Once there was a little blue balloon named Bulbashka. She lived in a toy shop window. Every day she looked up at the sky and watched the clouds float by.
"Oh, how I wish I could fly up there!" she whispered.
One morning, a little girl named Olenka came into the shop. She bought Bulbashka and carried her outside. The wind blew softly, and Bulbashka tugged at her string.
"Let me go!" she begged. "I want to fly to the clouds!"
But Olenka held on tight. Then Olenka saw a kitten stuck in a tree. She laid the string on a bench and ran to help.
Up went Bulbashka! Higher and higher she soared.
"Hooray! I'm flying!" she cried.
She flew over the rooftops. Over the trees. Over the birds.
"Hello!" chirped the sparrows.
But the clouds were still very, very far away. Bulbashka flew on and on. It got cold. It got lonely.
"Where is everyone?" she whispered.
She looked down. Far, far below, Olenka stood by the bench, crying.
"My balloon! Come back!" called Olenka.
Bulbashka saw how sad Olenka was. Her heart felt soft. Just then, the wind changed and blew down toward the earth.
"Do you want to go home?" asked the wind.
Bulbashka glanced at the clouds. They were cold and distant. But down below was warm Olenka.
"Yes, please," said Bulbashka softly.
The wind gently carried her down. Down she floated, right into Olenka's arms.
"My balloon!" laughed Olenka. "You came back!"
Olenka held the string carefully. Bulbashka bobbed beside her. Together they watched the clouds.
But now Bulbashka didn't want to go there anymore. She was happy right here, with Olenka.
The wind sang a soft lullaby. The sun shone warm.
Bulbashka closed her eyes and smiled.