Ansel’s Story

by Susan T. Landry, AKA Grammie 

Once upon a time there was a small boy named ANSEL. 

He lived in Brooklyn, New York, most of the time, but this winter he and his Mum-mum and Da-da were living in Texas, where it was much warmer. What Ansel loved best – no matter where he was – was to go outside and play. 

During the Stay-At-Home-Days, Ansel could not go to the park but he was allowed to go out for a walk with his Mum-mum or Da-da. 

To make the outdoor time special, Ansel’s parents got him a beautiful red balloon. 

Ansel’s Mum-mum blew the red balloon up for him and they went out to enjoy a sunshiny day with blue skies and only a few puffy clouds. 

Ansel was SO happy with his red balloon; he hopped and skipped down the sidewalk and showed his balloon to some of his animal friends in the neighborhood park, the same park where he could no longer go to play. 

UH-OH! One of the puffy white clouds blew a gust of wind into the air near Ansel, and the balloon slipped out of his hand! 

Ansel ran after it, but the wind carried the balloon far out of his reach, deep into the park and out of sight. Ansel was very sad and was just about to cry, when Alison and Ralphie, two kind rats who lived in the park came close to the sidewalk. Alison said, don’t worry, Ansel. We will get your balloon back! All your animal friends want to help. Ralphie said, you betcha, Ansel. 

They scampered off to consult with Philip, the frog. He was a super speedy animal and would be an excellent assistant. Philip also had large eyes and immediately noticed a red piece of something attached to a string and hanging from the branch of a tree. 

Ralphie whispered to Alison: Oh, NO. I think the balloon might have a hole in it, because look, all the air has escaped and it is just a saggy piece of red rubber. 

Meanwhile, Philip had enlisted the help of two old friends, James the very wise rabbit, and Sally, the slow but sturdy tortoise. James said, if I stand on top of Sally, and Alison and Ralphie climb up on me to reach the branch, we can get the balloon! 

They did this, and the little rats climbed down with the saggy red balloon.  

Ansel was happy to have his balloon back, but was unhappy because it no longer had air in it so that it could float and dance in the breeze. 

Here comes Da-da, said Mum-mum! Ansel’s clever daddy ran up to them, and even though he was out of breath, he said: Ansel, don’t worry: I know how to fix this! 

He pulled out a tube of glue especially made for balloon repair, squeezed a little on the balloon hole, and pinched it together until it dried. All done! Mum-mum, Mum-mum, said Ansel, jumping up and down with excitement: Blow it up! Blow it up! 

And she did… and Da-da and Mum-mum and Alison and Ralphie and Philip and James all continued the lovely day walk together – the animals staying on the green strip of grass, and Mum-mum and Da-da on the sidewalk. Ansel walked between them holding on VERY tightly to the red balloon. 

Sally the tortoise was exhausted and stayed behind in the tall grass to take a nap.