When Water Balloons Changed Everything
Copyright© 2026 by Jackstoryteller
Chapter 6
Monday June 7
Breakfast was finished, and Dad and I were still sitting at the kitchen table, nursing our coffee. I took a sip and made a face.
“I really have to put some thought into a better cup of coffee,” I muttered.
Dad waved it off. “Maybe later. For now, we need to look over your ideas list, separate them into categories, and figure out what we’re going to prepare next for presentations.”
He leaned forward. “How many do you have?”
I pulled out my nearly full notebook. “Almost thirty.”
Dad blinked. “Whoa! I knew you scratched down some ideas on Saturday, but that many?”
I shrugged. “They just ... came.”
Dad flipped to a blank page. “Alright. Start with toys. Only toys.”
I began reading down the list.
Full Product Master List
(As organized at the kitchen table with Dad)
1. TOYS
Core Concepts
Splash Pak
Hot Wheels (full line)
Nerf Balls (3 variants)
Mission Packs (x6 action figures)
Mission Rooms (x6 action figures)
Additional Toy Items
Water toys
Sprinkler attachments
Water cannons
Floating toys
Molded toy chests
Gear bins
2. Rubbermaid — Children’s Outdoor Products
Big Wheel tricycle
Sit‑n‑Scoot (animal shapes; optional push‑handle)
Wagon
Turtle sandbox with lid
Playhouses (castle, fort, general store)
Sliding board
See‑saw
Swing seats
Standing sandbox
Standing water table
Basketball hoop
Picnic table
Cash register & canned‑goods play set
Kitchen appliance play set
Barbecue grill play set
Climbers
Play tunnels
Ride‑On Cars
Outdoor toy storage
Sand/Water combo tables
Kids’ garden tools
3. BABY PRODUCTS
Baby sit‑n‑scoots
Diaper pails
Car seats
Car seat/stroller combo
Baby bathtubs
Step stools
Potty chairs
Booster seats
Nursery storage bins
Bottle drying racks
4. HOME IMPROVEMENT / HOME GOODS
Mailboxes
Shutters
Porch railings
Shelves
Outdoor cushion storage
Potting shed
Storage sheds
Portable basketball hoop
Outdoor storage benches
Tool organizers
Sports equipment organizer
Hose reels
Planters
Step stools
Laundry baskets
Hampers
Trash cans
5. NON‑TOY
Curved shower rod
Kitchen storage containers
Closet organizers
Bathroom organizers
Under‑sink storage
6. RUBBERMAID INSTITUTIONAL LINE
8’ folding table
8’ round table
6’ lightweight folding table
5’ fold‑in‑half table
Stackable chairs
TOTAL COUNT: 55+ items
I stared at the spread of pages. “I didn’t realize it was this extensive.”
Dad nodded. “It’s a lot. But now we can see it.”
I tapped the toy list. “Mission Packs and foam balls have to be pitched this month. If they’re going to make Toy Fair, companies need time to tool, package, and plan. Those two have a realistic runway.”
Dad agreed. “Sid said the same thing. Toy Fair waits for no one.”
I flipped to the Rubbermaid section. “The biggest impact for Rubbermaid would be the tables. Blow‑molded, lightweight, family‑friendly. But they need a special machine. That makes it a later pitch.”
I turned another page. “Next is the home‑improvement and garden line. And that’s the one they can do right now. Everything here uses equipment they already have. They can gear up fast.”
Dad scanned the list. “Seventeen items. That’s a whole division.”
“Exactly,” I said. “They can pick the strongest five or six to launch with, then build a three‑year plan. It’s the safest, fastest way to enter a new category.”
I sat back. “And ... Mom’s right. We need Mr. Pitts. He knows Rubbermaid inside and out. He’ll help us make the right choices.”
Dad smiled. “He’ll also know what the company can handle — and what they can’t.”
I nodded. “Do we corner him in his office, or ask him and his wife over tonight?”
Dad stood. “Let me call your mom.”
While Dad was on the phone, Jack opened his new sketchbook and began drawing what a Mission Room might look like — fold‑out walls, planning table, gear racks.
Dad hung up. “Jack, get cleaned up. We’re going to the lion’s den. Suit and tie.”
I blinked. “We’re going to his office?”
“We are,” Dad said. “Your mom says he’s free this afternoon.”
They gathered the notebook, sketches, and organized pages and headed out.
Mr. Pitts looked up as they entered. “Well now ... this must be serious.”
Dad explained, sliding the categorized pages across the desk. Mr. Pitts read slowly, eyebrows rising higher with each section.
When he finished, he sat back. “Jack ... this is not a handful of ideas. This is a roadmap.”
I swallowed. “We wanted your guidance. We don’t want to overwhelm the company.”
