Chapter Two

Boastful Boastful Balloon

Such excitement! Everyone was there. Santa and Mrs. Claus and all the elves. Yes, ALL the elves! Not just the workers, but all their families and then all THEIR families, too. They all gathered together to see the launching of the Magic Balloon. Well, they weren't really going to launch him like a rocket. You see, The Toy Barn had a very special roof. In the center were two enormous gates. Every year when Santa's sleigh was filled with toys it was too big to fit through the front door. So the Great Gates would slide open and Santa and his sleigh would fly out through the open roof.

Everyone outside waited for the Magic Balloon to rise out of The Toy Barn and drift into the sky. In fact, Santa was in The Toy Barn right this very minute talking to him.

"Now, Magic Balloon, do you understand your very important challenge?" questioned Santa.

"Yes, sir," the Magic Balloon replied. "I am to go out and try to keep the good spirit of Christmas alive all year long. If I find trouble, I will try to fix it. When help is needed, I will try to help."

"Yes," said Santa. "As best you can. But you must always follow these rules. Remember to do your best. Do what is right and always oppose that which is wrong. Use your Christmas Magic to spread good cheer and help those in need. Discover all that you can do and remember to come back and report to me. Now, let's get you on your way." Santa signaled to Shingles, the gatekeeper on the roof, to slide the Great Gates open.

"Wait, Santa," said the Magic Balloon. "Don't bother with the roof. I could just make myself small and go right out through the door."

Santa smiled with a twinkle in his eye. "Everyone is anxiously waiting to see you. I think it would be more fun if you would go straight up through the roof and then make yourself very, very big. Then you can come down next to me and make yourself very, very small. It will be fun."

"Do you think they will like me?" the Magic Balloon wondered.

Santa smiled and winked, "Let's find out."

As the roof began to open, the Magic Balloon decided to change to candy cane swirls of red and white to celebrate the Christmas season. Not a sound was heard as everyone waited in anticipation. Then, "oooh's" and "ahhh's" rose from the crowd as the Magic Balloon proudly lifted into the sky and made himself very, very large. Everyone stared in amazement at their new friend. What a glorious and magical day it was! Even the wind seemed to whistle a happy tune. The reindeer pawed the ground in excitement as the crowd cheered with glee. Then, to the surprise of all, the Magic Balloon began to shrink and shrink until he was a tiny little balloon with a tiny little basket. He landed in Santa's outstretched hand. With a chuckle he flew up into the air and became larger and larger. He turned Champion Green and Gold and finally beautiful rainbow colors. Everyone clapped with excitement. What a spectacular show! Then, with a tip of his hat and a wink of his eye he bobbed up and down to say goodbye. With an enthusiastic "So long for now!" he darted off to make twisting spirals, swirling and twirling above and around The Toy Barn. He watched The Toy Barn get smaller and smaller as he sailed farther and farther across the sunny blue sky. He wondered what adventures and discoveries about himself and his new world awaited him as he began to explore. He was filled with high expectations and great ambitions as he thought, "I can't wait to find out about the world... and especially about me."

Back on the ground everyone was anxious to celebrate the big event. Harmony, the composer, had written a special song for the Magic Balloon just for the occasion. "Everyone join in," he caroled as he began to sing 'The Magic Balloon. The Magic Balloon. He always sings a very happy tune....' Santa and Mrs. Claus had prepared a special party lunch for the very first flight of the Magic Balloon. The elves helped spread long tables of food and drink.

"LET THE CELEBRATION BEGIN!" declared Santa. Everyone rushed to the party tables to join in the fun and games. Mrs. Claus remarked that the Magic Balloon looked so handsome and happy.

"He has such fun changing size and color!" she exclaimed.

Santa smiled and laughed his jolly laugh. Then he raised an eyebrow (he learned that from Mrs. Claus.) "Hmmm... I hope I remembered everything," he pondered. "I keep wondering if I forgot something. Oh well," he chuckled. "We shall see."

As everyone celebrated his launching, the Magic Balloon floated over the snow-filled forest below. He soared over mountains, rivers and valleys. He was off to find adventures and discoveries, to spread good cheer wherever he goes, and especially to be kind and to help people.

