Jeudi Journal - Childish

 Today the Snarky Comment is "I'm not childish, you're just a big doody head" and we have to include something to do with "Flight" to include our page in Alison's theme which is "Come Fly With Me".  Alison gives us lots of ideas to use in our pages and one I have chosen today is hot air ballooning.  I've never been up in a hot air balloon but I would like to - unlike ....

"Sam was excited.  His sister and her friend were taking him for a ride in a hot air balloon.  It was soon to be his birthday and this was a gift from his sister and younger brother.  His brother was underage and unable to go along for the experience but he had chipped in with his spending money to pay for the experience, on the proviso that they brought him back some sweets and some photos taken from the air.

He was so excited he had hardly slept the night before.  Mother had packed them some sandwiches and given the girls the usual talking to about how they had to be responsible, especially to look after Sam and make sure he was safe at all times.  Megan, his sister, was seventeen and considered herself totally responsible, after all she did love her two younger brothers.  Her friend, Charlotte, was just two months older and so between them mother thought things would be ok and she signed the parental slip for her young son.

Off they went, in high glee, Sam chattering away and skipping along the pavement as they made their way to the bus.  In no time at all they were at the field where it was all to take place.  Sam was a little disappointed as the balloon was pink and white candy striped and he would have preferred it to be in the colours of his favourite football team. Blackpool.  

"Not to worry" said Megan, "once we are up there, way way up in the clouds, you won't notice what colour it is and it may even look orange when the sun catches it."

Sam and Megan chatted non stop, both were so excited.  It was then that Megan noticed her friend Charlotte was ever so quiet.  Turning around she saw that Charlotte had flopped herself on the ground and was propped up on one elbow.

"What are you doing" she enquired.

"Not going in that thing" replied Charlotte.  "There is no way I am going up in that now that I have seen it.  Sorry, but wild horses would not drag me in that basket."

"But you said you would come along and it is for Sam's birthday" said Megan.

"Don't care, I cannot and will not set foot inside that, that, contraption."

Sam began to cry.  He had wanted to ride in a balloon for so long, he had read all about it and now it looked as if he was not going to be able to.  If Charlotte did not come along he knew the weight would not be as calculated previously and therefore the trip would be cancelled.

"Oh for goodness sake, pull yourself together and stop being so childish" said Megan to her friend.  "I never had you for being a softie and ruining Sam's treat.  Besides which you have paid to go on the ride.  You really are acting like a spoilt child!"

"I'm not childish, you're just a big doody head" replied Charlotte as she turned over so her back was facing them all.

Luckily the man in charge had an answer, he simply added some ballast to make up the weight and Megan and Sam sailed off into the sunset leaving Charlotte feeling a little uneasy on the ground.

Thank goodness she had not spoiled Sam's birthday treat afterall."