Zoe the Jet Plane Moves to the Airport

Zoë the Jet Plane

Moves to the Airport

...

Once upon a time in a bustling city there was a large factory. Inside the factory, many people worked together to build airplanes. These people built planes of many different shapes and sizes: big ones, small ones, wide ones, and thin ones. One airplane in the factory was almost finished being built. Her name was Zoë.

The workers painted Zoë white, black, and red. When she rolled out of the hangar, she sparkled and gleamed. The people at the factory were excited for her.

Then one morning, the team leader came to Zoë.

"Zoë," he said and he smiled, "we have wonderful news. My team has talked it over, and we think you are ready to go to the airport."

"What is the airport?" the airplane asked. "Is it a scary place?"

"No," said the team leader. "It is very busy, filled with planes and people from all around the world. I am sure you will meet many friends there."

"But I don't want to go," Zoë said. "I like it here."

The team leader placed a hand on her wheels. "You will like the airport, too," he said, and then he turned to leave.

But Zoë was still nervous about leaving the factory. It was her home, the only place she ever knew. What if she didn't make any friends at the airport? What if she was lonely? She did not want to be by herself at a new place.

However, the time came to eventually leave the factory. Zoë wiggled the flaps on her wings and turned the rudder on her tail. The team leader smiled at her, and waved to her good-bye. Zoë looked sad, and the team leader called to her.

"Don't worry, Zoë," he said and he yelled. "You will be fine. You will have lots of fun at a new place."

Zoë still did not want to leave, but she lifted her nose and spun her turbines and took off into the air.

She flew for many hours above the clouds and over the ocean. When she came to the airport, she was surprised. The team leader had been right. The airport was a very busy place! There were planes and workers scattered all about the gates. Zoë felt very small. She did not know anybody.

"The airport and the factory are two very different places," said Zoë as she rolled down the runway and looked at all the buildings. "I am different too, because I am not from here. What if I do not fit in?"

"Who are you talking to?" then came a second voice. Zoë looked forward. Sitting in front of her was a small airplane. She was white and grey with a blue and gold tail. The little airplane blinked her eyes, and smiled widely.

"I was talking to myself," said Zoë, and she felt her flaps wiggle. "I am very lonely."

"Why are you lonely?" asked the little plane. "Don't you like the airport?"

"Oh yes, I like the airport," said Zoë. "It is very pretty and big. But I do not have any friends here. I am scared because I am different from everybody else. I am not from here like the other planes."

The little plane looked at her. A smile was on her nosecone. "What is your name?" she asked her.

Zoë's rudder was shaking. "Zoë," the airplane said.

"I'm Nellie," said the smaller plane. Then she took Zoë's wing. "Follow me," she said. "I want to show you something."

She pulled Zoë forward. Zoë followed Nellie across the airport. Her wheels were spinning and her turbines were twirling. Oh no! They were going near the gates! That's where all the other planes were sitting!

The other airplanes came closer and closer. Zoë shivered. She watched as the little plane Nellie came up to the largest group, and then nosed her way right into the center.

"Charlie, Henry, Marina, Sam," Nellie said, turning to the others with a wide smile. "There is somebody I would like you to meet."

The four other airplanes looked at Zoë. Zoë had never felt so frightened.

"H-h-hello," she said softly, and she ground her landing gear. "My n-name is Zoë."

Nellie smiled. "Zoë would like to make friends," she said to the group, "but she is very scared."

Charlie looked at her. He was a very tall airplane. "Zoë, it is okay," he said. "It is normal to be afraid on your first day.

"Everybody is nervous when they come to a new place or meet new people," he said. The big airplane laughed. "When Nellie left to come and get you, we were afraid as well!"

"Why was that?" asked Zoë.

"We were afraid…that you would not like us, either!"

Zoë giggled. She settled her wings. "You are right," she said with a laugh. "I shouldn't let my fear stop me from doing things. Others will understand my how I feel, because deep down inside, we all feel the same way too."

Marina smiled. "That's the spirit, Zoë," she said. "What do you say? Would you like to be our friend?"

Zoë's wings began to wobble. "But…what if you will not like me?" she said.

Henry laughed. Ha ha ha! "Why wouldn't we like you?" he asked.

"W-w-well, because I am not from the airport like you," Zoë said. "I am afraid…that you will not like me because I'm not the same."

"Zoë," said Henry, and he paused. "Take a look around you, and tell me what you see."

The airplane nodded, and did as she was told. Her eyes moved along the horizon. She saw the airport and all of its inhabitants: planes and people of all different kinds mingling with one another.

"I see many planes and workers," she said, and she looked towards Henry. "Big ones, small ones, and some in many shapes and colors."

"And what are these planes and people doing?" Henry asked.

"Well…, they are having fun," she said.

"Don't you see? Even though we are all airport planes, that does not mean we are all the same. In this group we have our differences as well," Charlie said. "Nellie is shorter than me, and Marina does not like the same things as Henry or Sam. But we are still friends. And though you are from the factory instead of the airport, that does not mean that we can't be friends, either."

Sam laughed. "With friends, it is okay to be different."

"Right," said Nellie, "because…good friends love you just the way you are!"

"Friends come in all sorts of shapes, sizes, and types," Marina said. "It is those differences that make each one of us very special."

"I think I understand now," Zoë said, and she smiled. "It does not matter if I am not the same as the others. Everybody is different, and a friend will love you because it is those differences that make you wonderful inside."

"Yes!" cried Sam. "That is exactly it."

Zoë looked up. "Then, if you don't mind…, I would love to be your friend, too!"

The five airplanes cheered and they hollered. Zoë was welcomed into the group with open wings and smiles. She grinned. Zoë realized that the other planes had been right. Even though each and every one of them was different, in the end that was not important. They were friends and Zoë loved those differences which made each and every one of them special.

The day rolled on quickly. Zoë had lots fun with Nellie, Sam, Charlie, Henry, and Marina. She talked and she jabbered and she raced about the airport, playing games with the planes and laughing with joy. When the day came to a close and the orange sun set behind the horizon, Zoë knew that it was time for bed. She had spent all day playing with her new friends.

"Goodnight," said Zoë when the time came to leave, and she waved her wing good-bye. It was dark, and the moon was rising.

"Goodnight," said Nellie, and her friends joined in with her. They did not wish to leave her, but Zoë smiled and turned to go to her hangar where she slept.

That evening the pilot came in to visit her. Zoë was still smiling from the thought of her newfound friends. The pilot came to her and washed her windshield, and asked her about her day.

"I had a wonderful time," said Zoë to the pilot. "I don't ever want to leave the airport. I love all of my friends, even though we are all different."

"That is lovely news," said the pilot. "That is what makes each of our friends a pleasure."

"May I see them again tomorrow?" asked the airplane, and she was still smiling. The pilot laughed.

"Of course you may, Zoë," he said, and he wiped her windows clean. "Friends are meant to be enjoyed."

"I hope that we can be friends for a long, long time," said Zoë, and she slowly shut her eyes.

The pilot placed a hand on her wheel, and pet her undercarriage. Even in her dreams, Zoë could not wait to see her new friends again in the morning.

~The end~