Herky liked his gum shield very much. He always wears it when he goes to sleep and his friends have learned the importance of their friend's gum shield to him.
All, that is, except for Orland. He was very confused as to why Herky liked his gum shield so much. To him, it was just something he wore in his mouth every night and refused to do without it under any circumstances.
"Why does Herky like his gum shield so much?" He asked Jay Jay one afternoon.
"It helps him to sleep." Jay Jay answered. "He feels a lot better wearing it, you see."
"I don't understand how that's meant to help him." Orland retorted.
But Jay Jay had to go, leaving Orland alone with his thoughts about Herky's gum shield. So he decided to ask Snuffy about Herky's gum shield.
"Well, Herky usually has very bad snoring problems." The little skywriter told his friend.
"I've never heard him snore." Orland replied, confused.
"Well, the gum shield helps that." Snuffy explained. "Without it, he feels like he'll wake everyone in the hanger up."
Snuffy then flew away.
Finally, Orland decided to ask Big Jake about it. He didn't know as much as Old Oscar, but he definitely knew a lot more than Snuffy and Jay Jay did. Maybe he had an idea as to why Herky liked his gum shield so much.
He found Big Jake in the hanger, in order to remain out of the sun. Orland had to admit it was nice to get under the shade for a little while.
"Hello, Orland!" Big Jake exclaimed. "Can I help you?"
"Um, I was kind of hoping if you know why Herky likes his gum shield so much." Orland explained to Big Jake.
"Well, it's because it doesn't disturb his sleep." Big Jake replied. "He has notoriously loud snoring, and if he woke the others up, they wake him up and then he can't sleep again because he's upset about snoring. The gum shield fixes all of those problems."
"Okay." Orland replied, though he wasn't convinced. He decided to dwell on it later.
...
That night, Orland stayed awake a little while longer, trying to figure out why Herky liked his gum shield so much, when he heard a gentle snoring coming from Herky's hanger. Curious, the tangerine striped plane decided to investigate, so he left his hanger and went to look in Herky's.
The little helicopter was fast asleep, and he had a peaceful smile on his face. The hanger was quiet.
It was then that Orland realised that that was why Herky loved his gum shield. It brought peace to Tarrytown Airport.