Benny the balloon
Benny and His Balloon Benny the Bear had a big red balloon. It wasn’t just any balloon—it was round and shiny, brighter than the cherries that grew near his home. Every morning, Benny woke up and smiled when he saw it floating by his bed. “Good morning, balloon,” he would say, giving it a gentle tap with his paw. The balloon never answered, of course, but Benny liked to imagine it was smiling back at him. He carried it everywhere he went. If Benny went outside to play, the balloon bounced along on its string. If Benny sat down to eat honey cakes, the balloon hovered cheerfully by his side. Sometimes, when Benny felt lonely, he whispered secrets to his balloon. “You’re my best friend,” he said one afternoon, sitting under the tall oak tree. The balloon didn’t laugh or argue. It just floated, calm and steady, as if listening closely. Benny liked that. He decided the balloon must be the best listener in the whole wide world. One day, Benny brought the balloon to the meadow. The sun ...