Herky was asleep in his new hanger, dreaming of doing tricks in the sky and hanging out with his friends, Jay Jay, Tracy and Snuffy.
Suddenly, he shot awake on realization of something.
"I'm late!" He gasped. "I'd better hurry!"
He forgot to take out his gum shield in the hurry to get to Smiling Meadows. He had promised his friends they would play Leap Jet at Smiling Meadows.
...
He was only a couple of minutes late.
"Why do you have your gum shield on, Herky?" Asked Snuffy. "Don't you take it off when you wake up?"
"Oh bother! I must have forgotten to take it out! Oh well I'm here now-I'm sure it will be fine." Herky assured his friends.
...
It was- for a while anyway.
The planes had a grand time playing- until Herky and Tracy, whilst each performing their tricks, both collided with one another after a miscalculation.
Neither of them was hurt, but Jay Jay decided they should return to Tarrytown anyway and have Brenda inspect them for damage.
But Herky didn't notice that in the accident, his gum shield had fallen out, and lay there in Smiling Meadows hidden under a bush.
...
Brenda Blue checked the pair over carefully.
"Well you two didn't do much damage, thankfully she said, but you should be more careful in future, okay?"
"Okay." They said.
...
That night, the absence of Herky's gum shield was unnoticed as the helicopter settled for sleep that night.
But he soon began snoring really loudly.
Jay Jay noticed.
...
Next morning, when Herky went to take his gum shield off, he found it wasn't there.
"What- where is it?" He asked in confusion.
He hunted around for it, but he couldn't see it.
'Strange.' He thought. 'I thought I had it yesterday.'
He continued looking around his hanger but with no luck.
"Oh no!" He gasped. "I must have lost it whilst we were in Smiling Meadows! I've got to get it back!"
He took off for Smiling Meadows as quickly as his arms could carry him.
...
Herky arrived at his destination a few minutes later.
Frantically, he searched everywhere for the gum shield. But he had no blessings for finding it.
Poor Herky was very upset.
"Where is it?" He asked, feeling very close to tears.
...
Defeated, Herky went back to Tarrytown, as he had to make a delivery to Farmer Ben's farm.
He met Jay Jay before he left.
"Hello Herky!" Piped the blue jet.
"Hey Jay Jay." Herky replied morosely.
"What's wrong Herky?"
"I lost my gum shield. I think I dropped it somewhere in Smiling Meadows yesterday." The helicopter admitted, ashamed.
"Don't worry Herky." Jay Jay said kindly. "How about I tell Tracy and Snuffy and we meet up at your hanger again when you come back? I'm sure we'll have more luck if we're all looking." He suggested.
This made Herky feel much better.
"Thanks Jay Jay."
"You're welcome Herky." He replied.
...