🌈 The Parrot and the Balloon
In a peaceful green forest, where the sunlight danced through tall trees and the air was filled with the songs of birds, lived a bright little parrot named Polly. Polly was cheerful, curious, and full of life. But what she loved most in the whole world was her shiny red balloon. It was round and glossy, glowing beautifully in the sun. Whenever she looked at it, her tiny heart filled with joy. The balloon wasn’t just a toy to her — it was her best friend. Every morning, Polly would wake up early, grab the balloon string gently in her claws, and chirp happily as she greeted the new day.
Polly loved to fly around the forest with her balloon. She would soar high above the treetops and glide low over the river, her reflection sparkling in the water below. Holding the balloon string tightly, she laughed as the wind whooshed through her feathers. The balloon danced in the air behind her, bouncing and spinning playfully as if it were alive. “Look at us!” Polly chirped to the other animals. “A parrot and her red balloon — the happiest pair in the sky!” The forest animals smiled as they watched her twirl through the clouds, her balloon glowing like a ruby against the bright blue sky.
One afternoon, as Polly was flying happily with her balloon, a strong gust of wind suddenly swept through the forest. The trees shook, the leaves rustled, and the sky turned grey for a moment. Polly flapped her wings hard, trying to keep steady, but the wind was too strong. Before she could tighten her grip, the balloon string slipped from her little claws. “Oh no! My balloon!” Polly cried out in panic. The balloon floated higher and higher, carried away by the wind. Polly chased it as fast as she could, her wings beating quickly. But no matter how fast she flew, the red balloon rose farther and farther away, until it disappeared beyond the clouds.
Polly stopped mid-air, her heart sinking. She slowly landed on a tree branch, her wings drooping with sadness. The shiny red balloon that had brought her so much happiness was gone. The forest felt quiet now — even the birds seemed to sing softly, as if sharing her sorrow. Polly looked up at the sky where her balloon had vanished. “My balloon… my best friend,” she whispered sadly. A single tear rolled down her feathered cheek. She felt lonely and empty, thinking that nothing could make her smile again.
Just then, a soft rustling sound came from below. A tiny squirrel named Bunny came hopping happily through the grass, carrying a shiny brown nut in his little paws. When Bunny looked up, he saw Polly sitting sadly on the branch, her head bowed. “Why are you so sad, Polly?” Bunny asked kindly. Polly sighed and replied, “The wind took away my red balloon. It was my favorite thing in the whole world.” Bunny looked at her with gentle eyes and thought for a moment. Then, without a word, he climbed up the tree and placed his nut right beside her. “Here, Polly,” he said with a smile. “This nut always makes me happy. Maybe it will make you smile too.”
Polly looked at the nut in surprise. She wasn’t expecting such kindness. Then she looked at Bunny’s cheerful face — his little eyes sparkling, his tail twitching happily — and something inside her heart began to warm again. She smiled softly for the first time that day. “Thank you, Bunny,” she said sweetly. Bunny grinned. “You’re welcome! Friends should always help each other.” Hearing that word — friends — made Polly’s heart flutter with new joy.
The two new friends sat together under the big green tree. Bunny cracked open the nut, and they shared it piece by piece. Polly nibbled happily while Bunny giggled at her little beak trying to break the shell. They talked, laughed, and enjoyed the simple moment together. Polly told Bunny stories about her balloon adventures, and Bunny told her about his secret stash of nuts hidden near the big rock. Slowly, Polly forgot her sadness. The sky was still blue, the sun still warm, and now she had someone to share it with.
As the sun began to set, painting the forest in golden light, Polly laughed out loud. Her heart felt light again. She no longer thought about the red balloon flying far away in the sky. Instead, she was thankful for something even more precious — a true friend. Bunny looked at her and smiled. “See, Polly,” he said softly, “you don’t need a balloon to be happy. You just need a friend to smile with.” Polly nodded, her eyes shining with joy.
From that day on, Polly and Bunny were inseparable. They played together every morning, shared nuts and berries, and filled the forest with laughter. Whenever Polly saw a red balloon in the sky, she no longer felt sad. She simply smiled and whispered, “Thank you for the memories.” Because now, she knew something wonderful — happiness doesn’t come from things we own, but from the friends who make our hearts feel full.
And so, Polly and Bunny lived happily in the beautiful forest, sharing food, fun, and friendship every single day.
🌸 Moral of the Story:
Sharing joy with friends is better than crying over something lost.
True happiness comes not from what we have, but from the love and kindness we share.
