Synopsis
Franklin and Bear are having a great time playing in fallen fall leaves. They pretend that Bear is a ship captain, Franklin is first mate and that a pile of leaves is the "Red Sea." Then, Jack Rabbit, an older kid, comes along. He comments that he used to play in the leaves, when he was younger. Franklin and Bear say that they weren't playing in them, they just fell in them, by accident. Jack Rabbit, who tells them to call him "Jack," talks with them for a while. Franklin tells him that he's been doing the exercises he's shown him and gotten stronger. Eventually, Jack tells them that he has to leave to go do his paper route. They ask if they can come along and help and Jack agrees. So they tag along as he does his paper route. As they go along, we see that they've taken to wearing their caps backwards, like Jack does. They finish and when Franklin gets back home, he asks his parents if he can have his own paper route. His parents don't think he's ready for it though. They say that maybe he can do it when he's older. One day, Franklin and Bear are playing "Knights" when they see Jack coming. Not wanting to look like dopey little kids, they quickly take off their costumes and hide them. Jack Rabbit comes up and notices that they're still wearing their shinguards. They say that they were skateboarding. But they left their skateboards at home, so they were practicing falling. They talk some and Jack Rabbit says that he has to leave, as he's leaving for the weekend and he needs someone to do his paper route on Saturday. Franklin and Bear tell him that they'll do it. They know his route, so it shouldn't be a problem. Jack agrees, just so long as they get their parents' permission. Back at home, Franklin begs his parents again. They seem a bit more willing this time and ask what Bear's parents said. Bear arrives and says that his parents said yes. So Franklin's parents agree too. Saturday comes and Franklin and Bear find their papers to deliver. Already there are two problems: the Saturday paper is a lot heavier than the Tuesday paper and also, there's a whole bunch of flyers that they first have to bundle in with the papers before they can deliver them. They get to work, but not without a few problems, as the wind starts blowing the papers around. They finally get everything ready, but then find the papers are too heavy to carry. Bear suggests using a wagon. Franklin says that Jack would never use a wagon and that they shouldn't either, as they would look like little kids. Bear reminds him of something: they are little kids. So they use Franklin's wagon to deliver the papers, while their friends are out flying kites. Tired, they're pleased when they've finished the route and Mr. Turtle shows up and offers them a ride home in the car. On the way home, Mr. Turtle asks if Franklin still wants his own paper route, but Franklin is fast asleep, as is Bear. The scene changes and it's another beautiful day. Franklin and Bear are out flying kites. They're back to wearing their hats forwards instead of backwards. Jack comes and they thank him for giving them the kites. Jack says that he wanted to do something nice for them after they did such a good job with his paper route. He says that if they still want their own routes, he can put in a good word for them. But Franklin and Bear tell him that they've decided to wait until they're older. Jack says that he hasn't flown a kite in a long time. He asks if he can and Franklin lets him use the one he gave him. Jack calls it "neat," instead of "cool," the word he usually uses.
