Chapter Four. Bob's Thoughts Interupted.

It is mid afternoon and Bob wanders down towards the orchard. He is looking very snazzy today, it is important that he makes a good impression. He has decided to make an informal visit to the new sect, after all the fuss about the bubble wrap supply he feels he needs to talk face to face with them. His concerns are mounting. The 'Smashers' had been a ghastly sect and poor Clive Crookshank had been held for days. His release was on condition that the Smashers receive 5 million square metres of bubble wrap from the community. The sacrifice had been immense and there had been 8 fatalities and many cracks within the glass people during this dreadful time. Then 7 days after the bubble wrap exchange the 'Smashers' vanished. Gone. As simple as that. Of course there were many questions as paranoia swept the community. Rumours started to spread and Glossy's newsagents had a different sandwich board each day headlining all manner of outlandish stories. The most shocking read 'SMASHER MORPHS INTO VINEGAR APPLIED BY WOMAN 29!' The woman in question remained in shock for 4 weeks until finally succumbing to the Good Lord's wishes by taking up missionary work and abstaining from bubble wrap until this very day.

It has been 2 years and 3 months and 19 days since the 'Smasher's' disappearance. Of course there were celebrations within the community albeit surface joy, for there had been much devastation caused by the 'Smashers'. Yet Bob had been the only community member that had secretly felt much sorrow. You see Bob had an illicit love affair with a 'Smasher' named Augustine Agarthorpe. Of course none of the community was aware of the affair which he had intended to make public. However, Augustine had vanished along with the other smashers. There was something else, something that had plagued him ever since. Augustine was with child, his child. Bob had once read in an ancient manuscript something about it being better to have loved and lost than not to have loved at all. He had pondered upon these words countless times wondering if they were true for him; after all he had missed Augustine greatly, and the loss of his forthcoming child had left a hole of pure pain within his heart. He had never talked to another of his terrible loss knowing he would be ostracised by the community. God forbid should anyone ever find out.

'Should I then ask Felicity for her hand in marriage' Bob thinks to himself, 'before I am doomed to a life of aging and loneliness'. Bob's thoughts are suddenly interrupted by a loud screeching sound coming from the hut down by the lake.

'Mr Bluffle, Mr Bluffle, HELP!' It is Daisy Dipple, what on earth is going on Bob thinks running as fast as his little legs (he is rather short) can carry him. Following the cries, heart thumping, Bob finally reaches the hut, pushes open the door to find Daisy Dipple hunched over Lucinda Leffing's limp little body.

'What ever in the name of god is going on here!' he gushes.

'Its Lucinda, she's fainted and we saw an apparitious in the orchard, they had fire and were flying and ....'

'Daisy, Daisy, slow down my dear,' Bob is trying to sound calmer than he feels.

'You saw a what?'

'An apparitious!'

'Don't you mean an apparition Daisy?

'Errrrr...err..oooh.' Lucinda is gaining consciousness and is clearly very confused.

'Luce!' Daisy drops to her knees, now eyeball to eyeball with Lucinda.

'AHHHhhhh!' Lucinda is now looking terrified, Daisy has a rather nasty shiny red spot on the end of her nose and another 3 around her forhead, she is also smeary and must look a scary sight to poor Lucinda.

Bob interviens, 'Lucinda,' he kneels down and gently puts his hand under her head, 'its going to be alright my dear.'

'Here have a sip of condensed milk Luce.' Daisy reaches for the can, opens it and slowly lifts it to Lucinda's lips.

Bob and Daisy can see the effects at once as Lucinda slowly sits up and they both begin to divulge to Bob all they had seen over at the orchard.