Chapter 1

The Office

It was morning on Atka, a tiny island off the coast of Alaska.

Alvie Albatross was busy at work in the office of World Animal Postal Service. He was trying out his new wind vane.

WHIRR! Alvie twirled the wind vane in the air.

Across the room, his boss, Ms. Puffin, was cleaning. First, she dusted her computer. SWISH! SWISH! Next, she polished her desk. SWIRL! SWIRL! Ms. Puffin liked things to be neat and tidy. She also wanted World Animal Postal Service to run smoothly.

BRING! Ms. Puffin rushed to answer the phone. She talked for a little while. Then she flew over to Alvie’s table.

“Alvie,” she said. “I have just been speaking with a Canadian goose called Gus.”

“Uh huh,” said Alvie. WHIRR! He kept twirling his wind vane.

“Alvie? Are you listening to me?” asked Ms. Puffin.

This time Alvie looked up. “Sorry. This wind vane is so much fun. It will help me find out which direction the wind is going when I am flying.”

“Alvie, you need to fly to San Fernando Valley, California. Gus Goose has a package there for you to pick up. He sounded upset. You should hurry.”

“Why is he upset? What is the package? Where do I deliver it?” asked Alvie.

“I do not know. I had a hard time hearing him. He sounded like he was crying.”

“Okay, I ‘ll get ready to go,” said Alvie. Alvie had a big heart. He never wanted to let his customers down.

Alvie went over to the giant world map on the wall.

“Wait! Let me dust that for you,” said Ms. Puffin. She flew up to the map. SWISH! SWISH!

Using his beak, Alvie reached around Ms. Puffin. He stuck a pin on Atka Island. Then he stuck another pin on San Fernando Valley, California.

“San Fernando Valley is very far East and South. Looks like a big journey,” Alvie said.

Alvie opened the door to the storage closet.

CRASH! Many things fell out.

Across the room, Ms. Puffin sighed. SWISH! SWISH! She dusted the map some more.

“Now where is my courier cap?” asked Alvie.

“Alvie, are you talking to me?” asked Ms. Puffin.

Alvie poked his head out of the closet. “No, I am talking to myself,” he said. As a mail courier, Alvie flew long journeys all alone. Talking to himself had become a habit.

Alvie found his courier cap.

He also found his giant mail courier sack. Alvie never knew what he would need when he went to pick up and deliver packages. Just in case, Alvie packed his new wind vane, his flight goggles, his sunglasses, five cans of krill and lots of other things. He stuffed some of the items deep inside his sack. He stuffed some of the other items in the pockets on the outside of the sack. This way, he could reach them, even as he was flying.

Next, Alvie put on his parka.

“Do you really need all of that?” asked Ms. Puffin.

“San Fernando Valley is very far. I want to be prepared,” answered Alvie, stuffing more things in his sack. “Can you help me lift the sack on my back?”

“Of course,” said Ms. Puffin, wiping a mud stain from his parka.

Alvie and Ms. Puffin lifted the sack onto Alvie’s back.

CLICK! Alvie, shut closed the buckle holding the sack tight around his waist. Next, he programmed in San Fernando Valley into his G.P.S. locator. He hung the machine from a little string around his neck.

He started to walk towards the door.

“Wait! Your cell-phone!” Ms. Puffin strapped it on his wing. “I want to check in with you to make sure that you are making good time. Remember, at World Animal Postal Service, speedy service is good service. We want to be the best.”

“Ms. Puffin. We are the only animal postal service in the world,” said Alvie.

“I know,” said Ms. Puffin. “We still need to try.”

Alvie sighed. He knew that that Ms. Puffin would be checking in a lot.

“Have a good trip,” said Ms. Puffin.

Alvie opened the door. The Alaskan wind felt cold.