The first living things that he encountered were a flock of Canadian geese flying in a V-formation. He pulled into formation behind the last goose and startled the entire flock when he said, "Hi! I'm the Magic Balloon. I was made by Santa. He made me himself. And I am here for anyone who needs help. Do you need any help?" Of course, they didn't answer. The Magic Balloon began speaking in French and Spanish and Chinese and Russian and German. He surprised himself. "I didn't know that I knew all those languages," he giggled. Then something jogged his memory and he warbled a few notes. A surprised 'HONK!' was his answer and he warbled again. The geese were amazed that he could speak their language. They were friendly and said they were fine and they loved flying. They didn't need any help but they said to thank Santa for the offer. They honked a quick 'Goodbye and have a nice flight' as the Magic Balloon sped off into the sky in search of a grand adventure.

As he continued to sail across the sky the Magic Balloon gazed at the frozen tundra below. "What's that?" he pondered. "What IS that?" Down below in the snow was a man sitting beside a strange looking object. It looked like a ski machine. He swooped down to take a closer look.

"I must have been here a long time," said the man shaking his head. "Now I'm seeing things. I think I see a balloon. I need more help than I thought."

"Help? You need help?" an excited, anxious voice called out.

"Who said that?" the man replied.

"I did," said the Magic Balloon.

"Is there someone in the basket?" the man asked.

"No, it's just me. I'm the Magic Balloon."

"Well, I'll be... Are you real?" asked the man.

"Oh yes," said the Magic Balloon. "I was made by Santa. He made me himself. I'm supposed to go out into the world and help people. You are the first person who has asked for my help. Who are you, sir?"

"I'm Toby, the explorer. My snowmobile broke down and I need help. I must be delirious. Am I talking to a balloon?"

"Yes, sir. But you're not delirious - you're fine! I am the Magic Balloon and Santa sent me. He made me himself. He sent me here to help you."

"But I don't believe in Santa Claus. I'm a grown man!" said Toby.

"HUHHH?" inhaled the Magic Balloon with a gasp. "You don't believe?" he asked in horrified disbelief. "How can you not believe in Santa?! Are you not talking to me? And am I not a balloon?"

"Well, yes," answered Toby cautiously. "But I'm so cold and tired that I must be delirious."

The Magic Balloon suggested, "Why don't you hop into my basket and I'll carry you to safety."

"Well, I don't know," paused the tired explorer. "Are you sure that you can lift me?"

"Watch me!" exclaimed the Magic Balloon and he began to make himself verrrrrrry big. Toby hesitated, then slowly climbed into the basket. The Magic Balloon was so excited to finally help someone that as soon as Toby was aboard, he leaped into the sky. Toby watched as the snowmobile grew smaller and smaller. They flew higher and higher and higher and higher. Suddenly Toby began to turn purple.

"WOW!" gushed the Magic Balloon, "YOU can change color, too." Toby couldn't reply.

"Wait a minute. What's the matter?" asked the Magic Balloon.

"I (gasp) can't breathe," gasped Toby. Quickly the Magic Balloon descended closer to the ground. Soon Toby was breathing normally again.

"Hmmmm... I must remember that," said the Magic Balloon. "I must not fly so high when I help people and I carry them in my basket."

"How high can you fly?" asked Toby.

"I really don't know," said the Magic Balloon. "But here we are now, all safe and sound. There's Santa's lodge. See the smoke rising from the chimney?"

Toby looked down over the side of the basket at the frosty-capped trees in the forest below. He could see icicles hanging like tinsel from holiday trees. Then he saw the elf village and, sure enough, there was Santa's lodge. And he wasn't sure, but - were those reindeer in the distance? And what was that tall red and white stick they were flying around? Toby pointed and asked, "What is that, Magic Balloon?"

"Why, that's the North Pole, of course," the Magic Balloon answered. "It's made of peppermint candy. The reindeer think it's a treat. They would keep licking it and licking it until the North Pole was all gone if we would let them." The reindeer sang in delight,

Toby watched in amazement at the scene below him. He could see smoke rising from Santa's chimney. Elves were scurrying in all directions as they realized that the Magic Balloon was returning. "So, it is real," Toby uttered in amazement. "It really is real." Groups of elves gathered in excitement as the Magic Balloon began to descend gently to the ground. He could hear everyone singing, 'The Magic Balloon. The Magic Balloon. He always sings a very happy tune....' Mrs. Claus came out and greeted Toby. She welcomed him into her warm and cozy lodge. Then she offered him fresh apple pie with whipped cream and a hot cider drink. He was soon feeling like his old self again.

