What Six Girls with Balloons Told The
by Carl Sandburg · from Rootabaga Stories
Adapted Version
A man rode a horse. He was very sad. His face was gray. The Sad Man came to a new village. He rode his gray horse. He came a very long way. He looked very sad. His eyes were deep and sad.
He saw six girls. Each girl had yellow hair. They had six long braids. Each braid had a balloon. The balloons were red, blue, and green. A soft blue wind blew. The balloons moved up and down. They swayed in the wind.
The Sad Man saw the balloons. His eyes looked brighter. He felt a little hope. He stopped his gray horse. He wanted to talk to the girls. He was curious to know more.
"Where are you going?" he asked them. The Six Girls spoke together. "We go back where we came from," they said. "Then we go straight ahead. We see what we can see." Their many balloons moved.
The Sad Man felt less sad. His mouth made a small smile. His eyes were bright now. He asked them, "Tell me, why are balloons?"
The first girl spoke. She looked at her balloons. "Balloons are wishes," she said. "The wind makes them for us."
The second girl spoke. "Balloons were tired flowers," she said. "Flowers got tired. They became balloons. Balloons fly high in the air."
The third girl spoke. "Balloons are foam," she said. "Wind takes foam from river water. Then it is a balloon. It flies away."
The fourth girl spoke. "Balloons make us look up," she said. "They help our necks. We look up, up, up at the sky."
The fifth girl spoke. "Balloons come from trees," she said. "Look for orange balloons. Look for apple balloons. They are fruit balloons from the orchard."
The sixth girl spoke. "Balloons run from fire," she said. "They are very light. They run away fast. Fire makes them light."
The Sad Man listened to them. His face was happy now. He smiled a big smile. He smiled two times. His eyes were full of light and joy.
He said goodbye to the girls. He rode his horse away. He looked up at the sky. He laughed a long, happy laugh. He was not sad now. He was very happy.
The Six Girls talked. "He is a nice man," one said. "Is he our uncle?" another asked. "We will ask him next time. We will ask him about balloons."
Original Story
What Six Girls with Balloons Told the
Gray Man on Horseback
Once there came riding across the Rootabaga Country a Gray Man on Horseback. He looked as if he had come a long ways. He looked like a brother to the same Gray Man on Horseback who said he had seen the White Horse Girl and the Blue Wind Boy.
He stopped in the Village of Cream Puffs. His gray face was sad and his eyes were gray deep and sad. He spoke short and seemed strong. Sometimes his eyes looked as if they were going to flash, but instead of fire they filled with shadows.
Yet—he did laugh once. It did happen once he lifted his head and face to the sky and let loose a long ripple of laughs.
On Main Street near the Roundhouse of the Big Spool, where they wind up the string that pulls the light little town back when the wind blows it away, there he was riding slow on his gray horse when he met six girls with six fine braids of yellow hair and six balloons apiece. That is, each and every one of the six girls had six fine long braids of yellow hair and each braid of hair had a balloon tied on the end. A little blue wind was blowing and the many balloons tied to the braids of the six girls swung up and down and slow and fast whenever the blue wind went up and down and slow and fast.
For the first time since he had been in the Village, the eyes of the Gray Man filled with lights and his face began to look hopeful. He stopped his horse when he came even with the six girls and the balloons floating from the braids of yellow hair.
“Where you going?” he asked.
“Who—hoo-hoo? Who—who—who?” the six girls cheeped out.
“All six of you and your balloons, where you going?”
“Oh, hoo-hoo-hoo, back where we came from,” and they all turned their heads back and forth and sideways, which of course turned all the balloons back and forth and sideways because the balloons were fastened to the fine braids of hair which were fastened to their heads.
“And where do you go when you get back where you came from?” he asked just to be asking.
“Oh, hoo-hoo-hoo, then we start out and go straight ahead and see what we can see,” they all answered just to be answering and they dipped their heads and swung them up which of course dipped all the balloons and swung them up.
So they talked, he asking just to be asking and the six balloon girls answering just to be answering.
At last his sad mouth broke into a smile and his eyes were lit like a morning sun coming up over harvest fields. And he said to them, “Tell me why are balloons—that is what I want you to tell me—why are balloons?”
The first little girl put her thumb under her chin, looked up at her six balloons floating in the little blue wind over her head, and said: “Balloons are wishes. The wind made them. The west wind makes the red balloons. The south wind makes the blue. The yellow and green balloons come from the east wind and the north wind.”
The second little girl put her first finger next to her nose, looked up at her six balloons dipping up and down like hill flowers in a small wind, and said:
“A balloon used to be a flower. It got tired. Then it changed itself to a balloon. I listened one time to a yellow balloon. It was talking to itself like people talk. It said, ‘I used to be a yellow pumpkin flower stuck down close to the ground, now I am a yellow balloon high up in the air where nobody can walk on me and I can see everything.’”
