Bill’s nephew Tommy had a birthday coming up.  Tommy was such a wonderful, inquisitive, and boy with a mind full of dreams and tablet adorned with the scribbles of great thoughts and inventions.  He also liked balloons.  Big balloons, small balloons, oddly shaped balloons.  It did not matter.  He had a fascination towards all balloons because as balloons lifted in the air, his spirit soared with them.

Knowing this, Bill decided to get Tommy a balloon for his birthday.  He went to the local park where he knew there would be sellers of all things balloony.   He had already decided that Tommy really needed a red balloon and Bill would settle for nothing less. 

He first encountered Benny, the purveyor of blue balloons.  Hearing Bill’s story, he offered him a big blue balloon to give to Tommy.  But blue is not red, and Bill sadly turned down the beautiful blue balloon that Benny offered.

Next, Bill encountered Gretta, the gracious seller of green balloon of all shapes and sized.  Hearing Bill’s story, she offered Bill a gorgeous green balloon in the shape of a gorilla.  But the balloon was not red.  So, once again, Bill turned down the offer.

A little later, Bill came across Yolanda, the yodeler, a vendor for yellow balloons.  Hearing Bill’s story, she let out a yodel and offered him a yellow balloon to give to Tommy.  But, alas, the balloon was not red, and Bill sadly turned away.  He was very, very sad that he would have to tell Tommy that he had been unable to find him  a balloon for his birthday.

On his way back home, he was surprised when Benny, the blue balloon salesman stopped him.  “I only sell blue balloon, Bill, because blue balloon as the best.  But I also know that you do not want to disappoint Tommy on his birthdays, so I bought you a red balloon to take to him.  It is certainly not the same as a beautiful blue balloon, but it will make him happy, it is my pleasure to offer you this red balloon.” 

With that said, Benny tied the string for the red balloon to Bill’s arm and went on his way selling of the blue balloons that he believed to be much better.  Bill realized that his focus on giving Tommy a red balloon had almost cost Tommy from getting any balloon at all.

Rev Walt