Santa, who had been out exercising the reindeer, suddenly appeared. The Magic Balloon chattered on and on, quickly and excitedly, as he told Santa how he had helped Toby. Santa held up his hand as a sign for the Magic Balloon to stop talking.

Toby said, "That's quite a balloon you have there, Santa! He likes to talk, doesn't he? He talked all the way here." Then Toby scratched his head. "You know, Santa, I'm sorry to say this but I haven't thought about you in a very long time."

Santa smiled. "Well, I'm glad to see you again Toby. Let's see, I believe the last time I was at your home was many Christmas Eves ago. I left a train set for you."

"Why, so you did!" exclaimed Toby with a surprised look on his face. "Come to think of it, it had a big black engine that puffed real smoke. It was exactly the train set that I wanted."

"I am pleased you liked it," said Santa, "but now I have a problem. You can't be going back and telling anybody where I live. If you do, everyone would want to visit me. I wouldn't have any time to make toys or feed my reindeer.

"Oh, I won't!" promised Toby. "I promise I will never ever tell anyone about you or the Magic Balloon or The Toy Barn or anything."

"That's good," pondered Santa as he thoughtfully raised an eyebrow (he learned that from Mrs. Claus.)

"Let's see," Santa thought to himself. "I have just the idea. Tomorrow morning I'll have a surprise for Toby." Turning to Mrs. Claus he said, "Let's all get some rest. Tomorrow will be a very busy day."

The next morning Santa gave Tinker, his mechanic, a small pouch to put into his pocket. Then he had the Magic Balloon take Tinker and Toby back to the snowmobile. Tinker began to fix the ski machine. With a tap and a ping and a twist and a pop - and a thump here and a bump there - soon the snowmobile was sputtering to life. As soon as he finished Tinker took out the small pouch from his pocket. Inside Santa had placed some very special snowflakes. He tossed the snowflakes into the air above Toby's head and watched as they fluttered down upon the explorer. Toby immediately fell into a deep sleep. Tinker leaped into the basket of the Magic Balloon. "Take us home at once!" he commanded.

When Toby woke up, his snowmobile was running but he couldn't remember why he had stopped. What a dream he had! Why, he hadn't thought of his black train set for many years. And Santa? Santa was a childhood fantasy. But he really did like his train set. Oh, well. Never mind. He was cold and tired and he needed to get home before dark. As he jumped onto his snowmobile and raced off across the snow he thought, "I wonder where I put that train set? Maybe I should set it up at Christmas time this year."

Up in the sky the Magic Balloon made good speed and soon the Christmas tree forest that surrounded Santa's lodge was in sight. When the Magic Balloon landed, Tinker bounced out of the basket and headed for The Toy Barn. The Magic Balloon saw Santa hurrying toward him. "Uh, oh!" he said. He could see right away that Santa had a concerned look on his face. This bothered the cheerful balloon and he thought, "I hope Santa's not upset with me." But soon he was put at ease when he heard Santa's jolly laugh.

"I knew I forgot something. I knew something was missing," Santa said. "Now I know what I forgot to do. Magic Balloon, go out into the world and do good. Make the world a better place to be. Let everyone feel your Christmas Magic. And especially, be kind and help anyone who needs help. But beware! You are not to speak with any person."

The Magic Balloon looked puzzled. "What? How can I help people if I can't talk to them?"

"Magic Balloon, I command you to do good and travel far. But you must never, not ever, talk to another person about me or where I live. It must be kept a secret! Oh, it's OK if you talk to animals or sing to yourself. You may speak to the elves or to Mrs. Claus or to me. But never, not ever, talk to another living person. The best good deeds are done quietly without expecting any kind of a reward. Remember this special thought about yourself Magic Balloon:

So the boastful, boastful balloon became the bashful balloon and he never (well, almost never) spoke to anyone away from home again.

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