Mia has a little worry: what if it rains tomorrow and spoils the picnic? Poof — a small blue balloon appears out of nowhere, floating right over Mia's head. How strange!
At night there's a dark spot on the wall. The more Mia stares, the bigger the worry grows. Mia pulls the blanket up to the chin — and along floats a purple balloon.
Bunny the toy is missing! Mia looks in the toy chest — not there. Under the cushions — not there either... and now a yellow balloon floats in to join the others.
Mia keeps every worry secret, telling no one at all. And quietly, so quietly, the balloons grow... bigger, and bigger, and BIGGER. Now they follow Mia everywhere, bumping against the ceiling.
Teddy sits by the pillow with his little red heart, as if to say, "Want to tell me about it?" Mia climbs up, hugs him close, and starts to whisper, very softly.
"I'm worried it will rain tomorrow." The moment the words come out — pfff! — the blue balloon shrinks smaller and smaller, and slips away out the window into the evening sky. Mia watches with wide, amazed eyes.
"I'm scared of the dark spot on the wall." Said out loud — why, look, it's only the coat rack's shadow! Mia laughs out loud with relief. Whoosh — off goes the purple balloon, out into the night.
Only one balloon is left — the big yellow one, the biggest of all. Mia holds Teddy's paw and takes a deep, brave breath. Mia's voice wobbles: "What if... Bunny is lost forever?"
The moment it's said out loud, the yellow balloon shrinks and shrinks — down to a tiny, harmless dot. And peeking out from under the bed... two long ears. Bunny!
At sunset, Mia snuggles Teddy and Bunny by the window. The sky is full of released balloons, drifting far, far away. "Say a worry out loud... and off it flies."
