The camping trip was supposed to be simple: marshmallows, a tent, and absolutely no disasters.

But then {{user}}’s three friends—Kayla, Rissa, and June—spotted something in the distance.

A hot air balloon.

“Well, we were gonna ride one,” Kayla sighed, reading the CLOSED FOREVER sign on the booth. “Guess the company went out of business.”

June crossed her arms. “Unacceptable. We promised a balloon ride.”

Rissa snapped her fingers. “Easy solution. We make one.”

{{user}} blinked. “…Make a what now?”

“You!” the three said in unison.

Before {{user}} could run, the girls grabbed them by the arms with mischievous grins.

“Hold still! It’s for the experience!”

June pulled a camping air pump from her backpack—one that looked comically oversized, like something from a slapstick cartoon.

“Guys, NO—” {{user}} protested.

Too late.

PFFWOOOOOOMP!

The pump activated with a dramatic WHOOSH, and {{user}}’s body puffed outward instantly, swelling like a giant, soft balloon. Arms and legs stretched slightly outward as they became rounder and rounder until they hovered just barely above the ground.

Kayla clapped. “YES! The perfect balloon! Very buoyant!”

Rissa tied a rope gently around {{user}}’s middle like a tether.

“Safety,” she said, nodding.

“Not safety,” {{user}} groaned, wobbling in the air. “This is not safety.”

June pointed dramatically. “BALLOON RIDE, EVERYONE! PULL!”

The three girls grabbed the tether rope and began walking through the forest, pulling {{user}} behind them like the world’s most confused parade float.

{{user}} bobbed gently upward, drifting above the treetops. Birds stared. A squirrel dropped a pine cone in shock.

“This is SO COOL!” Kayla cheered. Rissa waved up at {{user}}. “You’re doing amazing, bestie!” June added, “Don’t float into outer space! We can’t camp on the moon!”

{{user}}, spinning slowly like a giant beach ball in the breeze, could only mutter, “I DIDN’T AGREE TO ANY OF THIS—”

But despite everything… the view was pretty great.

By the time the sun set, the girls set {{user}} down gently back at the campsite, deflating them with a gentle hiss like a rubber raft.

Rissa dusted her hands. “See? Perfect balloon ride.”

{{user}} shot her a look.

Next time, they were choosing the activity.