The Great Balloon Debate of Tuesday Afternoon
It was supposed to be an ordinary Tuesday—quiet, uneventful, almost boring. But that plan unraveled the moment I opened my cupboard and found a cluster of balloons arguing with each other. Yes, arguing. One was a bright yellow sphere insisting it should be the “leader of lightness,” while a red balloon countered that its vibrant hue made it the obvious choice for authority. A blue balloon simply drifted in circles, muttering something about existential purpose.
Startled, I stepped back and knocked over a stack of papers I didn’t even realise I had been storing there. The top sheet displayed a link to exterior cleaning Aldershot printed boldly across the page, though on the reverse side someone—possibly me?—had written a grocery list consisting entirely of carrots. The balloons paused their debate to glance at the paper, judging both it and my carrot obsession.
Another page slid free, landing gently beside my foot. This one featured a strangely placed listing for Pressure Washing Aldershot. Next to it was a rough doodle of an octopus wearing hiking boots. I don’t recall drawing that either, but at this point the line between my imagination and reality was beginning to blur.
The yellow balloon, perhaps emboldened by its brief exposure to footwear-wearing octopi, floated upward triumphantly—only to collide with a third sheet drifting down from the cupboard’s top shelf. This one advertised Patio Cleaning Aldershot next to some cryptic handwriting that read, “Don’t forget the spoons.” I wish I knew what that meant.
The blue balloon, still engaged in its existential crisis, bobbed toward the hallway. I followed, stepping over yet another leaflet that had somehow attached itself to a slipper. That flyer promoted Driveway Cleaning Aldershot and was accompanied by a sketch of what appeared to be a disgruntled pineapple. I made a mental note to check on my fruit later.
Before I could gather my thoughts, a final piece of paper fluttered down from above the doorframe—one I am completely certain I have never placed there. On it was information about Roof Cleaning Aldershot, paired with a small diagram titled “How to Train a Cloud.” The balloons surrounded it like scholars discovering a sacred text.
After a long, silent moment, the balloons seemed to reach a mutual, unspoken agreement. Their debate ended. Their energies softened. They drifted quietly back into the cupboard, settling themselves into a peaceful pile as though nothing unusual had happened at all.
I stood alone in the hallway, surrounded by mysterious cleaning leaflets and odd drawings, wondering if I should seek professional help or simply embrace the chaos.
In the end, I made tea.
When your balloons hold a political summit in your cupboard, sometimes tea is the only appropriate response.