Misdelivered

One evening, exactly a year ago, Ollie stepped outside their house and saw a package. Ollie thought this strange because they didn't remember ordering anything. After picking up the package and checking the address, it was clear that it had been delivered to the wrong house.

The real recipient of the package only lived a few blocks away, so Ollie decided to take out their bike and deliver it themselves. Partly because then the package would be delivered faster than the alternative, and also because it would be nice to go for a ride around the neighborhood.

And what a lovely ride it was, the white bark of the aspens contrasted against the golden leaves above. And the evergreens were pleasing to look at too, with their sturdy green and blue hues.

It was the golden hour of the evening and everything seemed to glow. Considering all this, Ollie was in a good mood. Enjoying the peacefulness of the world, Ollie soon arrived at the house the package was addressed to.

Ollie, upon arriving, looked up at the house, and then began to double-check the address.

1307 read the handwritten label, that was the number of the house the package was to be delivered to. But who would possibly want to deliver a package there?

The label said that the recipient’s name was Emily Thomas, yet the place looked abandoned, uninhabited, like it had been left alone for years. The house had broken windows and weeds covering the yard. The paint was peeling and was quite a dull depressed color. So Ollie stood in front of it, looking confused with a package in one hand, and a bike handle in the other.

Well, that is until they were spotted by someone coming down the sidewalk.

“Hey, excuse me, are you lost?” asked the stranger, who had long curly brown hair and a shirt that read, “It's fall y'all.” Little did Ollie know they would become good friends with this person.

“Uh, not exactly,” replied Ollie, turning to face them. “You see, I’m trying to deliver this package to someone. It was accidentally delivered to me instead of them.”

The stranger came over to Ollie as they spoke.

“The address says 1307, but this house looks deserted, so—”

“Here, let me see that.” Taking the package from Ollie, the stranger read the address, “Oh, this says 1301 not 1307. Hmm, well, I was just about to check the mail, but I suppose I can walk you down there. I don’t know the people who live there, but unlike here, the place is definitely not abandoned.”

So off Ollie went, walking down the street with the stranger who explained that her name was Grace, and that she very much liked to go for walks in the evening.

It wasn’t long before they got to the house numbered 1301. It was a one-story building painted a soft blue. Ollie walked up the steps and rang the doorbell, package and bicycle still in hand. After ringing several times, someone finally answered the door.

“Hello!” greeted (who Ollie assumed to be), the one and only Emily Thomas. “So, what can I do for you folks?”

“Hello! I’m uh, I’m Ollie, and I believe this belongs to you?” Ollie handed them the package. “It was delivered to my house, but I realized it was a mistake, so I, uh, thought I’d just drop it off and, uh yeah.”

The stranger at the door nodded their head. “Yes, this is indeed mine, you can call me Mrs. Thomas. This is Harper's birthday present! Thanks so much for bringing this over. I am very grateful. Hmm, would you two like to stay for dinner? ”

Ollie accepted, feeling that it would be seen as rude to decline. So Ollie set down their bike and walked inside, and Grace came along too. It would be nice to meet her neighbors. Walking inside, Ollie felt a bit nervous, but also happy that they were able to help.

_ _ _

That day, Ollie met the Thomas family. And a year later Ollie was back riding their bike to the house numbered 1301, the house that was now painted green. A nice pastel color that Ollie had helped to pick out, and also helped to paint.

The package from the year before, was a birthday present for Harper, Mrs. Thomas’s son. It was his birthday as well as his last day in town. For he was moving to another state, and the present was an old family heirloom, passed on from generation to generation. Indeed, it was an important family tradition, so it was no wonder that Mrs. Thomas was happy that Ollie had delivered the package. If Ollie had simply returned the package to the post office, it wouldn’t have gotten to Harper before he left. Though the package would have never been delivered without the help of Grace. Without her, Ollie might have just left the package at the wrong house.

Ollie thought about all of this on their ride to 1301, a house that came to feel like a second home. Mrs. Thomas treated Ollie (as well as Grace), like family and a neighbor. Inviting them to dinner while also having them help out with things around the house. Today Ollie was heading over to celebrate Harper’s birthday, because he was coming home for a visit. But first Ollie was going to meet up with Grace at the corner of the street, so they could walk there together. Ollie was looking forward to it. And this time, they had a gift that hadn’t been misdelivered.