(LOOKIE-LOO JINGLE PLAYS.)

STORYTELLER: Hello, you, and welcome to your Marlo Looky-Loo storybook. I’ll be your Marlo Storyteller! You can read along with me in your own book! When you hear this sound (MUSICAL SOUND PLAYS.) it will be time to turn the page!

STORYTELLER: A MARLO Looky-Loo storyteller book and record. Let’s visit our friends by going to the very first page. “Mail-in-Times Day” by (RECORD SCRATCH SOUND).

(MUSICAL SOUND PLAYS.)

STORYTELLER: What a beautiful day in Home, isn’t it, neighbor? Just like every day before today and every day after. But today seems like it's even lovelier than usual! Everyone else seems to be in high spirits, too! It’s all so nice, I don’t think I can see a single frown in this whole entire…! (Said with concern.) Wait a minute. …There’s someone in the Post Office, all alone and sadder than I’ve ever seen him. Eddie Dear, what are you doing here all by yourself?

EDDIE: (Trying to correct his sad behavior and put on a smile.) O-Oh! I didn’t see y’all there! I’m workin’ like I usually am! See? I ain’t never been happier…!

STORYTELLER: Are you sure there isn’t something the matter?

EDDIE: (Sadly said.) …Well, I suppose I am a little under the weather… I ain’t got any mail to deliver…

STORYTELLER: Really? Not a single parcel or package?

EDDIE: Not even a letter! An’ what good’s a mailman without mail? Shoot… This is my third day in this Post Office without anyone comin’ in! I’ve been spendin’ all my time organizin’ and reorganizin’ my paperclip collection!

STORYTELLER: By size?

EDDIE: By color! See here? This one’s more of a silvery-grey, and this one over here is more of a grey-silver! But this one’s more of a Mr. Frankly-grey-silver! And this one’s-

STORYTELLER: (Getting EDDIE back on track.) Eddie, what do you think you’ll do?

EDDIE: (Said sadly and helpless.) Ah, gee, uh… I don’t know. This hasn’t happened before… I’m awful sorry about the sore state I’m in… It ain’t very mailmanly of me to be so low and lousy, is it?

(MUSICAL SOUND PLAYS.)

STORYTELLER: Don’t say that, Eddie! Today’s such a nice day! Maybe looking at how lovely it is will cheer you up!

EDDIE: (Sadly said.) …I suppose so…

STORYTELLER: We know you’ll find a way! You always find a way!

EDDIE: (Sadly said) …I do, don’t I?

STORYTELLER: Eddie got up from behind the counter and walked up to one of the Post Office’s windows. He thought long and hard about what he could do to bring in more business.

STORYTELLER: There must have been a way to remind his neighbors how nice it was to send and receive mail! After all, what was better than telling someone about your day while using silly stickers or your favorite colored crayon? What about sending someone a beautifully wrapped gift as a surprise to show how much you cared?

EDDIE: My thoughts exactly! There’s never a bad time to tell somebody how much you really love ‘em! (PAUSE. He gets chipper as he has a realization.) …But maybe if folks had a day all about it, it’d do the trick!

(MUSICAL SOUND PLAYS.)

STORYTELLER: Eddie cheerfully grabbed a bushel of pink and red paper, his best scissors and his most reliable glue, and sat down at the nearest table to get to work! It wasn’t long before rosy red paper chains and frilly, hand-crafted hearts filled the Post Office inside and out! (PAUSE) Hmm… Say, Eddie, what’s all this stuff for?

EDDIE: (Excitedly.) Ain’t it obvious? I’m gettin’ ready for Mail-in-Time’s Day!

STORYTELLER: With a skip in his step, Eddie set off to the neighborhood to spread the word about his brand new holiday! Everyone knew Eddie was a happy fellow, but they were curious what had him so merry today!

BARNABY: Yeah! What’re you so happy for, Eddie-boy? Did ya get a new #2 pencil?

