The Bubble (Part One)

Out there, in the vastness, two angels kissed. As their lips parted a small, round, weightless and perfect bubble formed. Released from their embrace the bubble floated in the dark amongst the twinkle of stars and the magic of golden heavenly dust. Through deep space the glistening bubble drifted through the dark. Starlight refracted the rainbow colors swirled on its thin resilient skin.

Silently it floated into the brightening light of a particular star. Nabbed by an invisible tentacle, the bubble was pulled into a current and sent swirling round and round and then down. Below was the marbled blue-green planet, Earth.

Between the open sky and a dense dark forest, the bubble floated. Down, down it went until the pointed tippy-tip-top of a very tall fir tree snagged it, catching it gently and cuddling it in its tender new lime green needled fingers.

The bubble sat on the tree top for days swaying with the tree in the wind, back and forth. One afternoon a strong gust knocked the bubble from its fir nest. Filled with the tree’s damp warmth, the bubble sank quickly. It landed on a gray pebble beach. There the bubble rolled over and over on the little rocks tickling its multicolored skin.

As it happened, two young lovers were strolling the beach that day. Arm in arm they were laughing at the jabbering crows that flew overhead waging an aerial battle with the seagulls. While the gulls seemed to be besting the crows in the long flights, they were no match for the crow’s short drops and swoops. Taunting the gulls, the crows boasted their invincibility until SNAP. A gull managed to nip the black tail feathers of one of the noisiest birds and sent it diving bombing towards the beach. He managed to pull himself out of his death spiral just before he smacked beak first into the rocks. Although his tail was a bit mangled his ego was still in tact. He righted himself and lighted on the beach. Parading on the rocks he seemed to say, “Did you like my stunt?”

His head raised with his recovered pride, the crow then stumbled over the bubble. POP! The young man and woman continued to laugh at the crazy crow. Suddenly the air was filled with a hum. If velvet sang, it would sound like the noise that began to layer in over the beach. It flooded the nearby woods, and out to the sea. The crow rotated and cocked his head at the source. He saw a round object that lay on the rocks just behind him. Being a crow and the little round thing being so shiny, that bird snapped around and trapped it in his big black triangular beak. But as soon as he got a good hold of it, he dropped it instantly and flew away.

The young lovers approached the small humming silver disc. The woman bent down and touched it. She reached her fingers out and gently lifted it placing it in her palm. It looked like a silver button. It was a bit larger than a quarter and had two holes placed side by side in the center. There was a rim that ran around the edge. It still held a bit of the bubble’s iridescence that carried it to this place.

As she held it in her hand, it vibrated with an intensity that varied with the volume of the hum. It was the strangest thing. The noise would lessen, but the richness of the hum remained.

She stood bedazzled. Her lover spoke and she jumped clamping her fist around the disc. Her heart raced and she felt the momentary rush and flush, her face reddened and skin tingled. Her physiological response zapped the little disc into overdrive and seemed to suck in her energy. It blasted out an intense hum and vibration that cleared the trees of the resting crows. They scattered cawing and crackling back deeper into the forest.

Stunned, she slowly opened her fist. As she did, the button quieted to a resting hum and vibration. The young man looked at the little disc. “What is this thing? Where did it come from?” he asked, brows furrowed.

“That crow, I think. Isn’t it wonderful?”

“Just leave it,” he said.

“No way,” she said.

“Yes, please drop it? It’s weird and who knows, it may be dangerous…like radioactive or something.” he cautioned. “Leave it and lets go back to the cabin.”

“No. I am keeping it,” she said firmly. With that she carefully put it in her pocket, grabbed his hand and led him back down to the water. He hesitated and pulled her back, then relented. Together they waded ankle deep in the thin waves washing the sandy beach exposed with a low tide. She playfully kicked the water dancing with the hum of the silver button. He, on the other hand, pulled and flung the water with his toes. He was realizing that their first real fight was going to be about a silly but strange little silver button.