Mira stood in the yard and looked at her red scarf fluttering. The wind pulled at it like a playmate. Then an idea bubbled in her belly.

– I'm going to build a wind boat! said Mira.

She rolled the laundry basket forward and attached a blue umbrella as a sail. A kitchen spoon became the rudder. Her scarf became a strong string. The hedgehog Kotte peeked up from a bush and giggled.

– The spines are ready, captain! said Kotte.

The sparrow Pip hopped on the laundry basket's edge, puffed up its feathers, and chirped.

– I'll scout from the air!

The wind grabbed the sail with a happy whoosh. The wind boat glided over the grass lawn like a boat on a green sea. Dandelion puffs nodded. Small clouds of scent from wild strawberry flowers followed.

Suddenly, an envelope swirled down from the sky and landed in Mira's lap. On the front was a small stamp with an acorn. It said: To the Treetop House, quickly!

Mira and Kotte looked at each other. Pip glanced at the sky.

– A mission, peeped Pip.

– We'll deliver, said Mira. Wind boat, full speed!

They turned toward the meadow beyond the barn. The tall grass stood like a soft forest and whispered secrets. Soon the laundry basket got stuck in straws that were like long, grasping fingers.

– Ouch, I get stuck in everything, muttered Kotte, but then he smiled. – I can roll a path.

He rolled carefully in front of the boat. His spines brushed aside the straws and made a small tunnel. The wind boat whooshed through. The grass tickled Mira's elbows. The wind yodeled.

After the grass, a stream glittered. It wasn't big, but wide enough to make their hearts jump a little extra.

– The water looks like fish scales, said Mira. – Can we make it?

Pip flew over the stream and pointed with his wing toward three round stones.

– There! A dancing path.

Mira steered. The wind puffed. The laundry basket plopped in the water but floated as gently as a water lily. They glided slowly between the stones. Kotte held his breath until they were over and then giggled so his spines shook.

– Boat and bath in one! he said.

On the other side rose a hill dressed in heather and timothy. The wind became tired, like a yawn.

– The sail needs help, said Mira.

They all three stood and blew at the umbrella: whoosh, whoosh, whoosh. Mira stomped a little to get speed. Kotte drummed with his paws. Pip sang a quick song about quick wheels and quick hearts. The wind answered with a new puff. The wind boat climbed, slowly but surely, up the hill.

At the top stood the Treetop House, built in an old oak. The door was small and round, like a nut. A rope ladder hung, but was drawn up. Everything was quiet except the rustling of the leaves.

– Hello up there! called Mira. – We have mail!

A fluffy tail appeared in a window. A small squirrel peeked out with big eyes.

– I'm Nutty! he called. – Is that... my letter?

– Yes! said Mira. – But we can't reach up.

Pip grabbed the red scarf. Mira tied the envelope to one end and held the other. Pip flew up, dropped the scarf over a branch, so it hung like a swing. The wind boat rocked. Mira held tight. Kotte held even tighter.

– Now! called Pip.

Mira pulled at the scarf so the letter went up, up, up and landed right in Nutty's paws. He held it like a treasure and smelled it for a long time.

– From Grandma Squirrel, he whispered. His eyes grew warm. – You came in time.

He rolled down the rope ladder. They climbed up into the Treetop House, which smelled of pinecones and cinnamon. Nutty served raspberry leaf juice, nuts, and freshly picked wild strawberries. They laughed at how Kotte rolled paths and how Pip almost dropped the scarf but caught it at the last moment.

– The wind carried you here, said Nutty. – It's nice to be carried.

When the juice was finished, Nutty gave them a small stick with a pinwheel on top.

– A wind spinner, he said. – To remember the way here.

They said goodbye and glided down the hill. The wind played with dandelion seeds that danced around them like small white butterflies. The wind boat turned gently homeward, over the grass, past the stream, through their tunnel.

In the yard, the boat stopped. Everything became still for two heartbeats. Then they all three giggled.

– Where shall we go tomorrow? asked Kotte.

Pip spun the gift so it whirred. – Where the spinner points! he chirped.

The wind pulled at Mira's red scarf again, as if it winked.

– We'll follow the laughter, said Mira.

And the wind nodded, as only winds can.