Most of the time Agnes lived in a bubble, so it wasn’t surprising she was off with the fairies a lot of the time.

Reality for her was built around a few simple things.

Eating and sleeping and what happened in between was often a result of circumstance rather than planning.

She never thought of herself as being any different to other people apart from the bubble that is.

She could swear and curse as well as anyone, and when she dropped a fart, it was of room clearing quality.

Her faculties were highly tuned. She could anticipate whatever question you might ask her and her answers were always profound and intelligent.

But she never went to school, her bubble wasn’t portable, it was fixed to her, and when she went outside, she became confused and disorientated to the point of wandering in circles not knowing where she was. Her mother would find her down the back yard, sometimes crying, sometimes frustratingly angry and would softly gather her in and lead her back to the safety of her room.

When she was sixteen, she discovered boys and one in particular, John, a tall, lanky boy who showed interest in Agnes and would come around to visit. Agnes being a budding woman of the world, wanted to use John to try out a few things but her bubble denied her more than she realized. John turned up one day to find her naked and holding her hands against the bubble, prized it open inviting him in.

Everything was going well until her mother came in with the lemonade she made, dropping it, she screamed, terrifying John and Agnes. Needless to say, Agnes’ foray into her sexuality was short-lived, though, later John was heard to say Agnes was the sexiest girl he ever encountered and what a shame her mum entered when she did.

Not long after Agnes and her parents had a real heart to heart about, birds, bees, boys and bits. They wanted their daughter to lead as a productive life as she could, but being informed was the first place to start from. So, Agnes informed herself, invited John around, got him to put a lock on the inside of her door, and then the two of them explored their respective bits without interruption.

Locked together inside the bubble, they floated, which to John was a thrill beyond words.

Written for: https://fivedotoh.com/2019/09/09/fandangos-flash-fiction-challenge-31/