“Okay, class, listen up. It’s time for our Friday afternoon experiment,” Mrs. Sullivan announced. She took three boxes down from a shelf and handed them to the students in the front row. “Everyone, please take one item from each box and pass them along.”
As the boxes went around the room, we selected a slip of paper, a three-foot length of string, and a balloon. I noticed a large tank of helium in the corner of the room and wondered what kind of experiment we were going to do that involved helium balloons.
When we all had our supplies, Mrs. Sullivan said, “What I want you to do is think of the biggest problem troubling you right now. If you’re worried about the spelling test on Monday, or if you had a fight with your mother, write it down. Whatever is bothering you the most. Okay?” She smiled and waited while we gave the assignment some thought.
My problem was easy enough to think of, but much harder to solve. I liked Susie Watkins and I wanted her to like me too, but how could I put that on the slip? Did Mrs. Sullivan intend to read it?
“You don’t have to worry about being honest. No one will see these but you,” Mrs. Sullivan added, as we stared at the blank sheets.
That clinched it. I wrote, “I want Susie Watkins to like me and let me walk her home.” With a flourish, I signed my name, Timothy Trotter.
Once we had finished writing, we took turns filling our balloons with helium and attached the slip of paper with the string. “Okay, class, let’s bring the experiment outside. Follow me.”
We filed out into the sunshine and waited for our next instruction.
“Now, I want you to concentrate on your problem for a moment. When you’ve got a good picture of it in your mind, I want you to let go of your balloon and watch your worries fly away.”
I focused all my attention on Susie’s blond pigtails and then let go of the string. A bright red sphere joined the others in a kaleidoscope of colorful balloons.
When they were nothing but dots in the sky, Mrs. Sullivan said, “Please pay close attention this week to see if your troubles float away like the balloons.” The balloons all vanished from sight, and we went back to the classroom.
By the following Friday I had completely forgotten about the balloon experiment. It was Valentine’s Day, and I was wondering if Susie already had someone to walk her home that day. As I climbed the steps to the school, I overheard a conversation that made my heart stop.
“Susie Watkins found one of those balloons yesterday—a red one. It must have popped in midair, and then blew into her yard.” Two girls whispered, heads close, as they entered the building. Blood rushed to my head, the noise blocking all other sounds around me, and I started to sweat.
A red one? Oh, no! What if it was mine? I could hardly sit still in class thinking of all the awful things that could happen to me. Had Susie told her friends about my secret wish? Were they making fun of me now? And how could I ever find out the truth without giving myself away?
At lunch I sat as close as possible to Susie’s table. I tried to listen to every word she said, but the other kids were making such a racket that I couldn’t hear much. Once I thought I heard the word “red” but nothing else about the balloon.
During our weekly Friday afternoon experiment, we examined models of the human heart, in honor of Valentine’s Day. I kept sneaking peeks at Susie as my partner and I examined the atria and ventricles of the heart. She laughed a lot, but I still didn’t find out what I needed to know.
Finally, completely frustrated and convinced that I couldn’t be any more embarrassed than I already was, I decided I had do something. As we packed up our books to leave, I walked over to where Susie stood with her friends. “Susie, I heard that a red balloon landed in your yard yesterday. Was it one from our class?” I asked.
“I don’t know. It didn’t have a tag attached.” Her green eyes sparkled mischievously.
A wave of relief filled my body. Before I could change my mind, I quickly asked, “Can I walk you home?”
Susie giggled and handed me her books. “Sure, Timothy.”
Wow! The balloon experiment had worked its magic.
~The End~
Illustration Copyright © 2009 Aja Wells
Copyright © 2009 by Alice Berger