EDDIE: No siree, Mr. Beagle! I’m so happy cause I’m sharin’ my brand new holiday!

WALLY: Really? A new holiday? What is it?

(MUSICAL SOUND PLAYS.)

EDDIE: I call it… Mail-in-Time’s Day! It’s a holiday all about lovin’ your fellow neighbor!

JULIE: (Said sweetly and swooning.) Love?! Like in the movies? Oh, how romantic!!

EDDIE: Well, it doesn’t only gotta be the lovey-dovey kinda love you’re showin’! Lovin’ your friends and family and tellin’ ‘em how much you care can be twice as nice!

FRANK: (Said skeptically and bluntly.) Oh? Then, how exactly do you show them how much you love them?

EDDIE: That’s easy! You write ‘em a letter tellin’ ‘em what they mean to you! And you get ‘em a gift you know they’d love and wrap it up nice with a bow on top! Then, they do the same for you! Ain’t that just peachy?

SALLY: Oh is it, now? What if you receive naught in return? Imagine- let me set the scene. (Said increasingly dramatically.) Your vulnerable, earnest message cast aside! Your gift, lovingly wrapped, now left to sit on the stoop! Oh! So many tragic possibilities!

POPPY: Sally, stop it! That’s an awful thing to think! And no one in our neighborhood would ever do something so cruel and callous! (PAUSE. Said worriedly.) …Would they?

SALLY: (Said threateningly.) Not if they know what’s good for them!

(MUSICAL SOUND PLAYS.)

EDDIE: C’mon now, it ain’t about how many things you do or don’t get! It’s about takin’ the time outta your busy schedule to pour all your feelings into a lovingly written letter or a heart-shaped gift for the folks in your neighborhood! (Said giddily.) An’ the best part is… Ya don’t tell ‘em it was you who sent it! Or who yer sendin’ it to! That way, it’s a big ol’ surprise for everyone!

HOWDY: That’s all well an’ good, but… I got one question! (Confused.) …Why all the heart stuff?

EDDIE: Oh! (EDDIE laughs bashfully.) Nothin’ says love like a big ol’ heart! And… I just think they’re real sweet! Oh- but, if’n you’ll excuse me… I gotta make sure I'm ready for all those deliveries! So long, Mr. Pillar! Mr. Barnaby! Mr. Darling!

BARNABY: That’s funny, he gave us the same spiel earlier. It's a little scary how he can say it the same every time!

WALLY: I wish I could remember what I want to say. I think that’s the most!

BARNABY: Maybe you oughtta write to Eddie about how much you love that!

(MUSICAL SOUND PLAYS.)

HOWDY: As much as I don’t like agreein’ with the competition, Ed might be onto somethin’ with all this, ah, Mailin-in-Time’s day stuff! As a matter of fact… I can see’s it now, clear as day! Heart-shaped fruits! Heart-shaped cans! Heart-shaped sundaes with little heart-shaped sprinkles on top!

BARNABY: Heart-shaped hot dogs? On heart-shaped buns?

HOWDY: All advertised with heart-shaped sales signs with heart-shaped deals written out in heart shaped-!

BARNABY: (Curious.) -marker?

HOWDY: Don’t be ridiculous, Barn! …I’d write ‘em out in heart-shaped numbers!

BARNABY: Silly me!

STORYTELLER: Thanks to Eddie’s new holiday, everyone in Home had now become swept up in a fervor of love! Some neighbors had already begun to write exactly how they felt about their fellow felt friends through poetry!

SALLY: (Sing-song as she writes.) Ah, stupendous starling that you are! How enchanting I find thou! Allow me to count the ways, as countless as they are! (She takes a deep inhale. Said increasingly excitedly.) One-one thousand… two-one thousand… three-one thousand… four-one thousand… five-one-thousand…!

POPPY: Sally, dear… Shouldn’t you be at your own home writing this? I thought that much of the enjoyment of a Mail-in-Time’s day letter came from the surprise of what was inside!

