Cricket Tales

The Hot Air Balloon Ride

On a hot summer day in the small town of Clover, J.C. Cricket was enjoying a sunbath on the big gray rock in the yard of the tiny, white, house. Many of J.C.’s friends were at play in the yard on this day. Mr. Jackson Bee buzzed from flower to flower. Miss Cornelia Butterfly floated gracefully by on a warm, summer breeze. She spent some time earlier with J.C., but with so much to do, she did not linger long. Mr. Dempsey Mole burrowed in the yard. J.C. could see the soft mound of ground under which he slept. Flossy Cow was grazing in the pasture on fresh green grass. J.C. could hear the jingle of her bell with each step she made. It was a beautiful day with a bright blue sky. A large number of fluffy white clouds drifted by making billowy patterns in the sky.

Today is a good day, thought J.C.

He dozed off into a long lazy nap.  Later, he heard the three little girls who live in the tiny, white, house. J.C. knew by the tone of their voices that this was a special day.  He began to climb down from the big gray rock. Hopping closer, he now heard the three little girls much better.

The smallest little girl with the blonde hair and the rosy cheeks appeared most excited. She and her sisters were planning a party in the afternoon for her birthday. There would be cake, balloons, and presents. Oh boy, thought J.C. This will be a good day. Maybe the smallest little girl will invite Sassy and Sally, the Ladybug Twins.  He was quite fond of them. J.C. listened as the three little girls made their plans. The smallest little girl seemed most excited about one special thing. Her father promised to take her for a hot air balloon ride. J.C. had observed the colorful balloon as it sometimes drifted over the tiny, white, house. In the brighter days of summer, this was not unusual. It must be wonderful to ride in a hot air balloon, J.C. thought.

Later in the day, the mother of the three little girls brought tables to the yard. She covered them in bright pink tablecloths and placed a beautiful cake on the largest table. On each chair she tied a balloon of red, yellow, or blue.

As the mother of the little girls tied the balloons, one bright red balloon slipped loose and floated higher and higher into the air until it disappeared from sight. J.C. sat silently and watched. Gloria and Anna, his sisters, came to sit with him and join the fun. In a short while, many children began to arrive for the party. Gloria, Anna, and J.C. found themselves a safer place on the porch to watch the children.

J.C. observed the bright red balloon floating in the sky and began to think. It looked much like the hot air balloon that would take the smallest little girl on her ride. Sitting there, an idea raced across his mind. He would also go on a hot air balloon ride.

J.C. slipped away from Gloria and Anna. He remembered the brown basket in which Gloria and Anna kept their toys. This will be just perfect, he thought, as he headed home for the basket. He found the basket in his sisters’ room and emptied it of all the toys. He pulled and tugged until the basket sat beneath a large blue balloon.

Gloria and Anna wandered from the porch and were now playing with the children of Mrs. Victoria Beetle. They did not notice J.C. as he reached for the strings hanging from the blue balloon; and began to tie them to the basket. When J.C. tugged at the strings, they fell loose from the chair. He jumped into the basket as the balloon slowly rose toward the sky.

“I’m on my way,” he said. “I’m going for a ride in a hot air balloon.”

Upon seeing J.C. and the balloon, the children began to run after the balloon, grabbing and jumping at the strings.

“Come back!” they shouted.

By this time the blue balloon drifted out of reach. It was too late. J.C. floated high into the air, smiling and waving as he went.

“Goodbye, goodbye,” he yelled.