. “I’ll go find them! Look, I know it sounds crazy, but it will work! You know where to go, and then I can meet them!”

“Braydon.” Garan thought carefully for the right words. “I’m not so sure that will work.”

“Why not?” Braydon started speaking faster from excitement. “It’s a flawless plan! Also, I can find out who my parents are, and you…you can find out why they couldn’t take me! Yes, that will work!”

“Ok.” Garan tried not to discourage Braydon. “So, we will have some questions answered. But how are you going to get over there? I can carry a baby, but not a teenager! I would like to help, but I just don’t know how!” The excitement had drained out of Braydon’s face. The joy in his shining blue eyes was gone, replaced with a dull look. His giddy face had turned blank.

“But then I’ll never meet my parents.” Braydon looked away as he said this, his eyes watering.

“I’ll talk to Willard.” Garan tried to give him some hope. “Maybe he will have an idea.”

Braydon cried himself to sleep that night.

*  *  *

Garan left early in the morning for work. He took off and landed on the roof of The Factory. Knowing he had a job to do, he went to Willard’s office. He knocked twice on the hard oak door before entering.

“Garan! Just the stork I wanted to see this morning!” Willard said cheerfully. “So, how’s the wife?”

“She’s good. How’s Linda? Does she still have the flu?” Garan decided to make a conversation out of his visit.

“Yes, but she’s getting better. It’s going around, though. Ronald just called in sick. Could you do his deliveries today?”

“Sure thing, boss.” Garan paused before changing the subject. “Willard, the reason I came to your office today was because of Braydon. He’s been worried about his past. He wants to go meet his parents.”

“Oh.” Garan prepared himself for the reason why Braydon’s parents weren’t ready. Willard spoke again, but not what Garan expected. “Ok.”

“What?” Garan cried with disbelief. “How? Don’t you understand? He wants to go find where he’s from!”

“So?” Willard remained calm while Garan yelled. “What’s so wrong with that? I’ll give him a tour of the factory tomorrow. Around noon?”

“Willard.” Garan laughed lightly while speaking. “Braydon wants to find his parents! The one to whom I was going to give him! You know, on the doorstep, in a blanket?”

You could almost see a light bulb brighten inside Willard’s head. “Oh. Well in that case you can still bring him in tomorrow.” Willard’s old brown eyes showed he was ready for an adventure. “You can come too. I’ll get my bags packed up tonight, and it would be great if Heidi could go take care of Linda. I better call Sheila.”

The secretary of The Factory, second only to Willard, came in wearing the purple scarf she always wore, embroidered with “SHEILA” in white. Her rectangular glasses perched low on her beak. “Yes, Willard?”

“Sheila. I would like you to run The Factory for me. I will be on a trip with Garan for no longer than two weeks.”

Sheila peered down at him with curiosity, for neither Willard nor Garan had ever taken time off except for sickness. “Very well,” she replied shortly.

When she left, Garan finally had a chance to ask what he’d been wanting to. “Willard, how is Braydon going to get to Florida? He can’t fly, you know,”

“We will take my hot air balloon, of course!”

With that, Garan departed for his deliveries.

*  *  *

“Braydon!” Garan called as soon as he walked through the door of their home. “Come here!”

Braydon came lazily out of the den where a film was flickering.

“Braydon, we are going to find your parents,” Garan said, smiling. Braydon’s face lit up as the tiny bit of hope he still had spread throughout him. “Willard is coming too, because we are using his hot air balloon.”

The brisk air flowed past Braydon to be left behind. Everywhere he looked, there was the forever-going blue of the ocean.

“It’s wonderful!” Braydon yelled to Willard over the roaring engine of the hot air balloon. “Is this what it’s like to fly?”

“”Yes and no,” Willard shouted back, operating the controls. “The same freshness, but you feel more free.”

Braydon curiously looked up into the immense red and yellow striped balloon. He was actually going to meet his parents.

Time seemed to stand still. It was as if they kept on seeing the same thing; the waves with white caps. The ocean looked as if it would go on forever, even though they could see for miles.

