Delivery

“Did you check the coordinates?” Stark the Stork asked. Some apprehension rose in his voice.

“Yes, sir. I’ve tried over a dozen times,” first officer Terri Stork explained. She began to sweat a bit.

“I’ve never had a late delivery. Never.”

Terri tapped the screen of the flying vessel. Her heartbeat boomed in her chest.

“I’m not blaming you,” Stark reassured. “I just don’t want this to be the first time in history, my history anyway, where a delivery has been placed on the doorstep of a family late.”

The jet flew past the speed of sound from Liberia, Africa to Dover, Delaware. The supersonic jet zoomed over the Atlantic Ocean with ease. Stark looked at his watch and the various clocks around the aircraft to ensure that everything synced.

“Sir, it appears we have an ETA of about two hours.”

“That’s good. We’ll be arriving by the skin of our teeth, but we should make it.”

“We’re going to make it, sir. The precious cargo will be delivered in time. Ahead of time.”

Terri smoothed out her hair and a tiny smile curled around her mouth. The perspiration began to subside. Then, the plane made a serious drop due to significant turbulence.

“It’s okay. We’re experienced in this case. We just have to find the right air pockets to glide through on this trip,” Stark continued.

The speed of the plane was like a lightning bolt compared to other aircraft. The mighty engines roared like lions. Stark breathed.

“We’re going to make it. Yes we will,” he said. His optimism was contagious. Terri’s smile spread across her face. She kept the sense of being worried or scared at a bay. Stork’s encouraging words propelled her to guide the plane with even more effort.

“If you want to turn back, I won’t blame you. I’d blame myself. I’m the captain of this ship and we’re supposed to be fifteen minutes prior for our deliveries, as you know,” Stark reminded her.

“No, we’re going to rock it til’ the wheels come off. We’ve got to reach the Dover Air Force Base in Dover to present to the world these wonderful children.”

“We are fortunate enough to be storks who have upgraded to supersonic travel. The old days were fine, but we’re able to expedite the process with better precision and greater speed.”

The two storks looked at each other. Their commitment to excellence sparkled in both of their eyes. A message popped up on the screen.

“Bring this bird in for a landing soon,” air traffic controller Elle the Elephant told the crew of Flight 2229.

“I hear you talking, Elle. We’re going to be touching down in about thirty minutes.”

“I am tracking you and your flight plan and that doesn’t seem to be the case.”

“I won’t agree with you on that. We’ve been cruising at a speed that will be on point with our arrival.”

“It’s not possible.” The video showed Elle shaking her trunk.

“I don’t have time to argue with you right now. I’ve got to land this aircraft in the First State and provide these families with their children. That’s my aim. Elle, either you’re for us and this mission or you may want to look for new employment.”

Elle’s face turned to stone. Her eyes widened. “You don’t mean that at all.”

“I mean everything I just said,” Stark said.

Elle ripped off her headset and ran away from the video.

“Elle?!” Terri asked. “Sheesh, sir. You scared her off,”she said.

Roscoe the Leopard jumped on the video. He licked his paws and put on the headset.

“I’m here. Elle just stormed out. I’m going to guide you to the landing site.”

“Thank you, Roscoe. Tell Elle to get out of her feelings. That stunt could have jeopardized the entire operation.”

“I’ll be sure to do that. Now, You’re about ten minutes away from the airfield. I know you had some turbulence earlier. There may be another spell of that coming in again.”

And just like that the jet hit another patch and it rolled to the side. Stark and Terri remained resolute and continued to battle the brief turbulence.

They rolled with it. Roscoe tapped the screen. “That’s it. You’re so close to the landing strip. Don’t underthink and you’ll be in good standing.”

“Alright, Terr’, you’re going to need to bring this bird in like you’ve done dozens of times before. Keep the plane on course. We’re almost there.”

At the moment of arrival, the wheels squealed against the ground. Stark and Terri cheered with Roscoe. Even Elle had come back to eat crow. Stark journeyed to the rear of the aircraft. Little babies with muted screams behind glass and plenty of light and air at the right temperature kept them awake and warm.

Stark used his bill to process the number of newborns to be distributed. Terri also helped to scan codes to ensure that the babies went to the right parents. The two of them unloaded the freight aircraft and introduced the babies to their families.

“Through all the adversity, we made it through,” Terri the Stork said as she watched the mothers cradle their sons and daughters.

“I never thought of anything less,” Stark the Stork replied. He enjoyed the smiles on the faces of the parents. He returned to his quarters and looked at Terri.

“Rest up. We’re going to—”

“Brazil. Rio. I’m ready.”

The two storks headed off to their respective rooms on the base. A sense of accomplishment wrapped around them both.