The Emperor's New Flute

Mater, aware that Spouse bought a flute for his friend, wanted to know the details. A flute was a wind instrument, yes? Was it made of wood? Or brass? Or- wind? That last word was out before she could rein it in.
I replied that I sincerely wished it was made of wind.
The other evening Spouse and I drove a significant distance in order to deliver the flute, and we forgot to bring it with us. It would have helped enormously if the instrument had been fashioned from purest wind- we might then, instead of being stricken on the doorstep, have presented it to the friend with our assurances that it was fragile, and invisible, but most certainly a flute.