“Braydon! Do you want some lunch?” Garan held out a sandwich with salmon spread.

They ate silently, because the rumble of the engine made it hard to hear.

When they finished, there was nothing to do but sit on the floor of the hard basket at the base of the balloon. Hours passed, until finally the sun began to set.

Vibrant shades of pink, orange, purple, and red filled the sky. The swirling colors seemed to encircle the glowing tangerine sun. The dazzling colors clashed brilliantly against the pure blue sky that was forever getting darker until the inky blanket of night covered the world.

Another day passed just the same. The same salmon spread sandwiches, the same magnificent sunset, the same hard basket, the same loud engine.

The next morning, after having barely any sleep for two nights, they could see land. They were all anxious, and waited, tired and impatient, for the land to be beneath their feet.

While eating their lunch, they finally started flying over ground. Willard landed them softly in a field unseen by the road.

“Now be careful,” Willard warned. “It is hard to walk after you’ve flown for a few days.”

Braydon took this into consideration but still stumbled as he walked on land. “Where will we sleep?” he asked, yawning.

“Well, I brought some blankets,” Garan explained. “But it’s so hot I don’t think we will need them.”

They slept very well all afternoon and night and woke with the sun in the morning.

“Braydon, there are some things you must understand,” Garan said while looking deep into Braydon’s eyes. “This place, it is not like the Island of Bambinos. There are buildings two hundred times bigger than the shops in our market. There are real cars, a lot bigger and faster than the ones you used to play with.”

“Ok,” Braydon replied, not really believing Garan. “Whatever you say.” He wasn’t worried. It’s probably just like the Saturday market with life-sized cars, he thought.

Garan knew it would be totally beyond what Braydon expected.

*  *  *

Car wheels screeched and horns honked as Braydon stumbled across the street. The noise was overwhelming, even though he wasn’t where what people called “Downtown.” All the roads were black, instead of the dirt or rock roads like on the Island of Bambinos. He walked on a white mini road next to the larger black one that passed large shopping malls and K-Marts. An unfamiliar smell of gasoline was in the hot moist air, enveloping Braydon’s senses. He looked up at Garan and Willard flying above him, and noticed they were turning to the left. Braydon pressed the walk button like Garan had told him to. He ran across the road, feeling completely out of place.

He continued this routine until Garan and Willard turned into a small neighborhood.

The houses looked tiny compared to the buildings on the busy road. They were only one story, and many were tan or peach. They all had some sort of front yard, and most homes had flowers planted along their walls. Some people were working in their gardens, or mowing their lawns. He felt awkward, seeing other people and only two storks. He realized he was fairly tall compared to other humans, and many other people were a lot wider.

Willard and Garan landed on the roof of a light orange house, signaling that it was the house he was looking for. He took a deep breath as a bead of sweat rolled down his face. Whether it was from the heat or his nervousness, he didn’t know.

He knocked twice on the door. There was a pause before a woman with long dark hair opened it.

Braydon recited what Willard had told him. “Is your husband home?”

“Yes,” she answered in a questioning tone, “one second.” She hollered behind her, “Larry!”

A tall, muscular man came to the door. “Hi.”

“Uh, hi,” Braydon stammered. “I’m a friend of Willard’s.”

The man’s bright blue eyes widened. “Is he here?”

“Yeah.” Garan and Willard swooped down and landed on the porch.

“Willard!” The man looked like he wanted to give the bird a hug. “Hurry inside now, all of you.”

He led them to a brown leather sofa before saying anything else. “Now, tell me. Who are you guys?”

Willard answered before anyone else could. “This here is Garan, and this is Braydon.” Larry still looked confused. “Garan works for me, and Braydon is…a boy.”

“Julia. Will you come here?” Larry asked, keeping his focus on Braydon.

Once they had sat down, Garan continued in a calm steady voice. “Braydon is the only human on the Island of Bambinos. Larry, Julia, Braydon is your son.” Hearing this, Julia gripped Larry’s hand.

Braydon looked awkwardly at his parents. Total strangers, yet his true family.

