Button-Sky Morning

Alphabet Avenue buzzed; tall letter-buildings wore bright signs, and kiosks puffed sweet balloon-smells.

Whizzy Willow, a tiny fairy in a leaf dress, lifted her acorn lantern. “Hello, A Street!”

A toaster-shaped mailbox rolled by on wheels.

“Special delivery for Willa,” it chimed.

“I’m Willow,” she said, blinking.

Chapter 2— The Crooked Tag

The mailbox beeped, “Step one: find Willa. Step two: swap signs.”

“Swap signs?” Willow’s wings went stiff.

A B-shaped bakery wore a sign that said “ZOO.” A C-shaped candy shop said “SOCKS.” Kids blinked and sniffed the wrong smells.

Willow tapped the mailbox. “Who told you that?”

It whirred. “I follow words. Even silly ones.”

“Then help me unswap,” Willow said softly.