A Balloon Ride to Space

Dog was not picked to go to space. She had completed the space training, packed her grocery bag full of toys, and even picked out the stationary she would use to write letters home. But she wasn't chosen. She watched her friends pile into the spaceship, take off, and [[disappear into the sky.]]

There was a party in the middle of town to celebrate the event, but Dog didn't feel much like celebrating. She didn't even feel like eating the pieces of pretzel that fell on the ground. Instead she flopped down on the grass and stared up at the sky, where all her friends were [[having fun without her.]]

Dog had always dreamed of going to the moon. Her whole life, she would look up into the night sky and wonder what it was like up there. When the town announced the space project she just knew she would be chosen, that she would finally live out that dream. She thought other people supported her dream. [[But she was wrong.]]

Dog stared up at the sky and thought. Then she made up her mind. She wasn't going to give up on her dream. So what if the others didn't believe in her? She believed in herself, and that was what really mattered. She would make her own way to the moon. And she would do it all by herself. [[But how to get to space?]]

Dog looked around for ideas. Cars? Those wouldn't take her to space. Birds? They fly, but not that far. She needed something that would take her up, up, and [[all the way to space.]]

Balloons! Balloons would take her all the way to the moon. Balloons could float anywhere, and if she had enough of them, [[she could float anywhere too.]]

Dog thought she needed three balloons to take her to space. [[She just had to collect them.]]

There was a cozy spot on the other side of the park covered in sun soaked grass. A cat was taking a nap in the sunshine, all curled up on a balloon. She had to get the cat away from the balloon [[without popping it.]]

Dog looked around for a solution and found a half-eaten hot dog. She set down the hot dog and nudged the cat to wake it up. Everyone loves a [[half-eaten hot dog.]]

The cat didn't look very impressed. Maybe it just needed a nice big lick. The cat murmured because it was so very happy. It walked away from the balloon and started batting at the hot dog. It used its sharp claws to cut off a piece and stare at it. Then it rolled over on top of the snack and [[took another nap.]]

The dog found a nice shady spot behind a building to rest. Then she saw something waving at her. It was a raccoon. She found the raccoon sitting behind a box and holding a balloon. It would give her the balloon, but it wanted something in return. A special food that could only be found across the river, but the raccoon [[couldn't reach it.]]

Dog jumped all the way across the river and found the treat the raccoon wanted, a brightly colored and delicious looking tomato. She picked the tomato and jumped back [[across the river.]]

Dog showed the raccoon the tomato, and it wiggled its fingers with delight. They traded, balloon for tomato, an everyone was happy. The raccoon tied the balloon to the dog with its little hands. It [[gobbled up the tomato.]]

Now she had two balloons! She just needed one more. She searched the town, and outside the library she found a bear reading a book and [[holding a balloon.]]

She wasn't sure why there was a bear in the middle of town, but it seemed happy. The large animal made the balloon it was holding look very small. It would take a LOT of balloons if the bear ever wanted to [[go to space.]]

Dog approached the bear. The bear peered at her through glasses. It liked its little balloon, and did not feel like handing it over. But perhaps the bear would trade for something better. And Dog knew [[just the thing.]]

At the farmer's market Dog found honey jars next to a donation box. She could take a jar if she left something nice behind. Dog brought her favorite bag of treats from home and left them in the donation box. She took the jar of honey [[to the bear.]]

Although the bear liked the balloon, it liked the honey more. It handed over the balloon, broke open the honey jar, and started eating [[its tasty snack.]]

Now Dog had three balloons! Now she could reach the moon. She started floating up and up and up. She floated above a car. She floated above a house. But then she floated [[into a tree.]]

All of the balloons popped in the branches and Dog tumbled down to the ground. She had tried so hard to reach her dream, but she failed. She would never [[reach the moon.]]

But Dog wanted to go to the moon. That was her dream. She would not give up on her dream. She would make it happen no matter what. [[But how?]]

Dog had an idea. Maybe, if she asked nicely, the cat, the raccoon, and the bear would [[help her again.]]

She spoke to the cat. Would it help her by cutting string? Yes it would. She spoke to the raccoon. Would it help her by tying the string? Yes it would. She spoke to the bear. Would it help her by holding the balloon? [[Yes it would.]]

All she needed was a new balloon, and she knew just what to do. Dog and her friends joined the party, but they weren't celebrating. They were [[on a mission.]]

They all made their way to the middle of the park, where the great big spaceship balloon was floating. This would take her to space. The bear held the balloon, the cat cut the string, and the raccoon tied the balloon to Dog. With the help of her new friends, [[she floated.]]

Dog floated through the sky. Dog floated through space. Dog floated all the way [[to the moon.]]

(text-colour:white)[Everyone was so amazed by Dog's adventure that they all cheered. She was once again with all of her friends, living her dream, and she made it happen. She didn't need someone to give her a spaceship. She] [[made her own.]]

(text-colour:white)[Because of her courage, perseverance, and imagination, Dog was made Moon Mayor. She was happy on the moon with all of her friends. She did it.] [[The end.]]

(text-colour:white)[Written by Raccoon Raconteur. Special thanks to the balloons that make reaching our dreams possible.] [[Read again.]]