A Young Man with a Cornette
Rev. Mother accepts Dr. Tapia's advice to take a restful ocean voyage to a conference in Miami after seeing Sr. Bertrille fly into a tree to rescue a cat. Before leaving, she makes Sr. Bertrille promise not to reveal she can fly. In a hospital, Sr. Bertrille meets little Charlie Webster, possibly the world's most precocious liar. Dr. Tapia explains that Charlie, who lost both parents in an accident, creates his own world of fantasies because he feels everything he loves will be taken from him. Charlie, crazy about flying, shows Sr. Bertrille his secret place, the top branch of a tall tree. While helping Charlie fly his kite, Sr. Bertrille is borne aloft, and explains her cornette and slight build are responsible. Before she can warn him to keep her secret, Charlie spreads it around the hospital. When the children and staff dismiss it as just another story, Charlie asks Sr. Bertrille to confirm it. Naturally, she can't, and Charlie runs away. Determined to win him back, Sr. Bertrille flies out to Rev. Mother's ship for release from her promise. Returning to the convent, Sr. Bertrille finds Charlie has filched her cornette. She realizes he intends to use it to fly and thus prove his story. She reaches Charlie's secret place to prevent his taking off and now explains she has permission to back his story. To her surprise, Charlie tells everyone it was a fib. When he tells her he wants to spare her from curious crowds who might invade the convent, Sr. Bertrille realizes Charlie has moved into the world of reality.