“Braydon,” Julia said, breaking the silence. “I bet you want to know why.”

He nodded. Larry looked into Braydon’s eyes as he spoke. “Braydon, I work for the Bird Protection Program. At the BPP we study and help birds, but mostly we try to prevent humans from knowing about storks. We try to keep them a secret, so storks can live in peace and do their business. A little over fourteen years ago, a group of people thought that the myth of storks may be true. They got the idea that maybe our program was about that. They knew I was part of the program, and started watching our house very carefully for signs of storks.”

“Braydon.” Julia paused, as if tasting his name like a glass of wine. “We had decided just before that we wanted a child. You were all ready to come here when Larry had to call The Factory to warn them of these people. We couldn’t take you because we would be putting you and the storks in great danger. We couldn’t have had the storks just come when people were watching.” She looked at Braydon, as if begging for forgiveness.

Garan was amazed from this information. He turned to Willard and asked “Really? What happened next, then? I mean, did they give up?”

“Well,” Willard said with a deep sigh, “a year later, after finding little evidence, they stopped looking. Not that they had given up, but they ran out of money to fund the project.”

Everyone was looking intently at Braydon during a long silence. Eventually, someone spoke.

“Garan, how did you get dragged into all of this?” Julia asked.

Willard answered for him. “He was the one who was going to deliver Braydon. When you called, I knew someone would have to take care of him. I already had three children, and so I asked my best delivery stork to take him. Garan and his wife Heidi raised Braydon.”

Larry put his hand on Garan’s shoulder, thanking him.

They explained to each other their life stories, but mainly about Braydon’s childhood. They laughed and talked, as if they were old friends who hadn’t seen each other for a while.

While Julia was preparing dinner, and Garan and Willard were setting the table, Braydon told Larry about the hot air balloon. “I think I can remember how to get there.” Braydon was anxious to ride in a car.

“Ok. Let me make sure Julia doesn’t need anything at the store.” Larry led Braydon to the white pick-up truck in his garage.

Once Larry had helped him get in and buckled his seat belt, they were off.

Larry ran a hand through his short blonde hair. “Braydon, this is going to be something you won’t forget.”

Larry turned around the cul-de-sac. “Whoa. Slow down,” Braydon said as he gripped the armrest.

“It’s ok,” Larry said, laughing. “I’m only going 20.”

“Twenty what?” Braydon stammered nervously.

“Miles per hour.”

The rest of the drive, they talked like a father and son should. When they arrived back at Larry and Julia’s house, dinner was on the table. There was some tilapia for Garan and Willard, and chicken for Braydon, Larry, and Julia.

“What is it, exactly?” Braydon questioned as he looked at the chicken on his plate.

“It’s a farm animal,” Julia said abruptly, trying not to use the word “bird.”

“It’s really good,” Larry added.

Braydon tried a piece and decided he like it. “It’s really chewy compared to fish.” He always had had fish for dinner. He wished Heidi could’ve made some chicken before.

Right after dinner, Braydon tumbled into bed, exhausted from such a busy day.

A week went by of similar routine. Braydon got more and more used to human things, and Larry taught Braydon how to fish. Julia took him shopping and came back with all sorts of shirts, hats, pants, shoes, and socks. The new, odd materials felt rough and hard against Braydon’s skin, but he eventually got used to it. The week had passed as fast as it had come.

Garan stretched his grayish-white wings as he stood up from the cushion he was sleeping on. “We better be off today, Braydon.”

“ ’Kay,” Braydon murmured as he rolled out of bed.

They had waffles for breakfast, and then they all gathered in the living room like they had on the first day.

“We need to figure something out,” Garan said seriously.

“Yeah, I agree,” Larry said professionally. “Julia and I can’t have him. I wish we could, I really do, but there would be too many questions. We can have him visit over vacations, though.”

“That could work.” Garan scratched at his feathers just beneath his beak. “We aren’t doing this crazy adventure again, though. How could we move him?”

