Carrie's eyes lit up, the dazzling colors seeming to pool and merge like a lava lamp in her eyes. She could smell the pungent latex, maybe a bit more cartoonish of a smell than back in her dismal world. So many to choose from, she lightly touched a few, feeling their softness. What would these balloons do? Just inflate like in some Saturday morning show?
The balloon seller's smile widened, his eyes lit with his own madness, perhaps taking too much helium himself. "Tell you what," he said, "why don't you take a few for later. I'll select a few of my personal favorites that you," he glanced at John, "and your partner would...enjoy." Carrie felt the weight of John's arm around her, breaking her of her spellbound reverie over the balloons.
"Oh!" Carrie smiled. "That would be great!"
The balloon seller's smile widened to a head-splitting Cheshire grin before drawling, "Wonderful!" With a smooth movement the mysterious man plucked a selection of balloons of various colors and shapes from what was in front of Carrie as well as pulling a few from pockets in his coat. He half-bowed and offered the handful of balloons to Carrie. "If it please Mademoiselle, these, I hope, will be to your liking."
Giggling, Carrie took the rainbow of latex and brushed them against John's face. "Lookit! We've got some toys!" John immediately sneezed and gave his Carrie a squeeze. "Thanks!" Carrie offered to the balloon seller before the couple walked away.
As they did, the balloon seller's smile became more sinister, showing no teeth as he watched them go off with his 'toys'.