Riding The Bubble

   Writer Lady  stands in front of the other bubble and studies it.  Finding what looks like the same spot Monitor Man has she places her hand on the bubble’s outside.  The bubble warms and begins to glow.  Monitor Man looks over and studies her progress.  “Only use a little pressure.”

 She adjusts the pressure that she is using.

 “A little less…a little less… be gentle.”  He says.  He watches as she adjusts pressure.  “Do you have any concept of how to use a soft touch?”

  “Um…yeah?”  Writer Lady eases up a little.

  “You need to ease up.” 

  “I just did.”

 “Ease up a bit more.”

Writer Lady looks at Monitor Man.   “It doesn’t like me.”  She says.

 “Don’t be silly just ease up.”  Monitor Man eases into his bubble even more.  “Relax.”

Writer Lady wiggles around a bit in an effort to look relaxed.  When the bubble begins to respond she does begin to relax.

  “Keep relaxing.”  Monitor Man encourages.  “That’s good.  Step forward.”

 The bubble softens even more.  Soon Writer Lady’s hand and wrist are inside the bubble.  The bubble continues making its way up the length of her arm.

“See?  It’s working.  Stay relaxed and let the bubble do the work.”

A slit lights up along the outside of the bubble beginning at Writer Lady’s arm and working its way down.  “What do I do now?”  Writer Lady asks.  There is no sound.  “Monitor Man.   Monitor Man?”  Writer Lady looks at the other bubble.  Monitor Man is safely inside.  “I guess these things are sound proof.”   She says looking at Monitor Man.  He smiles and gives her the thumbs up, encouraging her to continue entering her bubble.    Writer Lady studies the slit and eases her way forward a couple of inches.  The bubble continues forward closing the distance between them.  Writer Lady has one arm up to her shoulder and a half a leg inside when Monitor Man’s bubble begins to rise from the ground.  “Oh no you don’t.”  She says glaring at his bubble.

“No…no…no.”  Monitor Man says, the bubble he is occupying continues rising.   “We are waiting for Writer Lady.”  The bubble continues rising.  He looks down at Writer Lady, she is almost inside of her bubble. “Stop.”  Monitor Man yells, the bubble stops rising and floats in a holding pattern.  “Thank you.” 

  The moment that Writer Lady makes it inside her own bubble Monitor Man’s takes off at full speed.  She is jostled around as hers takes off immediately  in pursuit.  An odd noise surrounds.  “What is that?”

  “It’s some sort of communications system.  We can talk to each other.”  Monitor Man’s voice resonates throughout her bubble.

“Hello.”  He says.

“Hello,”  Writer Lady says, looking around the bubble as she speaks, unsure of the location of her bubble’s microphone.

“It’s okay.  I can hear you.  There’s no need to speak so loudly.” 

“What?  Why?  How?”  Writer Lady asks.

“I don’t know.  I said that I wanted to talk to you, I heard a beep and there you were.” 

“Isn’t the bubble organic?  What about biology?  The physiology of organic life?  The laws of physics?” 

“I don’t know.  Maybe it’s because we’re in Faerie.  Maybe it occurs naturally here.”

The bubbles rose and fell naturally over the landscape.  First giving them views of fields of wildflowers and then skimming over water.  Writer Lady sees the mountains growing in the horizon. “Where are we going?”  She asks.

“Good question.” 

 “I talked to the bearded guy and I know what to do.”  Smudge Mal says, looking out at the empty sky in front of them.  “Where’s Monitor Man?”  He asks.

 “He took off.”  Spots Wash says.

 “It’s okay little brother.  That Santa guy says that after you get inside the bubble all you have to do is think about your destination, picture it, or say it. All we will have to do is say that we want to find Monitor Man and the bubble should head right for him.”

 “There’s something else. “

Smudge Mal looks at Spots Wash and waits.

 “I saw the person with Monitor Man.” 

“Who is our second contestant?”  Smudge Mal asks.

“It’s a woman.”

“He finds girls everywhere.” 

 “The woman looked a lot like Food Provider.”

“How much like Food Provider?”

“Her clothes looked different.”  Spots Wash says.

“Anything else?”

“No just her clothes.”

“Food Provider is with Monitor Man in Faerie.  We are in Faerie to take Monitor Man prisoner.  Do you know what this means?”

Spots Wash does not answer.

“Extra points.  Let’s get this bubble flying.” 

“Sending a text.  You think it comes down to sending a text?”  Paige demands.

Peter, Dylan, and Diomedes all stop what they are doing and look at Paige.  They look at each other. 

“Yeah.  Why wouldn’t it?”  Peter asks.

“Keeping this place running is a big responsibility.  Huge.”  Paige says, pacing the floor.  “Who is going to send out bill payments,  keep Dylan out of trouble, keep food in the house?  Who is going to keep TP from playing with Tinkletoes’ weapons?  What about House?” 

Peter and Dylan look at each other.  “What about House?”

She wants a makeover.  She has Mural Man, Ray, and TP in the bonus room for a planning meeting as we speak. 

“TP is out of trouble.”  Peter says.  “Everything is fine.” 

“I have to explain everything don’t I?  House is not a woman, she’s a house.  When she gets a makeover it means that the house will be changed.   Writer Lady told us to keep things the way that they have always been.  If House gets her way Writer Lady’s instructions will not be followed.  What if Writer Lady gets mad at us all?   What if she sends us away?” 

“I want new fixtures, floors,  skylights, three more bedrooms, a ballroom. Clean lines, no more of this traditional crap.”  House smiles as she stands at the big white board.  “The only way that this is going to work is…another floor.  We need a second floor.”  House sighs contentedly, admiring her work.

“That is very ambitious.”  Mural Man says,  standing close to House.  “Very you.” 

Damon wanders in and studies the board.  He leans in close.  The demon reaches into his pocket and pulls out a rag.  He begins erasing.