The Pink Ping Pong Ball

A father asks his son what he would like for his fourth birthday. "A pink ping pong ball!" the kid says. "What.. Why would you want a pink ping pong ball?" asks the father. "I'll get you something even better." So the dad goes out and buys the kid a huge set of Hot Wheels instead.


Fast forward a year. "What would you like for your fifth birthday, son?" and the kid responds "A pink ping pong ball!" The father says "You're still on that..? I'll get you a real gift instead." so he goes and buys his son an awesome set of Legos.


Next year. "What would you like for your sixth birthday, son?" Son responds with "A pink ping pong ball!" Dad is getting a little frustrated now and says "No, that's dumb, I'm just going to get you something good again." so he goes and buys his son a remote controlled helicopter.


Fast forward two years. "You're turning eight in a few days son, what would you like for your birthday?" The kid thinks a second and says "A pink ping pong ball!" to which the dad replies "What the hell.. No. You're getting an actual gift." so the dad goes and buys his son a brand new baseball bat and a fancy new catchers mitt.


Two years later. Birthday number 10. "What would you like for your birthday this year? Think of something *really good!*" and the kid responds "I want a pink ping pong ball!" The dad pretty much expected that response at this point and he's too tired to argue, so he goes out and buys his son some new video games.


Birthday number twelve. Dad tells son "Alright, you've been super good this year in taking on new responsibilities and helping your mother and I around the house, so I'd like to get you something AWESOME for your birthday. Think about it really, really hard." The son ponders for a moment and says "I'd really like a pink ping pong ball!" Dad responds "I've told you damn near every year, I'm not buying you a pink ping pong ball. I guess I'll just pick something myself like always.." so he goes and buys his son a bunch of nice new clothes and some more video games.


Fast forward again. Birthday fourteen. The father asks his son "What do you want for your birthday this year? Oh let me guess, a pink ping pong ball?" The kid smiles and says "Yes! A pink ping pong ball!" so the dad responds "What the hell is your obsession with this pink ping pong ball? Why do you want one so badly? It's so stupid! Just the ball? Like no paddles or anything? What is wrong with you?" and storms off to the store to find an actual, practical gift. A new TV for his son's bedroom, lots more clothes, and a $100 gift card to the movie theater.


Two more years go by. It's his son's 16th birthday, and the father just knows what his son will ask for this year. "Well son, you're turning 16 in a few days and I'm prepared to buy you anything you want. Absolutely anything at all. Keep in mind you'll be getting your driver's license very soon! So, what would you like? Anything at all!" and the kid says "A pink ping pong ball!" so the dad just explodes "DAMMIT SON, I'VE TOLD YOU NO EVERY SINGLE YEAR. IT'S STUPID, IT DOESN'T MAKE ANY SENSE, THERE IS NO REASON YOU SHOULD HAVE BEEN ASKING ME FOR A PINK PING PONG BALL EVERY YEAR FOR YOUR BIRTHDAY SINCE YOU WERE OLD ENOUGH TO SPEAK. ENOUGH OF THIS SHIT." so he goes out and buys his son a brand new Lexus convertible.


A few weeks later, the son was in a horrible car accident and was in the ICU. The father rushed to the hospital to be at his son's side. The doctors informed him that his son might not make it. With tears in his eyes, he holds his son's hand and says "I always tried to be a good father, and you were the perfect son. Is there anything at all I can do to make you more comfortable? Would you like for me to bring you anything from home? Anything at all?" and his son looks up at him and says "I.. I'd like a pink ping pong ball.."


Dad stands up and says "A pink ping pong ball.. Alright son. It's all yours."


The father goes out and fetches his son the pink ping pong ball he had always been asking for. He comes back to the hospital. His son looks up, sees his father with the pink ping pong ball, grabs it from his hand and dies.