SALLY: (Said passionately.) Nonsense, Poppy, dear! This is our first Mail-in-Time day! And as the best of friends, it simply must be done… together! (Gasps excitedly.) In fact, have a seat! I’ll help you write yours! Allow me to start it off for you-

POPPY: (Trying to intervene.) Sally, I don’t need it, I- I think I’d much prefer to-!

SALLY: (Interrupting Poppy as she writes.) Oh, stupendous starling that you are, how enchanting I find thou! (Voice beginning to fade out as she speaks.) Allow me to count the ways, as countless as they are…

(MUSICAL SOUND PLAYS.)

JULIE: (Sound of effort and a thud as she places something on the counter.) I’ll be taking this, my good man!

HOWDY: (Giddily said.) Ooo! A fancy-schmancy copper mold with all the bells and whistles? And it’s shaped like a heart?! What a steal! Who’s the lucky fella, Jules?

JULIE: (Acting sweet and coy.) Oh Howdy, I can’t tell you that, it’s a Mail-in-Times day secret! (Less cutesy, more demanding.) Now wrap it up pretty and put a big bow on top!

HOWDY: An’ how will you be payin’ today?

JULIE: Put it on my tab, toots! (Clicks her tongue.)

HOWDY: (Said like a jovial clerk.) Hahaha! A’course! (Said under his breath.) When don’t I?

(FRANK and JULIE walk past each other and trade places at HOWDY’s countertop.)

HOWDY: (Giddily said.) Ooo! A fancy schmancy bowling ball with all the bells and whistles? And it’s shaped like a heart?! What a steal! Who’s the lucky jane, Frank?

FRANK: (Said with a huff.) I’m not telling you! Mail-in-Times day is a private matter! (Said more politely.) Please, ah, wrap it up nicely if you could, Howdy.

HOWDY: An’ how will you be payin’ today?

FRANK: I’d like to put it on my tab, thank you.

HOWDY: (Said like a jovial clerk.) Hahaha! A’course! (Said under his breath.) He’s just as bad as her!

(MUSICAL SOUND PLAYS.)

STORYTELLER: Some neighbors preferred to make their Mail-in-Times gifts on their own. There was nothing quite like a handmade card cut into the shape of a heart! Especially made in the privacy of one’s very own home!

BARNABY: Hmm… Mhm… Huh! Uh- hey, kid, who’re you makin’ your Mail-in-times day card out to?

WALLY: I’m making it out to… Julie… Frank… Eddie… Sally… Poppy… Howdy… and You.

BARNABY: (Laughing.) The whole neighborhood, huh?

WALLY: Yes! I love everyone. I want them to know. (PAUSE.) …Barnaby?

BARNABY: Yeah, kid?

WALLY: Are… you going to make a Mail-in-Time day card for… me?

BARNABY: (Pretending like he had never considered it and needs convincing.) Hmm… Gee, Walls, I dunno… What’ve ya done for me lately?

WALLY: (Genuinely thinks about it.) Hmm… I say good morning to you every day… And, I laugh at all your jokes, even if I don’t understand them… And one time, I helped you find your hat when you forgot it was on your head!

BARNABY: (Laughs.) Alright, alright, ya convinced me! Hmm… I noticed ya didn’t put Home on your list!

WALLY: Because it’s a surprise. I didn’t want him to find out…

BARNABY: Smart thinkin’! I bet he’s got ears all over the place!

WALLY: (Whispering.) Are you going to make Home one too?

BARNABY: What kinda neighbor would I be if I didn’t! (Pretending to write.) Dear buddy, oh pal, oh Home sweet Home o’ mine! Have ya done somethin’ new with your windows? Cause I’m never in pane when I see’s em! (Laughs.)

STORYTELLER: Sure enough, by the end of the day, the mail box was filled to the brim with warm sentiments and kind regards of all sorts! It did Eddie’s heart good to see his friends and neighbors so eager to celebrate his new holiday. That night Eddie dreamt of beautifully wrapped gifts with bows on top and heartfelt letters written on paper lovingly cut into the shape of a heart.