The third little girl held both of her ears like she was afraid they would wiggle while she slid with a skip, turned quick, and looking up at her balloons, spoke these words:
“A balloon is foam. It comes the same as soap bubbles come. A long time ago it used to be sliding along on water, river water, ocean water, waterfall water, falling and falling over a rocky waterfall, any water you want. The wind saw the bubble and picked it up and carried it away, telling it, ‘Now you’re a balloon—come along and see the world.’”
The fourth little girl jumped straight into the air so all six of her balloons made a jump like they were going to get loose and go to the sky—and when the little girl came down from her jump and was standing on her two feet with her head turned looking up at the six balloons, she spoke the shortest answer of all, saying:
“Balloons are to make us look up. They help our necks.”
The fifth little girl stood first on one foot, then another, bent her head down to her knees and looked at her toes, then swinging straight up and looking at the flying spotted yellow and red and green balloons, she said:
“Balloons come from orchards. Look for trees where half is oranges and half is orange balloons. Look for apple trees where half is red pippins and half is red pippin balloons. Look for watermelons too. A long green balloon with white and yellow belly stripes is a ghost. It came from a watermelon said good-by.”
The sixth girl, the last one, kicked the heel of her left foot with the toe of her right foot, put her thumbs under her ears and wiggled all her fingers, then stopped all her kicking and wiggling, and stood looking up at her balloons all quiet because the wind had gone down—and she murmured like she was thinking to herself:
“Balloons come from fire chasers. Every balloon has a fire chaser chasing it. All the fire chasers are made terrible quick and when they come they burn quick, so the balloon is made light so it can run away terrible quick. Balloons slip away from fire. If they don’t they can’t be balloons. Running away from fire keeps them light.”
All the time he listened to the six girls the face of the Gray Man kept getting more hopeful. His eyes lit up. Twice he smiled. And after he said good-by and rode up the street, he lifted his head and face to the sky and let loose a long ripple of laughs.
He kept looking back when he left the Village and the last thing he saw was the six girls each with six balloons fastened to the six braids of yellow hair hanging down their backs.
The sixth little girl kicked the heel of her left foot with the toe of her right foot and said, “He is a nice man. I think he must be our uncle. If he comes again we shall all ask him to tell us where he thinks balloons come from.”
And the other five girls all answered, “Yes,” or “Yes, yes,” or “Yes, yes, yes,” real fast like a balloon with a fire chaser after it.
Story DNA
Plot Summary
A sad and weary Gray Man on Horseback rides into the whimsical Rootabaga Country. His spirits begin to lift when he encounters six girls, each with numerous balloons tied to their yellow braids, swaying in the wind. Intrigued by their playful answers to his questions, he asks them to explain 'why are balloons?' Each girl offers a unique and imaginative origin story for balloons, ranging from wishes and transformed flowers to foam, neck exercises, fruit, and fire chasers. Their collective wonder and creativity completely transform the Gray Man's mood, and he rides away laughing, his sadness replaced by joy.
Themes
Emotional Arc
melancholy to joy
Writing Style
Narrative Elements
Cultural Context
Carl Sandburg's Rootabaga Stories were created as American fairy tales, distinct from European traditions, often featuring surreal and playful elements reflecting American ingenuity and landscape.
Plot Beats (14)
- A sad Gray Man on Horseback, who has traveled far, arrives in the Village of Cream Puffs in Rootabaga Country.
- He encounters six girls, each with six braids of yellow hair, and six balloons tied to each braid, swaying in the blue wind.
- The sight of the girls and their balloons sparks hope in the Gray Man's eyes, and he stops to speak with them.
- He asks the girls where they are going, and they give playful, circular answers about going back where they came from and then seeing what they can see.
- The Gray Man's sadness begins to lift, and he asks the girls to explain 'why are balloons?'
- The first girl says balloons are wishes made by the winds.
- The second girl says balloons are tired flowers that transformed to see the world from above.
- The third girl says balloons are foam bubbles picked up by the wind from water.
- The fourth girl says balloons are to make people look up and help their necks.
- The fifth girl says balloons come from orchards, like transformed oranges, apples, and watermelons.
- The sixth girl says balloons come from fire chasers, and they are light to run away from fire.
- Throughout their explanations, the Gray Man's face becomes increasingly hopeful, and he smiles twice.
- After saying goodbye, the Gray Man rides away, lifting his head and letting out a long ripple of laughs, completely transformed from his initial sadness.
- The girls discuss the Gray Man, wondering if he is their uncle and planning to ask him his own theory about balloons if he returns.
