Maebelle is one hundred and eight years old and gets the greatest joy every year by entering the town's annual hat contest. She lives up in the treetops and this year as she watches her friends the birds fly south for the winter, she sees one friend who is struggling. This is his first trip south and he doesn't want to leave without his possessions. He borrows a suitcase from Maybelle and the stuffs it so full he can't get off the ground. The ultimate compassionate friend, Maybelle asks to borrow things from him to add to her already perfect hat. As her hat gets fuller and fuller, his suitcase gets lighter and lighter. His burden is eased by her kindness and caring.