I’m glad neighbors Shawn and Bob let us know ahead of time that Logan couldn’t have candy. My sympathy was with them, trying to keep it away from him at this time of year. Then I thought of being a seven-year-old on Halloween. Everyone at school would be longing for mountains of candy. How my heart ached for him! What could we do? I was about to throw away the packing that cushioned our new router when I remembered how much Logan enjoyed stomping on air bags. We gave him the bags on the porch as we finished our meal. Minor explosions followed as he jumped on them.
The real present was a helium balloon. After I handed it to him, he jumped about with it, and the ribbon came off. If he had been outside, that would have been the end of it. We all laughed that it was hugging the ceiling.
John said, “Come, let me pick you up, and you can grab it.”
It dangled there, just out of reach.
“Climb up on my shoulders,” John instructed.
As they were retrieving the balloon, Logan’s mind was racing. He asked, “What would have happened if it had been outside?”
We explained that it would have gone up in the sky. He asked, “Would it come back down at the same place?”
It didn’t take much imagination to know what he was thinking. He’d go home, and on the way he’d let the balloon go. It would come back to him, and then he’d go in his house. John said it would keep rising, blown about by the wind, and eventually pop. I jumped in and said we should not do that, because it would be harmful if an animal tangled with the pieces.
John played one long game of checkers with Logan, and then he got up to go. “Thank you for the balloon,” he said as he opened the door.
I intended to watch him run across the street to see if the balloon made it. By the time I realized he was leaving and walked to the door, he was long gone.
Happy Halloween, Logan!
Mehrling Muse 
The story could also be called The Halloween Balloon. A great substitute for the forbidden candy, along with checkers!!
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And they say it’s so difficult to teach problem solving and critical thinking. Cheers for your fabulous Halloween party!
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Logan can think rings around me. I heard him verbally figure something out when he was four years old.
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Oh that’s awesome you have Logan a nice Halloween. Halloween definitely went down in my estimation when I could t eat any of the candy!!
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You’re good to that kid. Of course I can see how he’s charmed you. Smart and cute.
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He was abused, taken from his mother, fostered by our neighbors, and adopted by them. They are very watchful, because his emotional scars are deep. I have utmost admiration for his parents.
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Oh my, that’s a back story I haven’t heard before. He sounds like they’ve done a fine job of stabilizing him and you too. It takes a village.
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They are marvelous parents for Logan. Like all of us, Logan is a work in progress.
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The curiosity of a child! Logan is blessed to have family and friends watchful for his needs. What a wonderful Halloween candy substitute.
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It made me grin that you weren’t quick enough to see him head home with his balloon….I have the same experience when my grandkids are here…..they are so quick. (It could also be that I am getting slower!)
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I sit on a balance ball in front of the computer. A too-quick dismount could land me on the floor. I’m also lots slower than I used to be. I liked your grin.
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Logan is a lucky child!
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And we are blessed to have Logan in our lives.
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Love the bubble wrap surprise. My grandchildren also love to stomp, pop and squeal over sheets of the stuff. It’s great whether its a sheet of big bubbles or small. Your story also makes me think of my Dad who loved to blow up brown paper bags when we were little and smash them for a terrific pop. I bet a lot of kids nowadays don’t know that paper bags can make a BIG noise.
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I had forgotten about popping paper bags. I have one or two here and will get them out for Logan when he needs a lift. Thanks for the idea.
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