(MUSICAL SOUND PLAYS.)

STORYTELLER: The next morning, Eddie got up bright and early to begin his delivery route. When he began filling his mailbag, however, he realized… Something was wrong.

EDDIE: (Distressed.) Oh… Oh no! Everythin’s pink and red! Nobody marked who the mail was for! Or where it’s from! How did this happen-!? (PAUSE.) Wait a tick- Oh, Eddie Dear, you nincompoop, ya told ‘em to, that’s why! What am I gonna do?! (He mutters under his breath in dismay, then takes a big inhale and exhale.)

EDDIE: (Speaking with determination.) No! Eddie Dear, you listen here! You know you’ll find a way! You always find a way! You know your fellow neighbors like the back’a your hand! You just… Got to deliver it! Like normal!

STORYTELLER: Eddie quickly filled his mailbag with everyone’s Mail-in-Time gifts and headed into Home with only a smidgen of fear and a whole lot of confidence.

(MUSICAL SOUND PLAYS.)

STORYTELLER: He looked closely at each letter and package he pulled out of his mailbag and did the best he could to take everything to where he felt it belonged. Once the Mail-in-Time gifts had all been delivered, Eddie made his way back to the Post Office and sat in his favorite chair. He deserved a break after all of that work!

EDDIE: Hoo-wee! Done and done! Eddie Dear, it wasn’t easy, but ya did it! I might be the best mailman this side’a the neighborhood, if I do say so myself!

STORYTELLER: Mail-in-Time’s day seemed like it went off without a hitch! …But then, Eddie started to think. What if his guesses weren’t as good as he thought they were? What if everyone’s beautifully wrapped gifts with bows on top and heartfelt letters written on paper lovingly cut into the shape of a heart… were delivered to all the wrong people?! Confessed feelings and personal thoughts would be thrown out in the open for all the neighborhood to see! This was all too much for Eddie Dear to bear!

EDDIE: (Distressed.) Oh, no! Eddie Dear, you nincompoop, why’d you think this plan would work!?

(MUSICAL SOUND PLAYS.)

STORYTELLER: Like clockwork, the Post Office phone began to ring, causing Eddie to jump up in his seat. This would no doubt be the beginning of a barrage of unhappy complaints, he thought as he swallowed uneasily. (A phone ringing is heard.) With a heavy sigh, Eddie unwillingly picked the phone off the hook.

EDDIE: (Said worriedly.) W-Whether letter or parcel, whether rain, sleet, or shine, we weather the weather and never Mail-in-Time- I- I mean! Decline! Eddie Dear speakin’, h-how can I help you?

POPPY: Eddie, dear, this is Poppy! I wanted to call and tell you… Your Mail-in-times day was such a lovely idea! Simply marvelous!

EDDIE: (Worried, but confused.) Lovely? Marvelous? Are ya sure? O-Or I- I mean! Why do ya say somethin’ like that?

(MUSICAL SOUND PLAYS.)

POPPY: Well, I checked my mail box and I was surprised at how many letters and gifts were tucked away inside! My neighbors really are thinking so much about me!

STORYTELLER: Poppy chirped pleasantly.

POPPY: Someone was such a sweetheart, too, Eddie! They gave me a bowling ball shaped like a heart! It’s so much safer than a bowling ball shaped like a bowling ball! Now there’s not a chance it will roll over my foot! Why, it could even make for a decent pie weight! Much easier than dried beans! But I won’t take up anymore of your time! Thank you for such a lovely holiday, dear, I’ve never felt more at home in Home!

EDDIE: (Said with slight confusion.) That sounds… Real lovely! Happy to be of service…! You have a good day now, y’hear?

STORYTELLER: Eddie was shocked. The phone calls didn’t stop there, either! The other neighbors had begun calling in to tell him how much they liked the holiday too. (Sound of a phone ringing is heard.)

