A boy is born in a very rich family.
At his christening, the family gives some catalogues to the baby to make him choose his own present. The range included things as new beautiful clothes, any kind of game, a perfect nanny, a new room, and many other luxury things. Astoundingly, he points at a common red ball. The parents, amazed, take that catalogue out of his hands, but the boy begins to cry loudly. There was nothing to do, he wants the ball.
At his first birthday, all the family is gathered. Grandpas, uncles and cousins, all ask him what he would like. He refuses tricycles, televisions, games: the only thing he says is "Re Bal". Again, everything is useless. He is happy only when he holds that little toy in his hands.
It's his fifth birthday. The same scene repeats. He doesn't want nothing, signed balls, stylish clothes, bikes, games: the only thing he asks for is a red ball.
His tenth birthday arrives. He has grown, his parents hope he wants something else, but nothing has changed. A new bike, a house only for him, televisions, games: everything refused. All he wants is a red ball.
15 years, he is offered motorbikes, cars, girls, anything he could imagine of: he wants the red ball.
18, he completes the secondary schools: cars, trucks, houses, islands, mansions, he only wants the red ball.
22: he degrees. Any kind of gift is offered to him: a night with a supermodel, a house on the alps, a villa in the tropics, Ferrari, Rolls Royce, a letter of recommendation to a prestigious firm: from parents and friends all he asks for is a red ball.
The years go on, he finds a job in a company and soon arrives at the top of the hierarchy: for this goal, his parents decide to do him a present: a stylish fountain pen, a new car, a house, holidays, everything is refused. Only the red ball is accepted.
In the meantime, he gets married: obviously, for his wedding, he will only accept a red ball.
The years pass: he reaches his 40, then the 50, then the 60, and so on.
He has 90 years now: in his beautiful house built with his own money, all his relatives are gathered: uncles, cousins, brothers, nephews, sons, grandsons, friends. He is seriously ill and is very close to the end of his life. Everybody is mourning for his painful state.
The room is totally covered with red balls, received from relatives on anniversaries, birthdays, Christmases, special occasions.
At a certain point, one of his youngest grandsons, goes near him and says: “Can I ask you a thing, granddad?”
“Everything, my little boy.” Was the answer.
“Why, in all gift situations you have always only wanted a red ball?”
Hearing these words, all the family gathers. The silence is almost sensible. Everybody watches the old man speaking. For those seconds, everybody forgets to breathe. Finally a reason!
The man opens his mouth. Every word is spoken with pain but determination:
“The...Red...Ball...Is...”
Then he dies.