BALLOONS
by Abbie Farwell Brown
Where Do Balloons Go?
Where do balloons go when they fly away?
I want to know. Where do they go? Do they fly far, far away? The little balloons fly up high. They go over the tall, green trees. They go into the big, blue sky. They float on the wind. They dance with the clouds. They spin and twirl. They look so small.
Do they fly to a beautiful land? I think they do. It is a happy place. It is a land in the sky. The sun always shines there. The sky is always blue. The clouds are soft and white. Friendly little spirits live there. They watch and wait. They see the balloons come. They cry out with happy sounds. They stretch their hands out to catch them.
The spirits play with the pretty balloons. They fly on little wings. The balloons bob up and down. They bob just like they did here. They are bright and shiny. They are full of joy. The spirits laugh. They hold the strings. They have a big party.
The balloons never come back. They do not tell us a story. So we do not know what happens. It is a secret. A happy secret.
But if they stay in that happy land... the sun always shines there. The sky is always blue. The clouds are soft and white. The spirits are always kind. Then I understand why they fly away. They go to a wonderful place. They go to play forever.
I will not cry when my balloon goes. I will smile. I will think of the happy land. I will think of the friendly spirits. I will think of my balloon. It plays in the sun. It is happy there. Maybe you can smile too.
Original Story
BALLOONS
Where do they go,
I want to know,
The little balloons which fly, and fly,
Over the trees and up so high
Into the sky?
Do they sail as far as Heaven’s gate,
Where chubby cherubs watch and wait,
Who stretch out their hands with an eager cry
As the little balloons come floating by?
Do the cherubs play with the pretty things,
Flitting about on their baby wings,
While the little balloons bob to and fro,
Just as they did in the world below?
They never come back the tale to tell,
So no one knows what each befell.
But if they can stay
In that Land for aye,
Where the sun ever shines and the sky is blue,
I do not blame them for longing to fly
Over the trees and up so high;
And when mine goes I will not boo-hoo,—
Will you?
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THE GREEN CAP
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Characters
The Narrator (Child) ★ protagonist
A small child, likely of average height and build for their age, with the typical innocence and curiosity of youth. Their features are soft and unblemished, reflecting a tender age.
Attire: Simple, comfortable clothing typical of a child in the early 20th century, perhaps a cotton dress or a shirt and shorts, in muted colors, allowing for freedom of movement during play.
Wants: To understand the fate of lost balloons and to reconcile with the idea of loss through imagination.
Flaw: A tendency towards wistfulness and a slight vulnerability to the unknown.
Starts with a question about loss and ends with a philosophical acceptance and understanding, transforming potential sadness into a hopeful perspective.
Curious, imaginative, thoughtful, accepting, slightly melancholic.
Chubby Cherubs ◆ supporting
Small, plump, and ethereal beings, with soft, rounded limbs and a generally soft, cloud-like appearance. They are depicted as having a youthful, innocent form.
Attire: No clothing, or perhaps a simple, flowing sash or drapery of light, ethereal fabric, suggesting purity and heavenly origin.
Wants: To receive and play with the balloons that float up to their realm.
Flaw: None explicitly stated, but their innocence might imply a lack of worldly understanding.
They remain consistent throughout the narrative, serving as a static, hopeful image of what happens to the balloons.
Eager, playful, innocent, welcoming, joyful.
Little Balloons ○ minor
Spherical or ovoid objects, varying in size, made of thin, brightly colored material (rubber or latex) inflated with gas, with a string or ribbon attached to their base.
Attire: No clothing, but their 'skin' is their color and pattern.
Wants: To fly high and stay in a beautiful, sunny place.
Flaw: Fragile, easily lost, and unable to return or communicate their fate.
They transition from being earthly playthings to ethereal travelers, finding a new, imagined purpose in 'Heaven's gate'.
Implied as having a desire for freedom and a preference for a joyful, sunny existence.
Locations
The World Below
A terrestrial landscape with trees, from which balloons ascend into the sky.
Mood: Normal, everyday, perhaps a bit wistful as balloons depart.
The starting point for the balloons' journey, where they are released.
Heaven's Gate
A celestial entrance, possibly a gate or threshold, where cherubs await.
Mood: Joyful, welcoming, ethereal, magical.
The imagined destination for the balloons, where they are greeted by cherubs.
The Land for Aye (Heaven)
A perpetual celestial realm where the sun always shines and the sky is always blue.
Mood: Blissful, eternal, playful, serene.
The ultimate, joyful resting place for the balloons, where they play with cherubs.
Story DNA
Plot Summary
A child narrator wonders where balloons go when they fly away. They imagine the balloons soaring to Heaven's gate, where cherubs eagerly play with them. Acknowledging that no one truly knows their fate, the narrator concludes that if the balloons find a beautiful, sunny 'Land,' they are right to fly. The narrator then resolves not to cry when their own balloon departs, asking the reader if they share this sentiment.
Themes
Emotional Arc
curiosity to acceptance
Writing Style
Narrative Elements
Cultural Context
Reflects a common childhood wonder and a gentle, innocent view of the afterlife prevalent in early 20th-century children's literature.
Plot Beats (8)
- The narrator expresses curiosity about where lost balloons go.
- The narrator imagines balloons flying high over trees and into the sky.
- The narrator speculates if they reach Heaven's gate.
- The narrator pictures chubby cherubs eagerly reaching for the balloons.
- The narrator envisions cherubs playing with the balloons, which bob as they did on Earth.
- The narrator notes that balloons never return to tell their tale, so their fate remains unknown.
- The narrator concludes that if balloons can stay in a perpetually sunny, blue-skied 'Land', they are justified in flying away.
- The narrator decides they will not cry when their own balloon flies away, and asks the reader if they will follow suit.
