THE BIG BALLOON CAPER

The person in charge of the big patio sale at The Community came up with the idea of making it easier for shoppers to see which of the community's 120 homes actually had something to sell by attaching a balloon where it was visible from the crowded street. It turned out that 40 helium-filled balloons were too expensive so it was decided to use just air-filled balloons which would sway in the breeze. It sounded like a good idea until you start blowing them up. Even with an electric air pump it took an entire morning to get the balloons ready. It seemed like an endless task because some large balloons shortly became small balloons and had to be re-aired. It seems that the method of tying them off may not have been effective. When the balloons were finally ready they had to be distributed so the project chairman and a helper were soon wandering the streets of the community with a rack full of balloons. Whether they will last the night and, if they do, whether they withstand tomorrow's winds is yet to be seen. As is whether people in a rush for bargains will even notice them. One decision has already been made, though, about the use of balloons in the future. When another sale comes up in February those taking part will be given a deflated balloon and told to blow it up themselves.