The next bubble might make it all the way to the clouds.
Return Journey
Milo’s first bubble came back and burst on his nose.
Across the low garden fence, Finn lowered the hand he had been holding out to receive it.
“Wrong address.”
Milo wiped his nose with his sleeve. Finn sat on a chair on the little patio, his bandaged foot resting on a stool. His football was tucked beneath the chair. When Milo had arrived with his bubble pot, Finn had pointed to the fence between them.
“Send one over.”
It had seemed a short journey.
Milo dipped the wand again, lifted it towards Finn, and blew harder. The wet circle gave a small flicker. A few drops landed on his fingers.
Finn waited.
“Was that it?”
“That one hasn’t left yet.”
The Wrong Way
Milo turned the wand in the pot until a fresh film shone across it. This time he held it close and let out a small, steady breath.
A bubble swelled beyond the ring. He kept still as it drew away, blue along one edge and pink along the other.
“Here it comes,” Finn said.
It rose above the fence, then drifted sideways towards the far end of the gardens.
Finn followed it with his eyes. His hand stayed in his lap.
“There it goes.”
Milo made another. It followed almost the same route, passing above the empty flowerpot beside the fence.
“You’ve sent two to the beans,” Finn said.
Milo looked along the fence to the vegetable patch. Then he turned towards the gate at the other end. A narrow path ran beside the beds all the way to it.
He screwed the lid onto the bubble pot and walked round.
From Over Here
At the gate, Milo turned back towards Finn’s chair. The breeze brushed his cheek from behind. Finn was now in the direction the last two bubbles had travelled.
“Stay there,” Milo called.
Finn looked down at his foot on the stool.
“That’s the plan.”
Milo opened the pot. He rested it on the gatepost while he lifted the wand and blew gently through the shining film.
The bubble floated away from him, clearing the low fence. Finn watched it approach without reaching. It passed just above his knee and vanished against the arm of his chair.
He looked at the tiny wet mark.
“Delivered.”
Milo grinned and dipped the wand again.
“Where’s the next one going?”
“The clouds. That one’s an explorer.”
“What’s its name?”
“You choose.”
Milo considered the wobbling shape growing beyond his wand.
“Captain.”
No Boat
Captain left the ring and rose towards the top of the gate. For a moment, a small patch of sky showed through its round middle.
“Up,” Finn told it.
The bubble drifted towards the patio instead.
“He’s coming to you,” Milo said.
Finn held out one finger, then tucked it away again. Captain hovered beside his shoulder before settling briefly on the smooth sleeve of his shirt.
Both boys leaned forward.
The bubble disappeared, leaving a dark little dot on the cotton.
Finn inspected it.
“Captain’s arrived.”
Milo looked towards the clouds.
“Without his ship?”
“Must have missed the boat.”
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