HOWDY: I tells ya, Ed, this here gift’a mine’s a real thing of beauty! It brightens up the place and reminds ya what matters most of all in this crazy world! Shucks, my neighbors sure know how to make a caterpillar salesman feel like one in a million!

(MUSICAL SOUND PLAYS.)

SALLY: (Said dramatically as usual.) Oh, Mailman, your man-made holiday was an unexpected success! My secret admirer may even know me more than I know myself! Hah! A copper pan?! It’s bold! It’s new! (Sing-song.) It’s genius! (Gasps.) It has inspired me to create my next hit theatrical play… Peter Pots and Pans! A thrilling tale of a young boy and his magical, flying kitchen ware!!

JULIE: (Reading the letter gleefully.) “Oh stupendous starling that you are, how enchanting I find thou! Allow me to count the ways, as countless as they are!” (Giggling.) And then they wrote down a bunch’a numbers aaaaall the way up to one hundred and one thousand, Eddie! That’s a whole a lot of numbers to write on a piece of paper! I’m so touched! I love Mail–in-Time’s day!

FRANK: (Reading the letter, unimpressed.) “How do I declare my feelings about thee, effortlessly effervescent companion of mine? Allow me to count the ways, as countless as they are.” Then they wrote every number all the way up to one hundred and one thousand. (Said bluntly.) I think it’s a waste of perfectly good paper, to be frank, but the sentiment is appreciated. Mail-in-Times day isn’t so bad, Mr. Dear.

BARNABY: (Crying.) Eddie-boy, ya wouldn’t believe it! My special some-buddy sent me a whole bunch’a coupons crammed into an envelope! No letter or nothin’, just the way I likes it! I even got a coupon for 100% off whatever I want! Can ya believe it?! (Sniffles, genuinely touched.) I’ll never have to be funny ever again!

(MUSICAL SOUND PLAYS.)

WALLY: (Reading the letter.) “Dear buddy, oh pal, oh Home sweet Home o’ mine! Have you done something new with your windows? Cause I’m never in pane when I see them.” (Said sweetly.) I’m glad that whoever wrote me likes my window panes. This was a good idea, Eddie. I knew you would find a way.

EDDIE: (Said with confidence.) Yer too kind, Wally! I’m just happy to be of service! You have a good day now, y’hear?

STORYTELLER: Hearing how happy his neighbors were had Eddie’s heart all aflutter. Everything had turned out better than he could ever imagine.

EDDIE: (Realizing.) …Oh, shoot! I spent all day deliverin’ others’ things, and I didn’t get to deliver mine!

STORYTELLER: Oh! Scratch that- With everything said and done, it was finally time for Eddie to deliver his own Mail-in-Time letters! He went from house to house, discreetly tucking his letters into each and every neighbor’s mailbox. The last stop he made was to Home. Before he gave him his Mail-in-Time’s day gift, however, Eddie told Home all about his day! Worries, successes, and all!

EDDIE: …But I guess I knew everyone better than I thought! Everybody called me and told me how good of a job I did! Ain’t that funny, Home? (HOME creaks.) I feel so silly about bein’ so worried before…

(MUSICAL SOUND PLAYS.)

EDDIE: (Rustling sound.) But enough about me! I thought I oughtta make a special trip to you before the day was over. I wanted to end my Mail-in-Times day proper by readin’ you mine.

STORYTELLER: Home creaked curiously- (Sound of HOME creaking.) -as Eddie took a seat on the front step. Eddie pulled out a bright red envelope from his mailbag and opened it to read the letter inside.

EDDIE: Dear Home, I wanted to say how much I liked bein’ your neighbor and your friend! You always seem to brighten up when ya see me and I hope you know I feel the same way. Seein’ you from my Post Office, nestled in all them flowers, always tugs on my heart…

(LOOKIE-LOO JINGLE PLAYS.)