“That’s this way,” said Henry, pointing down a long hallway. The Aldens walked until they came to a counter with a sign over it saying “6A.” Behind the counter stood a woman in an airline uniform. Grandfather handed her their tickets and she checked them in.
“Is that our plane?” Benny asked, looking out a large window.
“Yes,” the woman said. “We’ll be boarding in a few minutes.”
The Aldens took their carry-on bags over to a group of chairs by the window. They had just sat down when a voice right behind them said, “Hello, Aldens!” Grandfather and the children turned around to see Charles Finchley.
“Charles! What are you doing here?” asked Jessie.
“I came to see you off!” said Charles with a big smile. “I can only stay a few minutes, because I have to get back to the museum.” He took off his wrinkled raincoat and hat and laid them on a chair. Then he pulled a crumpled piece of paper from his pocket. “I’d like to exchange addresses, so that we can stay in touch.”
“That would be nice,” said Violet.
Charles picked up his raincoat and checked all the pockets. “Oh, dear, I seem to have forgotten my pen.”
“I’ve got one,” Benny said, reaching into his red backpack and pulling out a blue marker.
Charles tore the paper in half and wrote his name and address on one piece. Then he gave the other piece of paper and the marker to Henry, who wrote down the Aldens’ address. Then they traded papers.
“We’ll write as soon as we get home!” said Jessie.
“And I can paint you a picture,” said Violet.
“We could even write you a letter on the airplane!” Benny said.
“That sounds lovely.” Charles sat for a few minutes with the Aldens, watching the airplanes landing and taking off. Then he looked at his watch. “I’d better be going now,” he said, pulling on his raincoat. Then Aldens waved good-bye as Charles headed down the hallway.
“Flight 125 is now boarding,” a voice said over the loudspeaker.
“That’s us,” said Jessie.
As the Aldens turned back to their seats to collect their things, they spotted something on one of the chairs. It was Charles’s hat.
“Oh, no!” said Benny. “Not again!”
All rights reserved, including without limitation the right to reproduce this ebook or any portion thereof in any form or by any means, whether electronic or mechanical, now known or hereinafter invented, without the express written permission of the publisher.
This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, events, and incidents either are the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, businesses, companies, events, or locales is entirely coincidental.
Copyright © 1998 by Albert Whitman & Company
Published by Albert Whitman & Company
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THE BOXCAR CHILDREN SPECIALS
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