Mr. Pitts tapped the Home Improvement & Garden section. “This is the line to pitch now. Every item fits our current machines. No new tooling. No new training. No new sales channels. We can move immediately.”
He tapped again. “This is the strongest pitch. And I’ll help you build it.”
I exhaled.
Mr. Pitts continued, “We’ll use internal printing. Clean layouts. Professional. I’ll help shape the presentation and make sure it gets in front of the right people.”
He smiled. “We’ll probably need you to help my design guys understand what you’re thinking. Let me get Lou.”
Lou stepped in. “What’s going on Jim?”
Jim introduced them and slid the page across.
Lou scanned the list. “Mailboxes, huh?”
I opened my sketchbook. Lou leaned in. “Yeah ... moldable. Weatherproof. That’s a winner.”
He moved down the list.
“Shutters — easy. Porch railings — later. Shelves?”
I flipped to another sketch — injection‑molded shelves with tube risers.
Lou grinned. “Perfect.”
“Sheds?” he asked.
I showed interlocking blow‑molded panels.
Lou rubbed his chin. “Small ones? We can do those now.”
“Hose reel?”
“Big machines. We’ll check time.”
“Planters?”
Lou nodded. “Absolutely.”
He sat back. “We can start with these items and work on the rest later.”
He turned to Jim. “We’ll have preliminary drawings by the end of the week.”
Jim stood. “Thank you for bringing this to me. Together, we’ll pitch this to the board.”
Jack felt his stomach drop.
Oh no. Did we just give away the ship?
Dad put a steadying hand on my shoulder.
After Dad and I left, Jim asked Jack’s mom, Shirley into his office.
“I saw the look on Jack’s face,” Jim said. “He thought he might not get compensated.”
Shirley nodded. “He’s young.”
Jim leaned forward. “That is not going to happen. I want this as much as you do. If this goes well, I’ll be up for a promotion — maybe VP of a new division.”
Shirley smiled. “You’d deserve it.”
On the drive home, I finally spoke.
“Dad ... what if they take everything? What if we don’t get anything?”
Dad didn’t hesitate. “Jack, we’ve known Jim a long time. He’s honest. He’ll take care of us — or I would’ve handled this differently.”
I nodded, but the worry lingered.
They had barely pulled into the driveway when Sid came striding up, waving one hand.
Dad rolled down the window. “Sid? Everything alright?”
Sid leaned in. “Alright? I’ve been trying to catch you all afternoon. Mattel called. Your sell sheet is the talk of the office. They want you out there.”
He handed Dad a slip of paper. “Direct line to Mr. Harper.”
Dad ushered Sid inside and dialed.
“Operator, Mattel Toys in Los Angeles, please ... Yes, I’ll hold.”
Sid rocked on his heels.
Dad straightened. “Mr. Harper, please ... Yes, Keith Biggs calling.”
A pause.
Then Dad’s voice shifted — calm, confident.
I only heard one side of the conversation, but I clearly heard my dad say “Wednesday at 9:00 will be fine. We will be there.”
That was enough for me to jump around in excitement.
Dad hung up, smiling. “We have an appointment Wednesday at nine.”
Sid nodded. “I’m going with you.”
Dad clapped him on the shoulder. “Good. Call Wham‑O. Get us an appointment Wednesday afternoon.”
He dialed Triple A. “Three seats to Los Angeles ... hotel near Mattel ... rental car...”
Sid and I exchanged a look — this was real.
Sid returned minutes later, waving a slip of paper. “Wham‑O can see us Wednesday at two.”
Dad let out a low whistle. “Two meetings in one day.”
Sid grinned. “Welcome to the toy business.”
I asked, “Do you think we can find an old die‑cast car and a new Matchbox?”
Dad looked over. “Why?”
I leaned forward. “To start the pitch. Put both cars on the table — show the evolution — then toss them away and say, ‘I want to redefine the 1/64 car market.’”
Sid slapped the table. “Yes! A symbolic throwing away of the past.”
Dad nodded. “Alright. We regroup at two. Review materials. Pick up travel necessities. Pack.”
He ticked off the plan. “Tuesday we travel. Wednesday we pitch. Thursday we return.”
Sid stood. “I’ll be here at two.”
Mom walked in just as Dad was setting the table.
“What happened?” she asked, already sensing the energy.
Dad gestured for her to sit. “A lot. But first — Jim pulled you into his office, didn’t he?”
Mom nodded. “He said he won’t let Jack go uncompensated. He wants this to succeed. He even hinted at a promotion.”
I let out a breath.
Dad squeezed my shoulder. “See? I told you.”
Mom looked between them. “Now tell me the rest.”
Dad leaned back. “Mattel wants us Wednesday morning. Wham‑O Wednesday afternoon. Flights booked. Hotel booked. Rental car booked.”
Mom covered her mouth. “Two meetings in one day?”
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