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“The Flight of Timmy Hawk,” the author crafts a tender, quietly luminous story about connection, impermanence, and the small acts of creation that define family bonds. Told through the perspective of a grandfather spending a sunlit afternoon with his young grandson, the story transforms a simple moment—the building and launching of a paper airplane—into a meditation on wonder and release.
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The Flight of Timmy Hawk
by Harry Arabian
The ocean breeze had a way of sneaking up to the tenth floor, slipping through the balcony railings and filling the condo with salt and sunlight. I’d just poured myself a cup of coffee when I heard the quick patter of sneakers in the hallway, followed by an enthusiastic knock.
“Grandpa! Open up!”
There he was—Timmy, beaming, his arms wrapped around a tower of children’s magazines that looked taller than he was. His hair was windblown, his cheeks flushed with excitement.
“Whoa,” I said, bending to take the top half of his load before it toppled. “Planning to read the whole library today?”
He grinned. “Mom said I could bring these so I won’t get bored while we hang out. They’re going out for their anniversary dinner—it might go late.”
“Perfect,” I said. “That gives us time for some serious grandpa-grandson engineering.”
He dropped the magazines on the table, pages fluttering in the breeze from the open balcony door. With a conspiratorial gleam, he flipped one open to the very back. “Here, Grandpa! This one’s got a paper airplane model! I already picked my project.” He jabbed his finger at the outline of a jet printed across the page. “Can you help me build it?”
The coffee was forgotten. I fetched the scissors while Timmy flattened the page, his small fingers tracing the dotted lines. Sunlight pooled across the table as the cries of gulls drifted through the glass door.
As we folded wings and aligned creases, I couldn’t help but think—every visit brought something new. A project, an idea, a spark. Today it was a paper airplane. Tomorrow? Who knew. For now, there was no rush—just the two of us, a bright Saturday morning, and a flight waiting to be built.
Thirty minutes later, the condo was alive with the snip of scissors and the faint, nostalgic scent of glue. A light breeze swirled through the room, fluttering scraps of paper like confetti. And there, in the middle of it all, stood Timmy—proud commander of his freshly assembled creation.
It wasn’t just any paper airplane. With its red wings, hand-drawn propeller, and blue star on the tail, it looked like a miniature tribute to the early biplanes of the First World War.
“Behold,” he declared, holding it aloft, “the Timmy Hawk!”
I gave a salute. “A fine machine, Captain. Ready for flight?”
He nodded with fierce concentration, did a quick countdown—“Three, two, one!”—and sent it gliding across the living room. The plane sliced through a sunbeam and landed neatly by the couch.
Timmy dashed after it, inspecting every fold. “It flies good,” he said, frowning slightly, “but it needs a longer runway.”
Before I could ask, he was already sliding open the balcony door. The Atlantic shimmered below, waves catching the afternoon light like glass.
“Okay, Grandpa,” he said, positioning himself at the far end of the room. “You stand by the balcony. Catch it before it flies too far!”
I chuckled and took my post, the wind brushing against my sleeves.
Timmy took a breath and launched the Timmy Hawk with all the power a five-year-old could muster. The paper wings flashed once in the sun. I reached up—missed—and then it was gone, lifted by the wind, sailing out into the wide blue.
We both leaned on the balcony rail, watching the bright speck drift downward toward the distant shoreline.
“Grandpa,” Timmy whispered, shading his eyes, “I think it wanted to fly for real.”
I smiled, following its tiny, brave silhouette until it vanished into the horizon. “Looks like it finally did, buddy.”
The wind carried the faint scent of salt and glue, and for a long, quiet moment, the world felt as light and full of promise as that little paper plane.
Book Club Summary: The Flight of Timmy Hawk
ReplyDeleteIn “The Flight of Timmy Hawk,” a grandfather spends a breezy Saturday morning with his five-year-old grandson, Timmy, in a seaside condo. What begins as an ordinary visit quickly turns into an afternoon of shared creativity as they build a paper airplane together—one that Timmy names “The Timmy Hawk.”
The story unfolds in small, vivid moments: the scent of salt air drifting through an open balcony door, the sound of scissors snipping, and the warm light falling across folded paper. When Timmy’s plane accidentally flies off the balcony and out toward the ocean, what could have been a small disappointment becomes something far more profound. Both child and grandfather watch in awe as the paper plane sails into the horizon—free, untethered, and full of promise.
Beneath the surface simplicity lies a meditation on imagination, generational connection, and the bittersweet act of letting go. The grandfather’s quiet reflections and Timmy’s innocent wonder blend into a single emotional truth: that love often means helping something—or someone—find its wings.
Themes to Explore
Imagination and Creativity: The act of building the plane mirrors the creative spark that bridges generations.
Family and Legacy: The story subtly explores how values, curiosity, and affection are passed down through shared experiences.
Letting Go: The final image of the plane taking flight captures the universal moment of release—watching something you’ve helped create move beyond your reach.
The Power of Small Moments: The story suggests that meaning often resides not in milestones but in quiet, everyday acts of care.
Book Club Discussion Questions
First Impressions: What emotion lingered with you most after finishing the story—nostalgia, warmth, sadness, hope? Why?
Character Connection: How does the author build the bond between Timmy and his grandfather without needing heavy exposition? Which moments best reveal their relationship?
Symbolism: What does the paper airplane represent to each character? Does it change meaning from the start of the story to the end?
Tone and Setting: How does the seaside setting—sunlight, wind, and open sky—reinforce the story’s themes of freedom and release?
Perspective: How might this story feel different if told from Timmy’s point of view instead of the grandfather’s?
Letting Go: Do you think the grandfather feels loss, pride, or something else when the plane flies away? What does that moment reveal about him?
Memory and Time: The story feels like it might be a recollection. How does that affect your interpretation—does it feel like a snapshot, a memory, or a lasting lesson?
Craft and Style: The language is simple yet lyrical. How does the author’s restraint enhance the emotional impact?
Generational Echoes: How might this story resonate differently for readers who are parents, grandparents, or children themselves?
Title Reflection: Why is the story titled “The Flight of Timmy Hawk” rather than “The Paper Plane”? How does naming the plane after the child shift its meaning?