by Carol Snow
Mother shook her head. “Only till the end of the year. Father got a new job. Starting in June, he’ll be the sheriff at Western World. It calls itself a living history museum, but it’s really a theme park. Father’s already started growing a handlebar mustache and wearing cowboy boots. They’ll do terrible things to his feet, I just know it.”
Father had found a way to live in an earlier time after all.
“I’ll watch Angel extra carefully, then. I promise. Please, Mother.”
Mother thought for a long time and finally nodded. “We’ll give it a month. If you can keep her out of trouble that long … then we’ll give it another month.”
Freesia sighed with relief. “It’s a deal.”
“Okay, then. I’m glad to have you back with us.” Mother held out her arms.
Freesia was so shocked, she almost didn’t know what to do. But when she saw the suggestion of hurt flicker in her mother’s eyes, she stepped forward and accepted the embrace. It was strange. But nice. In a strange way.
“Right.” Mother patted Freesia’s back to signal the end of the embrace. “I need to get back to the boards, but your father and Angel should be home in an hour or so. We’re out of Pop-Tarts, but there are some new cookies in the pantry. Also some chocolates, I think.”
Going downstairs, Freesia held tight to the banister. Just a few days in the bubblepod had been enough to set back her coordination. The kitchen was just as stark and colorless as always, but when she opened the pantry, her mouth began to water. On the top shelf, between a stale bag of tortilla chips and an unopened box of granola bites, she uncovered the chocolates.
She couldn’t keep eating this way. If she was going to stay in the real world—and she was—she had to take better care of her body. She would ask her mother to add fruits and vegetables to her shopping list app. Maybe she and Angel could even learn to cook together.
But today, there were chocolates. She took the gold box over to the counter and opened it. A few were missing, but there were still plenty left. A brown rectangle was most likely caramel. A round one could be either marshmallow or a fruit cream.
Farther down the counter, something pink caught her eye: her cellphone. She picked it up and powered it on. To her surprise, she had a text message waiting from Adam.
I don’t know if you’ll ever read this. Or where you are. But I miss you.
Freesia stared at the words for a long time before punching in her response.
No reason to miss me. I’ve been here all along. I just didn’t realize that until now.
She hit Send and placed the phone back on the counter. Then she plucked the round chocolate from the box and popped it into her mouth.
She closed her eyes and chewed.
Acknowledgments
Thanks to:
Kate Farrell, brilliant editor and reliable muse, for knowing precisely when to nudge me and when to stand back; for seeing the direction this story should take long before I did; and for always, always believing in Freesia’s world.
Everyone at Holt for their enthusiasm, creativity, and attention to detail. And for this cover. I really love this cover.
Steph Rostan, the best agent I (or anyone) could hope for, and to the tremendously smart and nice team at Levine Greenberg.
Jean and Mike Lee for providing translations (as well as an ongoing education in Korean food).
My husband, Andrew, for believing in me, bringing me coffee, and forcing my books on strangers; my daughter and style icon, Lucy; and my son, Philip, who, at the age of three or so, dreamed up an island called Agalinas (which had far more explosions than mine).
My mother for sharing her love of books, laughter, and the New York Times; and my father, greatly missed, who appreciated a good sunset better than anyone I’ve ever known.
About the Author
Carol Snow is the author of Snap and Switch, an ALA Quick Pick for Reluctant Young Adult Readers. She had also written five novels for adults. Originally from New Jersey, she now lives in Southern California with her husband and their two children.
Text copyright © 2013 by Carol Snow
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The Library of Congress has cataloged the print edition as follows:
Snow, Carol.
Bubble world / Carol Snow. — 1st ed.
p. cm.
Summary: After sixteen-year-old Freesia learns—and tells her friends—that their perfect life on a luxurious tropical island is not real, she is banished from her virtual world to the “mainland,” where people are ugly, school is hard, and families are dysfunctional.
ISBN 978-0-8050-9571-5 (hardcover) — ISBN 978-0-8050-9809-9 (e-book)
[1. Virtual reality—Fiction. 2. Interpersonal relations—Fiction. 3. Family life—Fiction. 4. Science fiction.] I. Title.
PZ7.S6807Bub 2013 [Fic]—dc23 2012028168
eISBN 9780805098099
First hardcover edition 2013
eBook edition July 2013