Purple Polka-dotted Ping Pong Ball

[JojoBag]

On a sunny spring morning, a little boy was born and his mother was certain he would be very different from all other boys. She was right. He was named Phil and he was a very smart little boy. When he learned to speak, he developed a fascination with purple polka-dotted ping pong balls. When he turned three, his parents asked him what he wanted for his birthday. Phil wanted a purple polka-dotted ping pong ball. Instead, his parents got him a truck. Phil threw a royal tantrum, screaming and crying until his parents go him the ball.

 

On his next birthday, Phil's parents asked him what he wanted. All he wanted was a purple polka-dotted ping pong ball. They tried to talk him out of the ball, but he threw another temper tantrum and pouted until he got his ball. When he entered kindergarten, his parents wanted to get him a present, but all Phil wanted was a purple polka-dotted ping pong ball. As every birthday came along, the only thing Phil wanted was a purple polka-dotted ping pong ball. His parents asked him why he was obsessed with the balls, but Phil would not answer.

 

Eventually, Phil's parents took him to a pshrink. After a couple sessions, the doctor said that Phil refused to tell why he wanted the balls. The pshrink concluded that Phil was only eccentric and slightly obsessed with purple polka-dotted ping pong balls. His parents took it in stride and resigned themselves to getting the same present every year. When Phil turned 16, instead of a car, he asked for the same value in purple polka-dotted ping pong balls. When he graduated from high school, he asked for more balls.

 

Phil graduated from college and again asked for purple polka-dotted ping pong balls. The same thing happened for his wedding and when he opened his computer business, he took a portion of the profits and bought more balls. Eventually, he had a warehouse built to house all his purple polka-dotted ping pong balls. Every six months, he inventoried the balls and eventually hired a security firm to guard the warehouse. As his life progressed, Phil amassed hundreds of thousands of purple polka-dotted ping pong balls and built additional warehouses.

 

Not one time did Phil ever tell anyone why he wanted the purple polka-dotted ping pong balls; not his parents, his wife, or his children. Finally, Phil grew very old and lay on his death bed. His wife and all their children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren were gathered around. Phil told them he would grant them one wish. At the same time, everyone practically yelled, “Tell us why you have nearly a million purple polka-dotted ping pong balls!”

 

Phil smiled and took a deep breath. “Well, I wanted them because...,” and then he died.

[Backroads]

I knew when I began reading how this would end. Yet I read anyway.

[pam]

Hopefully that will be one of the things that we learn and are made aware of in our post mortal life.