A Beachball Mystery


There is a window near my office desk. I often look at the view outside while I’m creating a new story. I’m fascinated by the colorful birds at the feeders, the red berries on the holly bushes, and the brown grass that will soon start to change to green as the temperatures warm. On a recent windy day in the Lowcountry, there were leaves dancing in the air. Imagine my surprise when a single beachball rolled down the street. Yes, a beachball mystery.

I’ve enjoyed a variety of sights while gazing out of the window. The most recent mysterious sight caused me to pause and laugh. A lone beachball bounced down the street, as if someone had kicked the bright and colorful ball. 

I waited and listened for the sounds of laughter or chatter. Nothing. Everything was quiet. The ball continued its journey from the street to the sidewalk. I decided to investigate. Opening my front door and stepping onto the porch, I looked to the left and to the right. Not a sound. Not a person. Nothing. The ball kept rolling. Interesting sight.

Walking back into the house, I considered asking the neighbors if the ball belonged to them. Then, I realized most everyone was at work or school. This mystery wouldn’t be solved yet.

The next day, as I sat at the desk again, another beachball rolled by. The wind carried it from one side of the street to the other. Could that be the same ball? No way. Something strange was happening. Where were these balls coming from, and who was the owner?

A couple of days later, a torrential downpour and wind caused everyone to stay inside. No neighborhood visits outside or games of hide and seek. The sound of the wind moving through the trees and flags flapping against the poles filled the air.

As the rain stopped, I went outside to see if our hummingbird feeder was safe. Then I noticed another strange sight. A large white trash bag full of beach balls. What in the world? Where did that come from? The bag had landed in a neighbor’s yard. 

Waiting to see if the bag was picked up by someone or if I should retrieve it made us laugh. Bop and I checked to see if the bag was there. After a day, it was gone.

Beachballs. I don’t know where you came from or where you’ve gone. I’m thankful for the laughter and the simple act of trying to find the answer to the mystery.

Have you ever seen a mysterious object rolling down the street? Perhaps a beachball?

Have a blessed and fun-filled day,

Mimi aka Melissa Henderson

27 Comments

  1. Jessica Brodie

    Very cute!!! Such random things can happen in life, bringing confusion and (if we let it!) joy! And all things point to God.

    1. Melissa G. Henderson

      Thank you Jessica. Yes, all things point to God. I love how God gives us laughter and joy in the simple things. Have a blessed week! 🙂

  2. Carol Souders

    Sweet story. Strange things happen in this world we just cannot figure out why. But it brought you joy and laughter as if someone above was putting some fun in your day.

    1. Melissa G. Henderson

      Thank you Carol. Yes, God was putting some fun in my day and I appreciate the joy. 🙂 Have a blessed week! 🙂

  3. karentfriday

    What a fun story, Melissa. And the mystery remains of where the beachballs came from or went. Loved it. God bless.

    1. Melissa G. Henderson

      Thank you Karen. I may have discovered the answer to the beachball mystery. I’m waiting to hear back from a neighbor. haha! Have a blessed week! 🙂

  4. Nancy Ruegg

    Your story almost makes me want to send beach balls down the street on purpose, to give people a fun surprise and make them smile and laugh and wonder! I’ll look forward to the next installment, after you hear back from that neighbor.

    1. Melissa G. Henderson

      Haha! Thank you for reading and commenting. Yes, send a beach ball down your street and see what happens. I love the joy God sends to brighten our days. Have a blessed week! 🙂

  5. RobbyeFaye

    What a strange sight that surely was. Can’t wait to hear “the rest of the story!”
    Blessings, my friend~

  6. June Foster

    The beach ball incident could make a great starter for a story. I love it!

    1. Melissa G. Henderson

      Thank you. That’s a great idea! Now, I’m turning over story plots. haha! Have a blessed week! 🙂

  7. Katherine Pasour

    I enjoyed your mystery story of the beachballs. When we are observant, and pause long enough to look and listen, there is so much to bring a smile. Then as you did, we write about the event and share more smiles. Thank you, Melissa.

    1. Melissa G. Henderson

      Thank you Katherine. Today, the adventure is watcing the birds drink from mud puddles. 🙂 Have a blessed weekend!

  8. Gail Johnson

    If it is as windy there as it is here, that beach ball is bouncing all over the place. Hehe. Cute, Melissa. You’ll have to let us know if you find the owner.

    1. Melissa G. Henderson

      Thank you Gail. I’m still waiting to see if the balls belonged to a neighbor. 🙂 Have a blessed weekend!

  9. Dianne Miley

    One time we had a torrential downpour. We lived on a hill and water poured down the indentation at the curb. It was trash day and our trash can floated to the end of the street!

    1. Melissa G. Henderson

      Thank you for reading and commenting. Oh my! Trash floating down the street. That’s wild! Have a blessed weekend!

  10. Karen

    I love a good mystery, and this certainly sounds like a doozy! I’ll be looking forward to finding out the end of the story. Have a blessed week, dear Mimi.

    1. Melissa G. Henderson

      Thank you Karen. I hope to have an answer to this mystery soon. Have a blessed weekend! 🙂

  11. Yvonne Morgan

    Loved the story Melissa. Maybe the angels were playing with them and they got away. Lol. Or maybe God just wanted to give you a smile.

    1. Melissa G. Henderson

      Thank you Yvonne. I love the idea that maybe the angels were playing with them. I love how God gives us things to smile about. Have a blessed weekend! 🙂

  12. Lynn J Simpson

    Living in the country where my neighbour is a few miles away, I don’t see mysterious “objects” unless a family of skunks in front of the garage and a fox climbing a snow pile at the edge of our driveway could be considered “mysterious.” But I could picture your story completely. I think a bouncing beach ball on a deserted street on a rainy day would make a great children’s story, too! 🙂

    1. Melissa G. Henderson

      Thank you Lynn. Yes, I think there is a story to be told. haha! I’ll take beach balls instead of skunks. haha! Have a blessed day!

  13. Barbara Harper

    How funny. The only reason I can think of for a bag of beach balls is an activity for a youth group or children’s ministry with a creative leader. 🙂 I would love to know what they were for. I can’t think of anything interesting that has come down our street.

    1. Melissa G. Henderson

      Thank you Barbara. I hope to solve the mystery later today. 🙂 Have a wonderful and blessed week! 🙂

  14. Melissa McLaughlin

    Melissa, what a curious mystery! Sounds like the beginning of a new story to me! Thank you for sharing your joy in the simple things in life. God blesses us in endless ways.

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