the forgotten balloon

the little girl who stood nearly 4 feet tall, with strawberry blonde braids cascading down her back and rain boots pulled up to her knees, jumped in every puddle on her way home from school. she looked up from her splashing and saw a red balloon floating just around the corner. she was enchanted by the vibrant color on the dreary day. she started to run, chasing after it until she stood right behind the little boy clutching the string. she tapped him on the shoulder and smiled her gap tooth smile then without ever saying anything the boy tied the string around her left wrist, smiling the whole time. they parted ways, a broad grin spread across her face because she'd never felt so happy before. this red balloon was everything beautiful and wonderful in the world. for weeks and weeks she kept the lovely balloon tied in a bow around her wrist, just where the boy had left it.

until one sunny day, as she was strolling through the park, a new boy held his balloon, a bright yellow one that matched the sun, he smiled with his dimples and his eyes as he looked up at the balloon. all of a sudden, the red balloon on her wrist was inadequate. it wasn't her sun, moon, and stars anymore. it was the sunny balloon that caught her fancy, and that was the balloon she needed now. she slowly untied that red balloon never sparing it a second glance. as she untied she walked towards the boy and tapped him on the shoulder, flashing her winning smile, and the boy forgot about the adoration he felt toward the balloon because in that instant he only adored her. he handed her the balloon, and they both went on their merry ways, as the red balloon flew away, slowly growing smaller and smaller.

we think, "oh the silly children, won't they ever learn to be happy with what they have" but it never really changes for anyone, does it?