White Helium Balloon

white helium balloon not quite taut from summer heat and long ride in the rental car let fly by a son to picture a father going to a better place crowd of friends, family circle round watch the orb rise ? just slightly then hover just overhead string dangling forlornly barely out of towhead's grasp sad eyes turn to adults unspoken comes the question, "Why?" "Never one to leave a party early" nods a bearded desert-rat slowly the drooping symbol wafts past onlookers barely skimming yard, garden comes to stop over newly-mown alfalfa field Gravity persists drops it slowly string entwines among the green stubble a calloused hand finds young boy's shoulder, shaking, as tears fill saddened brown eyes "Heaven's whereever he most loved to be, son. That'd be right here. His flight was short."