CARLY'S BALLOON

by

CQB

  Chapter 1

THE CHAPTERS

INTRO

CHAPTER 1

CHAPTER 2

“You’ll enjoy this, Joe,” promised Vanessa Bender.  The tall, ash-blond girl’s gray eyes sparkled with excitement as she grabbed her boyfriend’s hand.  

Joe Hardy couldn’t help but smile.  Vanessa had asked him, his older brother Frank, and Frank’s girlfriend, Callie, to help her deliver Thanksgiving baskets to some families in their hometown of Bayport.  Vanessa volunteered some of her free time to an after school program run by Bayport’s Social Services office. This Thanksgiving, all the families chosen to receive the food had fallen on hard times during the previous year.  

Joe glanced at the list in his hand.  The Myers family had lost their house in a fire and was working hard to rebuild before Christmas; Mr. Evans had lost his job and the family was struggling to make ends meet; Mrs. Porter’s husband had passed away unexpectedly and she was left to raise their mentally challenged daughter by herself.  

‘Man,’ the seventeen year old pondered, ‘this is only three names.  I know there were at least five more lists like ours.’  Joe shook his head and suddenly felt very grateful for his family and home.  

“That our list?” Frank Hardy asked, peering over his younger brother’s shoulder.  

“Yes,” Joe replied, giving Frank a quick smile.  “Let’s get going.”  The four teenagers climbed into the Hardy’s black van and headed for the apartment the Myers family was temporarily calling ‘home’.  

* * *

“Did you see how excited the Myers’ twins were when they saw that big turkey?” Callie Shaw smiled.  She felt good to be helping these families.  

“I thought Bobby’s eyes were going to pop right out of his head,” Frank added as he turned the van towards the Evans’ modest home on the outskirts of town.  

“There’s the house,” Vanessa called out fifteen minutes later.  

Frank parked the van behind a late model Ford.  Two small boys were tossing a football back and forth in the front yard.  

Marcy Evans saw the unfamiliar vehicle pull into her driveway.  She quickly pulled on her sweater and went out on the porch.  

Frank carried the large basket and Joe carried a big, fresh turkey toward the porch.  

“What is this?” Marcy demanded.  “We don’t take charity.”  

Vanessa approached the woman.  “We know that, Mrs. Evans,” she began diplomatically, “but this isn’t charity.  It’s simply a gift from the people of Bayport.  Someday, when your family is back on your feet, you’ll be able to do the same for someone else.”  

“What a woman,” Joe whispered, admiring the way Vanessa handled the situation.  

Marcy looked at the basket and then at her two boys in the yard.  “Well, since it isn’t charity…bring it inside.”  

* * *

As they reached the home of their third and final delivery, the teenagers noticed a tall, thin woman in the yard.  She was pushing a girl with strawberry blonde hair in a specially built swing.  

“Hi Mrs. Porter,” Joe called out, approaching the pair.  He carried the basket this time, while Frank carried the turkey.  

The teenagers knew Vivian Porter from church and the woman smiled as she recognized the group.  

“Hi,” the girl in the swing called out, waving to the four teens.  

Vivian smiled at her daughter, and then turned to face the young people.  

“Oh my!” she cried, “What am I supposed to do with all this food!”  

“Eat! Eat!” cried Carly from her swing.  The group chuckled at her obvious response.  The 10-year-old had Down’s Syndrome as well as a serious heart condition.  

“We’ll carry these inside for you if you’ll direct us, Mrs. Porter,” Frank said, lifting the turkey slightly.  

Vivian looked at her daughter.   

Sensing her reluctance, Vanessa spoke up.  “Callie and I will stay here with Carly.  We’ll just push her in the swing until you come back.”  

“Okay,” Vivian replied.  She quickly led the boys into her small home.  

“Swing! Swing high!” Carly sang out, as Callie gently pushed her.  

“Up, up high,” Carly said, pointing to the clear, November sky.  

It was only minutes later when the boys and Mrs. Porter returned to the yard.  

Joe smiled at the ten-year-old in the swing.  “What do you want Santa Claus to bring you for Christmas, Carly?”  

“Balloon!  Red Balloon!” Carly cried out, a smile on her face.  

Vivian shrugged.  “That’s what she’s been asking for lately.  I’m not sure why.  

“I bought a bag of balloons at the grocery store and blew up the red one, but she wasn’t interested in it.  I’m not sure what she wants.”  

Joe knelt near the still swing and looked into Carly’s blue eyes.  “You want a red balloon, Carly?”  

“Red.  Red balloon,” the girl grinned at Joe.  “Up, up high balloon.”  

“A hot air balloon?” Callie ventured.  

“Helium!” Frank smiled.   

“Of course,” Joe agreed.  “A helium balloon bobs up and down!”  

“It’s not too late,” Vanessa said, “we can go and get one for Carly!”  

“Oh, you don’t need to do that,” Vivian protested.  “I’ll get one later. Its Thanksgiving eve; you need to get home to your own families.”  

“Balloon.  Red balloon.  Up, up,” Carly chanted.  

“Please, Mrs. Porter,” Joe implored, “we’d like to do this for Carly.”  

Vivian smiled at the blond boy, then the rest of the teenagers.  “Okay.  How can I say no to you kids?”

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