Mrs Bennet chases balloons

Monday, September 22 08

It was almost 5.30pm and Mrs Bennet was on a mission. She was tracking down a hot air balloon which was taking her mother for a ride over Gloucestershire. Having been cancelled several times due to unsuitable weather conditions, the day had finally arrived. But a few hours before take off, the venue changed. Instead of Stroud, where the Bennets lived, the balloon was now to go up from the Royal Agricultural College in Cirencester. The three older Bennets, having never witnessed a hot air balloon close-up, were keen to see Jannie get carried away in her basket. Handing them a packed tea, Mrs Bennet waved them Miss Bennets One, Two and Three off as they took their grandmother to her launchpad with Grampie. Mrs Bennet said she'd stay and feed the little twin Bennets and get there in time for lift off.
Realising the babies were wearing the only nappies in the house, she made an emergency detour to a nearby supermarket, grabbed a take-away Mr Latte and sped (within the speed limit) to the venue. She soon spotted a large blue and red balloon lying on the grass opposite, half inflated with its insides lit up by a determined flame.
Mrs Bennet pulled into a layby and called Jannie.
"Where are you Mum?" she asked.
"We're in the field behind the college," was the reply.
"I can see the balloon, I'll be with you in a moment," explained Mrs Bennet.
Mrs Bennet was in the field behind Cirencester College but couldn't work out how to get to the balloon in question. Not being able to leave the twins, she looked around for help. A staff member, about to go home, kindly let Mrs Bennet follow her so she could park near to the now roaring inflatable. Out came the pushchair, in went the twins, out came the cries, in went the milk bottles. Miss Rosie Bennet stared in disbelief at the biggest party balloon she'd ever seen, Miss Kezia Bennet cried at the biggest dragon she'd ever set eyes on. Grabbing her camera, Mrs Bennet aimed at the basket, containing what looked like a dozen different coloured eggs. Its occupants were crouched down low and as the balloon took off, the pilot instructed them to stand and wave. Mrs Bennet waved back, frantically looking for her mother's face. But the yellow egg she'd thought was Jannie wore a different face. She was still waving but to a group of strangers, while her stunned twins looked up to see a group of people suddenly take off into the air. Mrs Bennet was as stunned as they. Where was her mother? She rang her. No answer. She rang her dad.
"You've got the wrong balloon," he laughed. "Mum is in a pink balloon and she's about to take off now!"
Mrs Bennet was in the wrong field, wrong college watching the wrong balloon, just quarter of a mile away from the right one.
"But Dad, I've got some brilliant photos. I'll just have to superimpose Jannie's head onto it!"
Mrs Bennet laughed at her own mistake. Of course it had to be a pink balloon - it couldn't be any other with her girly brood. Her parents had realised why she hadn't arrived when they saw the red and blue balloon float by overhead. They too had had no idea they were so close to another launch party.
The next two hours were spent chasing round the countryside to follow Jannie's pink balloon, which elegantly floated over tree, field and countrylane. Mrs Bennet couldn't help thinking it resembled a giant gum bubble. The twins and the three older Miss Bennets were delighted to play hunt the balloon and insisted Mrs Bennet play a certain track on the High School Musical CD.
"This is for you Jannie!" they cried.
"Souring, flying, there's not a star in heaven that we can't reach..." they sang at the tops of their voices. Despite the jollity, the balloon trip had a profound impact on Miss Bennet Number Three. When her grandmother returned safely back to earth, she needed an answer.
"Jannie, did you fly up to heaven?"
"No darling, I don't want to go there just yet."
"Oh, I wasn't sure where you went," the little girl replied.
Mrs Bennet smiled. She was also glad her mother was back on solid ground. Mrs Bennet was just grateful it hadn't been her balloon trip. She would have most probably got into the wrong basket.