Lizzie gets yellow balloons for her birthday and gives the last one to someone very special...a tale you'd love!
WELL I PLANNED THIS STORY WITH ONE OF MY ONLINE WRITING FRIENDS. I WROTE THE FIRST HALF--THE FIRST PARAGRAPH AND SHE PENNED THE REST! I GAVE A GOOD START TO THE STORY AND THE RESULT? THE REST ENDED IN SUCH LOVELY SENTIMENTS. PLEASE HAVE A LOOK AT IT!
YELLOW BALLOONS
A two part story
By Srinidhi.R and Farfinagle
Roger loved the way she said “balloon”. She said it as if she were blowing bubbles. Elaine wanted to buy balloons for her daughter Lizzie’s birthday. She had woken up at 8 in the morning and had rushed to the shop, without even taking a shower. She imagined colorful balloons as she walked past the roads, which were exposed to traffic. The shopkeeper had just opened the shop and he heard her scream “balloon!” Lizzie was asleep when she came home. “Hey darling, look what Mommy bought!” she cried out loud, reaching home. “Oh!” her husband burst in, “you should have bought the pink balloons, too.” “Never mind, Roger,” she let out a sigh. “But they are all the same. I decided finally.” Then, she went and woke Lizzie. “Happy birthday, Lizzie!” she said, waking her. Lizzie got up, rubbing her eyes, and screamed. “Wow! Those balloons are lovely!”
She tightly clutched the bunch of curled ribbons tied to the balloons in one small hand as she made her way down the hall. Morning sunlight spilled in from the kitchen window, illuminating their bright yellow color. “Look Mommy,” she exclaimed, “they’re just like the sun!” “And so are you, my love,” Elaine replied. Lizzie was their only child, a wondrous gift that had arrived against all odds. She and Roger had tried to conceive for two years when she finally broke down and went to the doctor. The news had been devastating. She was informed that her likelihood of having a child was slim to none. Several more years had gone by. She and Roger had resigned themselves to being a childless couple when she learned that she was expecting. The pregnancy had been uneventful. Lizzie arrived exactly eight months and two days later, a small miracle with downy, light brown hair and pink rosebud lips. For both of them, it was love at first sight.
Lizzie didn’t want to let go of the balloons for fear they would float away. Elaine helped her tie them to an empty chair. “Mommy, can I show my friends my little suns?” The description made Elaine smile. “Oh, I think so,” she replied, “but let’s have some breakfast first, okay?” Her small daughter nodded enthusiastically, digging into her bowl of Cheerios. Roger soon finished his coffee and morning paper, and was off to work. After Lizzie was dressed, Elaine helped her tie the yellow balloons securely around one wrist. “There you go, Sweetie,” she said. “Don’t be gone too long. Remember, we’ll start your party after lunch.” Lizzie seemed unconcerned. “Okay, Mom,” she said simply. Then she was out the door, trailing the daffodil colored orbs behind her.
Elaine busied herself with the dishes and housecleaning. She didn’t think too much of the time passing until the hands on the kitchen clock read 11:30. Where was Lizzie? It was unlike her to stay away so long, especially since she knew her birthday party would be starting soon. Minutes ticked by, with Elaine growing more and more concerned. What could have happened? A panicked feeling began to overcome her. She slipped on her tennis shoes and was about to leave the house when she heard the screen door bang. There was her Lizzie,sansballoons. And she was crying. “Honey, what happened? Are you okay?” asked Elaine, alarm rising in her voice.
Lizzie came over to her and buried her face in her mother’s side. Tears streaked her cheeks as she spoke between choked sobs. She had started out a half dozen balloons. When she met Mr. Taylor, their postman, she had given him one. Then she had shared one with Tommy from next door. On she had gone down the street, randomly giving her small pieces of sunshine to special friends and neighbors. She saved her last balloon for Granny Em, who was the dearest one of all. Elaine and Roger had both lost their parents at a young age. Granny Em came to their rescue when Lizzie was only a baby. She had watched over her when Elaine returned to her part time job. Em had been a doting guardian and more. She became a grandmother who took the place of others Lizzie would never know.
Lizzie took in some deep, hitching breaths and continued. “And when I got to Granny’s front porch, there were strange people inside. A man came out and told me that Granny had passed on, and then I said: passed on towhere? He gave me a funny look then, Mommy. And he told me Granny haddied!” Fresh tears rolled down her cheeks as Elaine folded her into her arms and rocked her. They sat that way for quite some time until Lizzie quieted and lay limp and exhausted on her lap. Elaine thought she might be asleep, but she spoke in a quiet voice. “Mommy, I don’t want a party. Maybe I can have a birthday, later, okay?” This almost broke her heart. Tears threatened to spill from her own eyes. She steadied herself, trying to sound calm. “I understand how you feel, Honey,” she said. “We can postpone it for a couple of days if you want.” Lizzie looked up at her and nodded slowly. Elaine smoothed damp curls from her forehead. Then she remembered the last yellow balloon.
“Honey, what happened to the last balloon?”
“Well, I couldn’t give it to Granny Em at her house,” she said softly. “The man told me that Granny had been sick and she couldn’t stay. He said she went to be with God. You know, up in heaven.” Elaine nodded her agreement. Lizzie sighed. “I was so sad that I couldn’t give it to her,” she said. “But then, I had an idea. If Gran was up in heaven, I could still send it to her. So, I asked God to take really, really good care of my Granny. And I let it go to her. Do you think it can fly all the way there?”Hot tears spilled from Elaine’s eyes as she hugged her small daughter in a tight embrace. Lizzie looked up, concerned. “Mommy, don’t cry! Did I do something wrong?”
No, Love,” she replied in a shaky voice. “You did everything right.”
“I’m sorry I didn’t save one for you, Mom,” said Lizzie. It was a few minutes before Elaine could answer. Then she looked into Lizzie’s wide brown eyes. “Sweet girl, I don’t need one of your “little suns”. You see, I already have one. Granny Em would be proud. She’ll be very happy when her balloon arrives.”Then she kissed her small daughter tenderly on the forehead. “C’mon,” she said, “let’s have some ice cream, okay?” “Okay!” said Lizzie, brightening. Elaine stood up, holding tightly to her own little sun, this daughter who gave her so much light. She thought of the last balloon, then. In her mind’s eye, it was floating in the azure sky, on its way to Granny Em. And God....