“One of the women in our program is married to a very wealthy man.” Larry repositioned himself on the coffee table. “He has a private jet. Julia is a very good friend of his wife, so he would probably be willing to give him a lift. He’d need the coordinates of the Island of Bambinos, but we could definitely trust him.” Julia walked in from the kitchen and sat next to Larry.

Willard shifted uncomfortably on the couch. “I don’t know about that. I guess it should be fine because he is connected to the BPP.”

Braydon felt invisible. They’re talking about me like I’m not even here, he thought. They’re my parents and my vacations! I should get to choose.

As if Julia had read his mind, she suggested, “Why don’t we let Braydon choose?”

All eyes turned to Braydon. Now that Braydon had the opportunity to speak, he didn’t know what to say. “Uh…I could spend half of each vacation in Florida, and the other half on the Island of Bambinos.” They were still silent, expecting him to say more. “And...Um…I could be on the Island for two weekends, and then go to Florida for a weekend.” They were still waiting. “Doesn’t this guy have a life? I mean, he wouldn’t want to do all this flying!”

“Actually,” Julia said slowly, “no, he doesn’t. His only hobby is flying, and his wife, Sue, often complains how that is all he’ll ever do. Doug would be thrilled to fly this much.”

Larry nodded in sad agreement before he spoke. “I’ll go get two calendars. You can color the days you’ll be in Florida. I’ll go call Doug.”

Larry drove them to Doug’s house. Braydon had a large duffel bag on his lap full of the clothing Julia had gotten him. When they arrived, Braydon was shocked. In front of him was the biggest house he had ever seen. Its long, two-story frame was surrounded by tall evergreen trees. It was mainly brick and maroon paneling, and had a stone foundation. Larry drove to the right of the house and into the backyard. There was a white airplane on the edge of a runway that seemed to go on for miles. A short man walked out onto the back porch wearing a brown leather jacket. He waved, and ran over to help them unload the hot air balloon that was in the trunk. They introduced themselves to each other, and loaded the plane. “I am honored to meet a stork. My little Vernon was delivered by you guys.” Doug seemed to stumble on his own words. “No, no. You put the basket in first,” he said, repositioning the hot air balloon.

“Well, you better be off,” Larry said with a touch of sadness in his voice. Without hesitation, Braydon walked up and gave him a large hug. He knew it must not be easy for him. Braydon then gave Julia a hug. She had a skinnier frame, so Braydon was more gentle. Julia started to cry on Larry’s shoulder, and Larry and Braydon were fighting back tears.

“Braydon,” Larry said in a strong voice, “our last name is Tay.”

Tay? Braydon thought. Braydon Tay. “What’s my middle name?”

“Arthur,” Julia responded. “My dad’s name was Arthur.” 

Braydon Arthur Tay, He thought. I now know my real name. Wait until Evan hears about this! Braydon and Evan had predicted his name. Braydon said he would have a better name than Evan, but Evan thought his would be worse. Evan’s name was Evan Algernon Largo.

Braydon looked at his parents one last time before boarding the plane. “See you in a few weeks.”

This is amazing! Braydon thought. I can actually sleep, not like in the hot air balloon. I can’t wait until I can fly again!  They were as high as in the hot air balloon, and going a lot faster. It was only going to take two hours, when the hot air balloon took three days.

They landed on the dirt road behind The Factory. “Ah, home sweet home,” Willard said as if they traveled in airplanes all the time.

A crowd of storks was forming, so they unloaded as quick as possible. Willard, Garan, and Braydon thanked Doug before he took off again. He was very excited that he would be able to fly so frequently.

When Garan and Braydon arrived at 72 Wing Lane, Heidi was making dinner. With a surprised look on her face, she said, “Garan! Braydon!” She ran over and gave them large embraces. “I was hoping you would come home tonight!”

After dinner, Garan and Braydon explained what they had done, and what the situation was. She was thrilled with Braydon’s idea of keeping in touch with his parents, and was shocked to hear that Doug was so obsessed with flying. She had said. “Maybe he should be a stork. That way he could fly all day, every day!”

That night, Braydon went to sleep with a smile on his face, for he knew that he had two families that loved him.

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