Characters
Gray Man on Horseback ★ protagonist
A man of indeterminate height and build, but with a weary, travel-worn appearance. His face is described as 'gray' and 'sad', implying a pale, perhaps ashen complexion, possibly from long journeys or a melancholic disposition. He seems strong despite his sadness.
Attire: Not explicitly detailed, but implied to be practical and durable for travel, consistent with a man on horseback in the Rootabaga Country. Likely muted colors, perhaps grays or browns, made of sturdy fabrics like wool or canvas.
Wants: To find meaning or joy, to understand the world around him, perhaps to escape his own sadness.
Flaw: His pervasive sadness and melancholy, which he carries like a heavy burden.
Transforms from a deeply sad and shadowed individual to one filled with hope and laughter, finding a momentary release from his melancholy through the innocent wisdom of the girls.
Melancholic, contemplative, observant, initially sad but becomes hopeful and joyful through interaction. He is curious and patient, listening intently to the girls.
Image Prompt & Upload
A middle-aged man with a pale, somewhat ashen complexion and a sad, contemplative expression. He has deep-set gray eyes. His hair is a muted, dark gray, short and practical. He wears a simple, gray wool tunic over dark trousers, and sturdy brown leather boots. He is seated on a gray horse, holding the reins loosely. His posture is upright but slightly weary. Plain white background, full body visible head to toe, single figure, no watermark, no text, no signature.
The Six Girls with Balloons ◆ supporting
Six identical young girls, each with six fine long braids of yellow hair. Their height and build are typical for children. They are lively and expressive in their movements.
Attire: Not explicitly detailed, but implied to be simple and appropriate for children in the whimsical Rootabaga Country. Likely bright, cheerful colors, perhaps simple dresses or smocks, made of light fabrics that allow for movement.
Wants: To explore, to play, to share their unique perspectives on the world, and to enjoy the simple magic of their balloons.
Flaw: Their youth and perhaps a lack of conventional understanding, though this is also their strength.
They remain consistent in their whimsical nature, serving as catalysts for the Gray Man's emotional transformation by sharing their unique, imaginative perspectives.
Innocent, whimsical, imaginative, playful, curious, and insightful in their own unique ways. They speak in a collective, almost bird-like manner ('Who—hoo-hoo?'), but each offers a distinct philosophical perspective.
Image Prompt & Upload
Six identical young girls, each with long, bright yellow hair styled into six distinct braids. To the end of each braid is tied a colorful, inflated balloon (blue, red, yellow, green). They wear simple, light blue linen dresses with short sleeves and white collars, and brown leather Mary Jane shoes. They are standing together, facing forward, with lively, curious expressions. One girl has her thumb under her chin, another her finger to her nose, another holding her ears, one mid-jump, one on one foot, and the last with her hands on her hips. Plain white background, full body visible head to toe, single figure, no watermark, no text, no signature.
Locations
Village of Cream Puffs
A whimsical village in the Rootabaga Country, implied to be light and airy, perhaps with structures resembling cream puffs or made of light materials. The wind can blow the town away, suggesting a fantastical, light construction.
Mood: Whimsical, light-hearted, slightly surreal, with an underlying sense of fragility.
The Gray Man on Horseback arrives here, and later encounters the six girls with balloons.
Image Prompt & Upload
A fantastical village constructed from light, airy materials, perhaps resembling giant cream puffs or spun sugar, with whimsical, rounded architecture. A wide, clean Main Street runs through the center, leading towards a unique 'Roundhouse of the Big Spool' which is a large, circular building with a giant spool of string visible. A gentle blue wind subtly rustles through the village, and the sky is a soft, clear blue with a few wispy clouds. The overall impression is one of delicate charm and lightheartedness. no border, no frame, no watermark, no text, no signature, edge-to-edge illustration.
Main Street near the Roundhouse of the Big Spool
The central thoroughfare of the Village of Cream Puffs, located close to the unique Roundhouse. It's wide enough for a horseman to ride slowly and for six girls with many balloons to walk. A 'little blue wind' is present, causing the balloons to sway.
Mood: Hopeful, whimsical, a place of unexpected encounters and lighthearted dialogue.
The Gray Man meets the six girls with balloons and engages in a conversation that lifts his spirits.
Image Prompt & Upload
A wide, clean Main Street in a fantastical village, paved with smooth, light-colored cobblestones. On one side, a whimsical 'Roundhouse of the Big Spool' stands, a large, circular building with a prominent, oversized spool of string visible through an arched opening. The air is clear, with a gentle 'blue wind' subtly moving through the scene. The street is open, allowing for a sense of space and movement. The architecture of the surrounding buildings is light and imaginative, perhaps with soft, rounded edges and pastel colors. no border, no frame, no watermark, no text, no signature, edge-to-edge illustration.
