Diary of a Clown/The Case of the Reappearing Balloons
By Susan Zwirn aka Polkadots the Clown

One Saturday afternoon, a few days after the infamous 9/11, I had just gotten to the first of my three clown jobs for that day, when I discovered that I had left my bag of twisting balloons (the balloons used in making balloon animals) at home. I was just getting ready to tell the birthday mom that these kids were going to have a balloon-less birthday party. When closing my suitcase, I noticed some balloons were scattered amongst the bottom of the case. With that, I checked the outside compartment of my suitcase, and noticed some more scattered balloons! Ok, I thought, this would be enough for this party, but what about the next two parties? Would I have enough time to make it home to get my bag of balloons and make it on time for my next two parties? Let me just point out that these are the long skinny balloons specifically for twisting into shapes and not easy to find in local stores.

Walking to the subway (in full clown attire) with very limited time, since I had to stop home for my balloons, I encountered a barrier by one of the fire stations. Going around this, would mean going a few streets out of my way, definitely making me late. When starting to cut through, I was stopped by one of the firemen saying that the area was closed off. With panic in my voice, I told him I needed to get to the subway ASAP or I was going to be late for both my jobs. With a brainstorming clever look on his face, he responded…”I’ll make a deal with you, Clown”, I’ll let you through on one condition, that you go into the station and entertain the kids for a couple of minutes.” I without hesitation, agreed. When walking in the back room of the station, I noticed about eight long faces sitting at a long table coloring. After trying to cheer them up as best as I could with shticks and jokes, I felt it still wasn’t enough. Just on a whim, I reached into my pockets and found not only some balloons, but exactly eight balloons which was the exact number of kids present. Without thinking about my dilemma, I very briefly and comically made all eight kids balloons, achieving my goal of turning those long faces into smiles!
Afterwards, realizing the time, I just started heading for my next job, and figured on dealing with the balloon dilemma later.

When I got to my next party, I again opened up my suitcase, which I could have sworn I emptied out at my last gig, and noticed some MORE balloons! I even had enough balloons to make up for the popped ones!

On the way to my last party, I was approached by some more kids requesting balloons…Yup! You guessed it!! I reached into my pockets and there they were! The same all happened again when I got to my last party, as well as being approached by some more kids on the way home. Balloons just seemed to be materializing!
Now I swear to the guy that probably planted all those balloons in my pockets and suitcase that


The Case of the Reappearing Balloons

One Saturday afternoon, a few days after the infamous 9/11, I had just gotten to the first of my three clown jobs for that day, when I discovered that I had left my bag of twisting balloons (the balloons used in making balloon animals) at home. I was just getting ready to tell the birthday mom that these kids were going to have a balloon-less birthday party. When closing my suitcase, I noticed some balloons were scattered amongst the bottom of the case. With that, I checked the outside compartment of my suitcase, and noticed some more scattered balloons! Ok, I thought, this would be enough for this party, but what about the next two parties? Would I have enough time to make it home to get my bag of balloons and make it on time for my next two parties? Let me just point out that these are the long skinny balloons specifically for twisting into shapes and not easy to find in local stores.
Walking to the subway (in full clown attire) with very limited time, since I had to stop home for my balloons, I encountered a barrier by one of the fire stations. Going around this, would mean going a few streets out of my way, definitely making me late. When starting to cut through, I was stopped by one of the firemen saying that the area was closed off. With panic in my voice, I told him I needed to get to the subway ASAP or I was going to be late for both my jobs. With a brainstorming clever look on his face, he responded…”I’ll make a deal with you, Clown”, I’ll let you through on one condition, that you go into the station and entertain the kids for a couple of minutes.” I without hesitation, agreed. When walking in the back room of the station, I noticed about eight long faces sitting at a long table coloring. After trying to cheer them up as best as I could with shticks and jokes, I felt it still wasn’t enough. Just on a whim, I reached into my pockets and found not only some balloons, but exactly eight balloons which was the exact number of kids present. Without thinking about my dilemma, I very briefly and comically made all eight kids balloons, achieving my goal of turning those long faces into smiles!
Afterwards, realizing the time, I just started heading for my next job, and figured on dealing with the balloon dilemma later.
When I got to my next party, I again opened up my suitcase, which I could have sworn I emptied out at my last gig, and noticed some more balloons! I even had enough balloons to make up for the popped ones!
On the way to my last party, I was approached by some more kids requesting balloons…Yup! You guessed it!! I reached into my pockets and there they were! The same all happened again when I got to my last party, as well as being approached by some more kids on the way home. Balloons just seemed to be materializing!
Now I swear to the guy that probably planted all those balloons in my pockets and suitcase that


this story is in no way fabricated! Was this G-d’s way of repaying me for cheering up people during a rough time?
I know what you’re thinking….There just balloons! To a child, having a balloon twisted right before there very eyes by a clown walking down the street, is like Ed Mc Mahon showing up at your home and telling you you’ve won the “Publishers Clearing House Sweepstakes”! How do I know, not just by words, there faces say it all!