A Letter for Tomorrow

At the Weather Post Office, rain waited in blue parcels and sunshine travelled in yellow ones. Dot the Night Mouse had come to collect a small shower for her window box. Instead, she found an envelope sitting all alone on the counter.

Across the front were two words: For tomorrow. There was no address. A little sun-shaped seal shone on the flap.

‘A mystery,’ said Dot. ‘A present!’ said Momo Sunseed, bouncing on enormous coral boots. ‘An incorrectly addressed item,’ said Professor Pebble, taking out his ruler.

They asked at the rainbow chute. They searched beneath a sleepy cloud. They checked the rain parcels, which made a polite patter whenever they were moved. Nobody had ordered a tomorrow.

Momo suggested sending it to the farthest cloud. ‘Tomorrow might live over there.’ The professor measured the distance. Dot peered at the envelope through her magnifying glass. One edge felt warm. The other was cool.

‘Perhaps we need a different question,’ she said. ‘Not where should it go. When should it open?’

Outside the sorting-house window, the last light of the day slipped behind a cloud. The sun-shaped seal went dim. Momo held the envelope closer to the lamp, but nothing happened. The professor held it beside a sunshine parcel. Still nothing.

Dot looked at the window again. A tiny ray of real evening sunlight touched the seal. It glimmered, then faded as the sun set. ‘I think,’ she said, ‘this letter is waiting for its weather.’

They put it on the windowsill. Momo wanted to wait awake all night. Professor Pebble offered to measure every minute. But Dot fetched three cushions from the quiet corner. ‘We can be careful detectives after a little rest.’

When morning arrived, Momo woke with a leaf stretched into the first sunbeam. The envelope's seal glowed gold. With a small, satisfied pop, the flap opened by itself.

Inside was one sunflower seed and a note: A little sunshine for what comes next. No enormous answer. No map to a faraway place. Just one small beginning.

‘Who sent it?’ Momo asked. Dot turned the envelope over. On the back was a little drawing of yesterday's sun. Professor Pebble put his ruler away. ‘Some things,’ he said, ‘arrive when they are ready.’

They planted the seed in Momo's spare boot and set it beside the window. Dot finally collected her small shower. ‘A useful delivery,’ she said. Momo smiled at the boot. ‘And tomorrow, we can look again.’