Reviewer: Carycomic Signed [Report This]
Date: September 08 2015 7:54 AM Title: Chapter 4: Her Bubble Boy

I can honestly say I haven't read about a gum-covered shrunken man since Asukafan's now-classic "Sorentopia" (which you'll find in the Old Archive...if you're interested).

Reviewer: TomSpeedy Signed [Report This]
Date: September 06 2015 2:25 PM Title: Chapter 4: Her Bubble Boy

When I first read "Bubble boy", I thought it meant that Alaina was trying to keep her brother as a secret, but soon, he "bursts" it by lying and getting himself and his sister in trouble.

I did not expect her to give Tom to Emma that quickly, especially since I would've thought that she was used to Tom lying like that. I'm with Blake. Why is she so surprised? Has she spent any time with Tom. It sounds new to her.

Emma gladly accepts Tom, probably because it gives her a chance to play with Tom. If I remember correctly, Emma is the youngest, so I think she is usually last when it comes to who gets to have Tom.

Now that Emma has Tom, we can see her playful attitude translate to her actions as she uses gum to toy with Tom. We can also see how something as nonthreatening as gum can serve as a potential hazard for Tom. It reminds me of tree sap that can trap and kill an insect. If Emma is not careful, Tom can suffer easily from this state.

Speaking of which, Emma seems to be the careless one, fooling around and making mistakes once in a while. She claims that the bright gum will make Tom visible so she won't lose him, but I'm sure there are other better options instead. By using the gum, it hints that she could also be lazy, and might not get concerned if Tom happens to be in danger. I may be wrong but that's the impression I got.

So Tom is wrapped up in gum. Like a mummy, right? He can't move his arms or legs and could only wiggle as the gum limits his movement. Basically, he is bound and he can't do anything by himself in this condition.

Certainly, not the best way to start off the day, but I can't wait for the next chapter!

Author's Response:

Alaina's not necessarily surprised, as you point out, but she has a lot of trouble grappling with the reality of Tom's constant lying. And you're right, Emma as the youngest just kind of naturally has to wait her turn usually to play with him. While she may seem slightly careless, we'll see soon that she knows what she's doing. Thanks for reviewing!