Progressive 14
The Balloon
In a sunny meadow, Milo, a tiny mouse, watched his best friend Ruby, a bright red robin, flying high above. Milo had always dreamed of flying.
“Ruby, I want to fly like you!” Milo said one morning, twitching his whiskers.
Ruby laughed. “Mice can’t fly, Milo. It’s impossible.”
“I just want to try,” Milo replied. “Maybe no mouse has tried hard enough!”
The next day, Milo tied green leaves to his tiny arms. “See, Ruby? Wings!” he shouted. He jumped from a rock, flapping his arms. For a moment, he felt like he was flying, but then he tumbled into a bush.
“Still needs work,” Milo muttered.
Ruby shook her head. “Leaves aren’t strong enough. You need something better.”
Milo thought hard and remembered a kite in the farmer’s shed. He tied it to his back. The wind blew, lifting him a few inches off the ground.
“I’m flying!” Milo squealed.
But a strong gust spun him around, and he landed in a pile of hay. Ruby sighed. “Flying isn’t easy, Milo.”
Later, Milo saw a red balloon at the market. “This will work,” he said, tying the string around his waist. Slowly, the balloon lifted him into the sky.
“I’m really flying!” Milo shouted.
Ruby flapped nervously behind him. “Be careful! You can’t steer it!”
Milo laughed. “Look at the view! Who cares about steering?”
Suddenly, the balloon carried him toward a tree. It got stuck on a branch, and Milo dangled high above the ground.
“Ruby! Help!” he cried.
Ruby quickly pecked at the string and freed him. She caught him safely on her back. Milo clutched her feathers, shaking.
“Thank you,” he whispered.
Ruby looked at him. “Milo, you’re special even if you can’t fly alone. You don’t need wings to be amazing.”
Milo smiled. “I just wanted to see the world like you do. Now I know how it feels.”
Ruby smiled. “Whenever you want, I’ll give you a ride. Deal?”
“Deal!” Milo cheered.
From that day, Milo and Ruby explored the skies together. Milo learned that trying new things is exciting, but friendship makes adventures safer and more fun.
Comprehension Questions (5)
Who is Milo’s best friend?
What does Milo want to do?
What were Milo’s first flying attempts?
How did Ruby help Milo with the balloon?
What lesson does Milo learn at the end?
Your Thoughts (3)
Have you ever tried something that seemed impossible? What happened?
Why is Ruby important to Milo?
Would you try flying like Milo if you could? Why or why not?
