The Bubbleretta

By Doris N. Bullock

Each spring the fifth-grade students of LaFlaweless School are expected to put on the most perfect talent show at the annual Bubbleretta! Everyone looks forward to the production. Celita is less than enthusiastic about participating. Unlike her twin brother, Cy, who is an exceptional drummer and her very talented friends, Celita doesnt have a talent she feels is worthy of being shown to the entire community. Her passion is science, but that category has never been featured at the Bubbleretta.

There is a long-established tradition that has to take place before the Bubbleretta rehearsals begin. The two fifth-grade classes must compete to earn the beloved title Lead Class of the Bubbleretta. The Lead Class is in charge of the Bubbleretta and gets extra privileges. Earning the title is difficult, and friction occurs between the rival classes.

When the Bubbleretta rehearsals begin, Celita doesnt want to be involved. One day she accidentally receives information that causes her to have a different outlook about the place where she has lived all her life. Deciding how to handle that newly acquired knowledge presents a challenge for Celita.

• Language: English
• Publisher: WestBow Press
• Release date: Jan 29, 2016
• ISBN: 9781512726480

Doris N. Bullock

This is Doris N. Bullock’s first work of fiction. Her love of storytelling began when her older sister retold in dramatic form the stories that her teacher had told the class. Doris looked forward to starting school so that she could enjoy those same fascinating experiences. She is a graduate of Virginia State University. Doris enjoys travelling, reading, gardening, dancing, and spending time with her family. In her spare time, she volunteers with several organizations in her community.

Book preview

CHAPTER 1

I t was something about that isolated kingdom named LaFlaweless. There were no kings, queens or royalty reigning there. The folks who had dwelled there from the very beginning were known as the Bubbles. They thought their kingdom was the most idyllic place that existed — just perfect in every manner.

From morning to night 365 days a year, all kinds of attractive services were offered to the Bubbles. Stores of every type were stock full of merchandise. They never ran out of goods. All it took was a text message, an email or phone call to receive deliveries within a matter of minutes.

Even the children had little to be dissatisfied with in LaFlaweless. They had all kinds of amusement facilities and plenty of open space to have fun and play with the hottest toys and games of the month.

Throughout the year, LaFlaweless was buzzing with all kinds of exciting adventures, and the Bubbles could hardly wait for the next big event to occur.

CHAPTER 2

I n early March, a trio of fifth-grade friends met on a hill in LaFlaweless to fly their kites. It was a slightly gusty day that was just perfect for soaring kites. A couple weeks earlier, Celita had suggested to her two friends that it would be a good idea to design and make their own kites rather than purchase them as they had always done. Joni and Kay were less than enthusiastic about making a kite, but they eventually agreed that it was worth a try. They met at Celita’s house several days after school to make their kites and had fun coming up with all kinds of unique designs.

Up it goes! Rise as high as the sky! sang Joni as she released her kite. It was decorated with a silhouette of her face. A variety of musical symbols projected from her lips. Of the three kites, Joni thought hers was the most creative of all.

On Kay’s yellow kite was a picture of her two pet parakeets perched on a long twig. Her kite was dressed up with colorful tails that were sure to dance in the wind. She yelled as she released her kite, Fly away, fly away, but not too far!

Celita’s kite had a red heart in the center. It was surrounded with the sun, moon, stars and baby animals. It looked as if she was introducing the animals to the days and nights of her beloved LaFlaweless kingdom.

Celita’s kite flew toward the highest level of the hill. She followed it and left her two friends on the lower level. She was enjoying watching her kite until a sharp glare of orange light penetrated her eyes and blinded her for a split second. Celita stumbled and fell flat on her face. A strong gust of wind pulled the kite’s handle from her hand.

Oh no! Oh no! she called out as she quickly got up and dashed toward the long string. Just as she was about to grasp it, the kite soared way above her reach. Her eyes followed the kite as it sailed way across the sky. It looked smaller and smaller the farther away it moved.

Celita’s kite floated in the direction of a dense area of tall trees. She knew that in a few minutes all of her hard work would be torn into bits and pieces once the kite came in contact with the sharp branches of the trees. Even though she was bruised from the fall and needed attention, Celita ran toward the right side of the hill to try to get a better view of her kite. Way off in the distance where there was just a tiny bit of a clearing, Celita spotted something that appeared to be a roof on top of a building. It was difficult to determine exactly what the structure was, because a thick foliage of vines and other greenery partially covered the only side of the building she could see. However, what was clearly visible to her were the very vivid, orange shingles on the roof. They were shaped like circles and sparkling like stars. Celita stared at them, because she had never seen anything like that in LaFlaweless.

