It seemed like a good idea at the time. Jim had some Chinese balloons, they only cost $1.00 not a bargain if you burn down your community. This is how it works: You start a little fire to a pack of flammable something attached to a piece of cardboard and watch as the fire inflates the tissue paper balloon, then you gently lift the balloon above your head and it floats away into the sky. What a great idea to celebrate our last night together. Or so we thought. It was difficult to light, then wouldn't inflate properly, then as it catches a breeze it takes off, but no, the breeze is finicky and it drops to the ground, still on fire, it's moving quickly as the men realize it may not clear the trees at the park, they can't catch it. It's rising slowly and is now just a fire ball that at any moment could plummet into a million dollar beach front property.
"I feel sick"
"me too"
"I can't look did it pass the trees yet?"
"How long will the fire last?"
Holy *!** We're going to be on the front page of the Garden Island Newspaper!"
Finally, it heads out over the ocean. It's going to be ok. A big sigh of relief from everyone.
