lots of ping pong balls

A father was thinking what to get his son for his 6th birthday. He decided to ask his son what he wants and the son said: "Ping pong balls, lots and lots of ping pong balls". The dad was surprised by this, he was expecting the son to ask for a tricycle or some action figures. He decides to indulge his son and get him the tricycle and gets a ping pong ball. A few days after the birthday, he goes to check on his son and sees the tricycle has not been touched but the ping pong ball has completely disappeared. He asks his son "Son where did it disappear?" to which he responds "I dont know dad, i must have misplaced it". The laughs it off thinking its a normal kid thing.

A few years go by, its the son's 12th birthday. He decided to ask his son what he wants and the son said: "Ping pong balls, lots and lots of ping pong balls". The dad was surprised by this, he was expecting the son to ask for a bike or some video games. He decides to indulge his son and get him the best bike money can buy and gets a pack of ping pong balls. A few days after the birthday, he goes to check on his son and sees the bike has not been touched but the ping pong balls have completely disappeared. He asks his son "Son where did they disappear?" to which he responds "I dont know dad,they must have gotten lost". The laughs it off thinking its a normal kid thing, might have lost them throwing them with friends.

Another couple of years go by, and its the son's sweet sixteen. He decided to ask his son what he wants and the son said: "Ping pong balls, lots and lots of ping pong balls". The dad was surprised by this, he was expecting the son to ask for a car like most teenagers who just got a license. He decides to indulge his son and get him a brand new mustang convertible and fills the interior with ping pong balls. A few days after the birthday, he goes to check on his son and sees the car has not left the garage but the ping pong balls have completely disappeared. He asks his son "Son where did it disappear?" to which he responds "I dont know dad, i can't remember anymore". The dad starts to worry now about where all these ping pong balls are going.

Another couple of years go by, and its the son's wedding He decided to ask his son what he wants and the son said: "Ping pong balls, lots and lots of ping pong balls". The dad was surprised by this, he was expecting the son to ask for a appliances for the new house or money to help them start a new life. He decides like always to help out and buy all the appliances they would need and instead of packing peanuts, fills the boxes with ping pong balls. A few days after they move in, he goes to check on his son and sees the appliances are still in the boxes, but the ping pong balls have completely disappeared. He asks his son "Son where did it disappear?" to which he responds "I dont know dad, i can't remember anymore". The dad starts to worry more now about where all these ping pong balls are going.

A few years go by, and the son is diagnosed with a incurable disease. The father is choking to see his son in this condition and asks if theres anything he can do to make his last few moments enjoyable. With little breath, the son coughs "Ping pong balls, lots and lots of ping pong balls". The father is taken back by his willingness to still ask for them and asks "Son, I must know where all these ping pong balls have gone". The son says that if he indulges him one more time he will tell him. So the father goes and buys him as many ping pong balls as the room will fit and goes to recuperate before facing his son for the last time. He comes back and sees all the ping pong balls have disappeared. He asks him to tell him now and the son looks at him and says "I-I ..." and the son passes away.