When the orange shingles rotated 360 degrees and gradually turned the brightest blue she had ever seen, Celita was so mesmerized that she could hardly move. She forgot all about her kite.

She turned and ran as fast as she could down the hill where her friends were. Joni and Kay paid no attention to the look of surprise on Celita’s face. Nor did they notice the bruises on her body or the dirt on her clothes. They just saw that she was empty handed. Joni and Kay teased Celita about the loss of her handmade kite. Joni reminded Celita over and over that such a great idea had gotten the best of her, as if she didn’t already know that.

At that moment, Celita was trying to process in her mind what she had just witnessed on the top of the hill. There was no doubt that it was mysterious to her. It was also exciting. However, she decided it was certainly not the kind of thing to share with teasing friends.

CHAPTER 3

N aturally there were schools in LaFlaweless, because all kids need to be educated even if they are bright, incredibly talented and perfect in every manner. Each grade was held in high esteem at LaFlaweless School, but there was something special about those fifth graders that got everybody’s attention. So each spring they were expected to put on the most impressive display of talent in front of the entire population of Bubbles. All ears and eyes would be on them — checking out everything they said and watching every move they made. It was time for the Bubbleretta — a showcase of the best fifth-grade talent ever! It was considered the signature event of the year, and as always there was an expectation of perfect delivery.

As long as anyone could remember, the fifth-grade students were the only ones who had ever performed at the Bubbleretta. The Bubble who knew most things, NEASH, claimed he did not know exactly why that grade had been selected. It was just one of those ongoing traditions of the LaFlaweless kingdom that was simply accepted without opposition or questions.

There were just two fifth-grade classes at LaFlaweless School. They were known as 5 B and 5 BB. The two classes were across the corridor from each other in the fifth-grade wing. The whole school was massive, but the fifth graders had the most space of all. Their wing could easily have accommodated several other classrooms.

Just for fun, at the beginning of the school year the fifth graders enjoyed bragging to the kindergarteners how flattered they were to have so many square feet. Of course, they deliberately didn’t mention that they were simply referring to the size of the fifth-grade wing. At that, the kindergarteners always looked down. Upon seeing only two feet, the most puzzled expression would appear on their faces. Sometimes one of the kindergartners who was noticeably very upset would yell to the fifth grader, You don’t have any more feet than I have!

There were forty students in each class. That number had always remained the same except a few times when there were eighty-one fifth graders. When they were divided between the two classes, obviously one class would have an uneven number of students. Sometimes having that extra student made a big difference in the outcome of events at LaFlaweless School.

This year there was no extra student in fifth grade. Each class had an even number; therefore, neither had an advantage in the quest that lay ahead of them. There was going to be a competition between the two classes to determine which class would earn the distinction of being called — Lead Class of the Bubbleretta.

Obtaining Lead Class status was like winning a first-place trophy or earning that most sought after blue ribbon. Extra privileges and other good things came with being in the Lead Class. The best part was that the students in the Lead Class got more time on stage to present their talent at the Bubbleretta.

There were no scowls on faces or gloomy feelings about advantages the Lead Class would assume. The students accepted the rules, because they were considered neither excessive nor extreme. In fact, they were very reasonable rules. Furthermore, their parents approved them, and the teachers enforced them.

Having obtained some tips from former fifth-grade students who had moved on to upper grades, the students were aware that they would receive just one Bubbleretta notification. It would signal to the students that it was time to get ready to solve the biggest fifth-grade challenge that could occur anywhere, any day, anytime.

CHAPTER 4

O ne day right after the fifth graders had eaten lunch, they heard a booming noise followed by an earsplitting handclap — five of them, one right behind the other. The sounds were coming from the in-ceiling speakers. After the fifth handclap, someone with a very deep, raspy voice spoke. In spite of knowing all the teachers and staff members in the school, the voice was not recognized by the students. The fifth graders just sat and looked at each other with a perplexing look on their faces. The teachers, Mrs. Gately and Mr. Hastings, showed no expression at all.

The mysterious voice spoke rather quickly in a commanding voice.

Are you ready?

With that same