CARLY'S BALLOON

by

CQB

  Chapter 2

THE CHAPTERS

INTRO

CHAPTER 1

CHAPTER 2

“I can’t believe we’ve been to three different stores and we can’t find one red helium balloon anywhere!” Joe complained as he pulled the van out of the shopping center parking lot.  

“Wait,” Frank cried suddenly.  “There’s a party supply store in Rye .  That’s less than thirty minutes away.”  

“We’d better hustle,” Vanessa said, glancing at her watch.  “It might close early on Thanksgiving eve.”  

* * *

“I don’t believe it!  They’re closed,” Callie whined as they hurried to the door of the shop.  

“Someone is still inside,” Joe said, tapping on the glass door.  

“We’re closed,” a woman said from inside.  

“Ma’am, we came all the way from Bayport to find a red helium balloon for a special little girl,” Joe Hardy turned on the charm. “Won’t you please help us?”  

The woman looked at Joe and smiled.  “I’ll bet that look let’s you get away with murder at home.”  She shook her head, but unlocked the door.  

“Just one red helium balloon?”  

“Yes,” the younger Hardy boy replied, pulling a few crumbled dollar bills from his pocket.  

“Tell me about this special young lady,” the woman said, as she pulled a red balloon from the drawer and placed it on the nozzle of the helium tank.  

Vanessa offered a brief description of Carly and the recent loss of her father before the balloon was even full.  

The woman secured the end and added a bright rainbow ribbon to hold.   

“How much?” Joe asked, trying in vain to flatten out the wrinkled dollar bills.  

“Keep you money, Prince Charming,” the woman smiled at the blond boy.  “This one is on me.”  

* * *

Vivian Porter and her daughter greeted the teenagers at the door.  Carly’s face lit up at the sight of the red balloon Joe was holding.  

“Red. Red balloon.  Up, up!”  

Joe smiled and bobbed the balloon up and down for the little girl.  He reached over and placed the rainbow ribbon in Carly’s hand.  

She danced around squealing with glee and making the balloon bounce above her head.  

Carly suddenly stopped and ran to the door.  She looked at her mother and pounded lightly against it.  

“Out.  Outside.”  

“Honey, it’s too late,” Vivian said.  

Carly’s eyes welled with tears.  “Out. Out.  Red balloon out!”  

Smiling, Vivian gave in to the child’s cry.  “Okay, but only for a little while.  It gets dark early this time of year.”  

Vivian helped the girl put on her sweater and she led her daughter outside, followed by the four teenagers.  

Carly ran into the yard, the red balloon bouncing behind her.  The others followed, enjoying the little girl’s simple pleasure in the balloon.  

Suddenly, to everyone’s dismay, the balloon slipped from Carly’s hand and began floating out of reach.  

Both Joe and Frank ran desperately toward the balloon as it sailed higher and higher across the yard.  Even though it was out of reach, Joe made one last leap toward the trailing rainbow ribbon.   

Joe felt the tips of his fingers brush the curling ribbon, but he couldn’t get a hold.  He fell hard to the ground.  More than the pain he felt in his ribs and arm, Joe’s heart hurt for little Carly.  

Frank helped Joe to his feet and the brothers exchanged a sorrowful look.  They turned back toward Carly, Mrs. Porter and the girls.  

To their amazement, Carly was laughing and jumping with joy.  The brothers hurried to rejoin the group.  

“Red balloon.  Up, up!” Carly cried with glee.  

“I don’t understand,” Joe said, moving to stand next to Vanessa.  

“Maybe she just wanted to watch it go up?” Callie suggested.  

“Up.  Red balloon up,” Carly kept saying.  “Up to Daddy.  Up, up.  Up to Daddy.”  

Vivian felt tears fill her eyes.  She knelt in front of Carly.  The child beamed a radiant smile at her.  She hugged the little girl.  

“Daddy will love the balloon, Carly,” Vivian said, looking up at the red dot in the sky.  Her gaze then fell to the four bewildered teenagers.  

“When Mark died, I told Carly that her daddy had gone to live with Jesus in Heaven, way up in the sky,” she explained as she stood to her feet and faced the teens.  

"My husband’s favorite color was red. I’m amazed that Carly remembered that, but obviously she did.”  

“Wow,” Joe said softly, glancing at the little girl that was now occupied with kicking a pile of fallen leaves.  “She didn’t want it for herself; she wanted it for her dad.”  

“I’m sorry you had to go to all that effort just to see the balloon let go,” Vivian apologized.  

Frank locked eyes with his brother, then the two girls.  He knew they’d agree with how he was feeling.  “Mrs. Porter, I think I speak for us all when I say it was worth it.”  

“I’m just thankful that we found a balloon for Carly,” Vanessa smiled.  She took Joe’s hand and gave it a squeeze.  

Joe raised his eyebrows in question as he noticed the twinkle in Vanessa’s gray eyes.  

“Didn’t I tell you that you’d enjoy yourself today?”  

Joe returned Vanessa’s smile.  “You were right, Babe.  This has been awesome.”  

“Yeah!” Carly cheered, tossing a handful of leaves on the couple.  Joe and Vanessa laughed and tossed leaves back.   

Vivian, Frank and Callie laughed at the antics of Carly and the two teenagers.  

Vivian looked at Frank and Callie.  “You all have helped make this a very special Thanksgiving for us.  Thank you very much!”  

The End

*This Thanksgiving, while you enjoy time with family & friends, try to find someone less fortunate and do something special for them*  

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