A Single Pop

A strip of clear bubble wrap was trailing out from an open shipping box against the baseboard. I stood over one swollen plastic dome for a few seconds, debating whether bursting it was actually worth the racket. Decided one wouldn't hurt. I planted my foot squarely on the plastic bubble and leaned my weight down. Snap. The sharp pop cracked through the quiet hall, but I didn't flinch. The dome stayed wrinkled and squished flat under my heel, completely emptied of air. I looked at the next bubble in the row, paused, and decided that was plenty of commotion for one afternoon. I just stayed perched on the flat plastic.