Dominic Mance

Papa Balloons Dominic Mance

My nose was swollen to a sunburned red and I carried that crookedy, powder blue umbrella my little girl left in my old jalopy everywhere I went. When I saw my reflection in the window one day, I looked just like a hobo clown and that made me think of a time, a long time ago, in a place far away, when my daughters would squeal, "Come on, tell us a story!" when bedtime rolled around. And I swore that someday, if I ever made it, if I ever survived the street of broken dreams that I'd write it all down in a book so I could tell it to you so you could tell it to your kids, too. Until finally, long after I was gone, it would touch the hearts of those young and old around the globe. Here are the words to that bedtime story about the little orphan girl, Christiana, who dared to dream big dreams about one day joining the "big top" and that beloved old hobo clown that helped make those dreams come true. Now, without further ado... Ladies and Gentlemen, boys and girls, presenting for your entertainment, the world famous, the one and only Papa Balloons!