Little balloon and Big balloon lived on different sides of the track. Little belonged to a simple balloon seller with a small cart, who sold his wares to the few children passing by. They didn't make much money but were happy. Big belonged to a big shopkeeper who sold balloons, toys, collectibles, and many other exciting things to children and adults alike. Little and Big met by accident for sure; nothing but chance could have brought them together in the middle of the tracks one day. They didn't know each other, had never heard of the other, in fact. Wary, the balloons floated around each other for a bit. "You're shaped funny and have a little dent", said Big to Little. "You're shaped funny too. And have a little dent in the same place", replied Little. "Our dents match!", they exclaimed, surprised.
And so Little and Big started meeting more often. Less on Big's side and mostly on Little's side. Big explained to Little, "my owner, he is a very strict man. He loves me but worries about my flyaway nature. You had best not meet him." Little agreed, Big's owner sounded like an awfully strict man and Little was scared of strict men. So she would hang out outside Big's shop till he saw her, and quietly signal him to meet her outside and away they would fly again. They were full of life, beautiful, happy, and free. Big would fly alongside Little all day and never grow bored; neither would Little. Funny shaped and dented both, they found out they were even coloured alike, cut from the same rubber sheet and filled with the same dreams as each other. And so they soared.
One day Big's owner finally saw him flying around with Little. What on earth was Big thinking, flying from someone from the other side of the tracks? What would their customers think of them, what if they lost sales?! Big's owner had to put a stop to this immediately and for good. Off he went in search of the perfect shiny long cylindrical balloon to tie Big to. And he found It! It was Pink and pretty and very expensive too. His friend from the next shop sold it to him for a bargain though, so he took it and called Big home to tie him to it.
Big didn't like the idea; how would he ever fly with Little again if he was tied to Pink? He was miserable and lost air over it, but what could he do? He couldn't leave his shop or his owner or his side of the tracks, this was his life and he liked it here. He was the very first balloon in the shop and dreamed of someday being it's mascot even. This was his dream and priority. So he went and saw Little and told her the news. "Little, I love flying with you very much, but i have to go and get tied to Pink now".
Little grew littler, deflating. Big felt pity for her and said, "don't worry Little, I'll still wave hi whenever I see you from the other side of the tracks. You are my best friend!" On hearing that, Little felt like a pin had pricked her and she deflated rapidly, flying far away to her side and hiding. For Little had other dreams - of flying with Big forever and ever. But Big had other priorities, so he went to his owner and was tied to pretty Pink. "I look nice!", thought Big, looking at his picture with Pink. So he put it up on a big banner outside the shop, so big that everyone could see it. Including Little. Poor Little, who was desperately trying to pour life and precious air back into herself, felt another pinprick go through her. "Please God, let this stop", she prayed as she stayed close to her owner hoping the pricking would stop. But Big, silly oblivious Big, waved to her from across the tracks sometimes, said hi sometimes, and Little would forget everything and want to fly with him again like old times - until she saw Pink tied to him and felt the pinpricks again.
Because Little was not Pink. She never could be. She was just a loose end from the wrong place. And when she finally realised that, she stopped waving back and blew away.
And so Little and Big started meeting more often. Less on Big's side and mostly on Little's side. Big explained to Little, "my owner, he is a very strict man. He loves me but worries about my flyaway nature. You had best not meet him." Little agreed, Big's owner sounded like an awfully strict man and Little was scared of strict men. So she would hang out outside Big's shop till he saw her, and quietly signal him to meet her outside and away they would fly again. They were full of life, beautiful, happy, and free. Big would fly alongside Little all day and never grow bored; neither would Little. Funny shaped and dented both, they found out they were even coloured alike, cut from the same rubber sheet and filled with the same dreams as each other. And so they soared.
One day Big's owner finally saw him flying around with Little. What on earth was Big thinking, flying from someone from the other side of the tracks? What would their customers think of them, what if they lost sales?! Big's owner had to put a stop to this immediately and for good. Off he went in search of the perfect shiny long cylindrical balloon to tie Big to. And he found It! It was Pink and pretty and very expensive too. His friend from the next shop sold it to him for a bargain though, so he took it and called Big home to tie him to it.
Big didn't like the idea; how would he ever fly with Little again if he was tied to Pink? He was miserable and lost air over it, but what could he do? He couldn't leave his shop or his owner or his side of the tracks, this was his life and he liked it here. He was the very first balloon in the shop and dreamed of someday being it's mascot even. This was his dream and priority. So he went and saw Little and told her the news. "Little, I love flying with you very much, but i have to go and get tied to Pink now".
Little grew littler, deflating. Big felt pity for her and said, "don't worry Little, I'll still wave hi whenever I see you from the other side of the tracks. You are my best friend!" On hearing that, Little felt like a pin had pricked her and she deflated rapidly, flying far away to her side and hiding. For Little had other dreams - of flying with Big forever and ever. But Big had other priorities, so he went to his owner and was tied to pretty Pink. "I look nice!", thought Big, looking at his picture with Pink. So he put it up on a big banner outside the shop, so big that everyone could see it. Including Little. Poor Little, who was desperately trying to pour life and precious air back into herself, felt another pinprick go through her. "Please God, let this stop", she prayed as she stayed close to her owner hoping the pricking would stop. But Big, silly oblivious Big, waved to her from across the tracks sometimes, said hi sometimes, and Little would forget everything and want to fly with him again like old times - until she saw Pink tied to him and felt the pinpricks again.
Because Little was not Pink. She never could be. She was just a loose end from the wrong place. And when she finally realised that, she stopped waving back and blew away.
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