The Great Birthday Journey

Nora, today is the big day! Eyes open – and there, outside the window, a golden balloon is dancing. It carries a little note with bright letters on it: “Follow me – today is your day!” Nora’s heart thumps. Ten toes tingle. What is waiting out there?

Nora, today is the big day! Eyes open – and there, outside the window, a golden balloon is dancing. It carries a little note with bright letters on it: “Follow me – today is your day!” Nora’s heart thumps. Ten toes tingle. What is waiting out there?

At breakfast Mum holds up the note and says with a very serious face: “Nora, I’m afraid the balloon is a little hungry.” Everybody snorts, and Dad nearly chokes on his juice. Giggle! The balloon tugs at its string, impatient, as if to say: Come on, now!

At breakfast Mum holds up the note and says with a very serious face: “Nora, I’m afraid the balloon is a little hungry.” Everybody snorts, and Dad nearly chokes on his juice. Giggle! The balloon tugs at its string, impatient, as if to say: Come on, now!

Nora grabs the string and follows the balloon out into a sunny meadow. All through the tall grass lie little parcels in shiny paper, one after another, like glittering stepping stones. Each one points the way to the next. The grass tickles both knees, and the balloon bobs merrily ahead.

Nora grabs the string and follows the balloon out into a sunny meadow. All through the tall grass lie little parcels in shiny paper, one after another, like glittering stepping stones. Each one points the way to the next. The grass tickles both knees, and the balloon bobs merrily ahead.

At the edge of a little town, bunting flutters from every roof in every colour. A baker stands in her doorway and calls: “Hey, Nora! I’ve been saving something for you!” She presses a warm cinnamon bun into Nora’s hand – the very best treat of all. “And tell the bridge I sent you!” she whispers with a wink.

At the edge of a little town, bunting flutters from every roof in every colour. A baker stands in her doorway and calls: “Hey, Nora! I’ve been saving something for you!” She presses a warm cinnamon bun into Nora’s hand – the very best treat of all. “And tell the bridge I sent you!” she whispers with a wink.

The balloon climbs higher and pulls Nora up a hill full of flowers. At the top waits a small, fluffy creature with shiny button eyes and a fizzing sparkler. “May I come along?” it asks in a tiny voice. “Yes!” says Nora, and the creature hops sparkling along at Nora’s side.

The balloon climbs higher and pulls Nora up a hill full of flowers. At the top waits a small, fluffy creature with shiny button eyes and a fizzing sparkler. “May I come along?” it asks in a tiny voice. “Yes!” says Nora, and the creature hops sparkling along at Nora’s side.

Then – a wild gust of wind! Whoosh! A whole bridge of confetti and streamers billows up ahead and sways from side to side. The creature presses close. Nora looks across. The bridge looks very wobbly, and Nora’s heart thumps loud as a little drum. How will this ever work?

Then – a wild gust of wind! Whoosh! A whole bridge of confetti and streamers billows up ahead and sways from side to side. The creature presses close. Nora looks across. The bridge looks very wobbly, and Nora’s heart thumps loud as a little drum. How will this ever work?

Nora breathes in deep, takes the creature by the hand and sets one foot on the confetti bridge. It sways, streamers flutter past both ears – but Nora keeps going, step by step. Safe on the other side, the creature leaps after, cheering. And that heart, drumming so loudly a moment ago, is suddenly quiet and wide.

Nora breathes in deep, takes the creature by the hand and sets one foot on the confetti bridge. It sways, streamers flutter past both ears – but Nora keeps going, step by step. Safe on the other side, the creature leaps after, cheering. And that heart, drumming so loudly a moment ago, is suddenly quiet and wide.

Beyond the bridge a clearing opens up, warm and golden as honey. The smell reminds Nora of a summer evening in Grandma’s garden, counting fireflies together. Exactly that glow, exactly that breath of warm grass. As if the balloon had known where that heart likes to travel most.

Beyond the bridge a clearing opens up, warm and golden as honey. The smell reminds Nora of a summer evening in Grandma’s garden, counting fireflies together. Exactly that glow, exactly that breath of warm grass. As if the balloon had known where that heart likes to travel most.

Then somebody calls the name: “Nora!” And another, and another. Mum, Dad, the baker from the town with an enormous birthday cake – all of them have gathered here, because Nora found the way across the bridge. Nobody would have come without Nora. And looking around the circle, Nora feels a heart so full it cannot say one big word out loud.

Then somebody calls the name: “Nora!” And another, and another. Mum, Dad, the baker from the town with an enormous birthday cake – all of them have gathered here, because Nora found the way across the bridge. Nobody would have come without Nora. And looking around the circle, Nora feels a heart so full it cannot say one big word out loud.

The candles on the cake flicker, and the little creature whispers: “Blow them out, Nora!” Nora closes both eyes. Above the clearing the first stars come out. Then – puff! – all dark, everyone cheers. The golden balloon rocks gently over their heads, just like this morning at the window.

The candles on the cake flicker, and the little creature whispers: “Blow them out, Nora!” Nora closes both eyes. Above the clearing the first stars come out. Then – puff! – all dark, everyone cheers. The golden balloon rocks gently over their heads, just like this morning at the window.