It was the first time that I had ever hated the sound of my own name. "Tommy, you're up," the coach had yelled down from the entrance of the dugout. I was sitting on the end of the bench next to my ... [+]
Rebecca van den Ham's poem, "The Balloon Lady," is in Short Circuit #03, Short Édition's quarterly review. Rebecca writes for children and teens. She loves butterflies and vintage clothing and lives with her family in Southern California.
I was sad, oh so sad, All alone in my pain. Thankfully that was when The Balloon Lady came. I had hung my head down And let out a groan, When I saw a foot standing Right next to my own. I looked up and saw, To my great surprise, A friendly-faced lady In front of my eyes. "Would you like a balloon? I've got some with me, Right here in my wallet. Hold on, let me see..." And she held out to me Three balloons: red, green, blue. I took happy red. Wouldn't you choose red, too? Then, "Thank you," I said As I looked up to stare At that friendly-eyed face With the blond curly hair. The Balloon