Bubblegum

“Do you want some bubblegum?” asked Michael.
“Yeah, why not,” replied Jackson.
Jackson and Michael were best friends and they both went to Subiaco Primary School. Michael handed Jackson the bright pink piece of bubblegum and Jackson took it and put it into his mouth. As he chewed it he said, “Yum, dis very tafty.”
“What?” replied Michael.
“I fink dat dis gubblebum is very yummy,” replied Jackson.
“Sorry, but I still can’t understand you,” said Michael but this time Jackson couldn’t reply because he was starting to disintegrate. Every second another part of Jackson disappeared. First it was the hair, then the head followed by an arm and a leg. In less than 20 seconds Jackson had completely disappeared, just like that.
To everybody standing around Michael and Jackson it seemed that Jackson had just disappeared from the Earth’s surface. And that is exactly what happened except that after he disappeared he reappeared in the Bubboonie Forest on a planet called Bubblegumean.1

Jackson woke up with a start. He looked up and saw the strangest creature ever. It had extremely large eyes, was extremely large and had what seemed to be arrows sticking out of the top of his head, “Hello newcomer,” boomed the stranger, “I am Mukai, King of the Bubblegumean Forest.”
“Oh,” said Jackson, still a little bit dazed.
“And you are?” asked Mukai.
“I am Jackson.”
“Well you are on my land, Jackson, so I am going to take you to my lair and keep you as my prisoner,” said Mukai.
Mukai picked Jackson up with ease and carried him down a long narrow path that lead to what looked like a castle.
When they go there Mukai dropped Jackson on the ground out the front and walked in, “Hey wait!” yelled Jackson but Mukai had already slammed the big wooden dor in his face.
Jackson walked around the side of the castle where he found a small man chopping a large log, “Hey, who are you?” asked Jackson.
“Arrrggghhhh,” screamed the little man shrilly and he dropped the axe.
“What are you doing here, you must leave before Mukai captures you,” said the little man with a trace of fear in his voice.
Jackson turned to run away but he was stopped by a giant hand on his shoulder, “STOP,” yelled Mukai.
“Where do you think you are going,” boomed Mukai, “get to work.”
Mukai waved his hands and a axe appeared on the ground next to the big log. Jackson walked over to the axe and picked it up. Mukai watched him work for about a minute then left, “So,” asked Jackson, “what is your name?”
“My name is Mink. What is yours?”
“My name is Jackson,” said Jackson.
“Just so you know, don’t try to escape,” said Mink, “Mukai has magic barriers all around his castle only Mukai can walk through them without being turned into a pile of hot ash.” “Is there any way to shut down the magic barriers?” asked Jackson.
“He keeps a magic staff in his bedroom. Maybe that could shut it down.” said Mink
For the next half an hour or so, Jackson started to formulate an escape plot. He would get Mink to distract Mukai while he crept into the room and took the staff. Then he would signal Mink and they would both run outside and work out how to shut down the barriers. After that they could both run away and escape. He told Mink his plan and Mink agreed to help him.
Later that afternoon Mukai came and collected them and locked them both in a separate cell. The cell consisted of a toilet, a basin, a bed and a wooden chair. It wasn’t very large, about 3m by 3m, and it was locked with a giant padlock.
The padlock was a big problem to Jackson and Mink because in order for his plan to work Jackson had to get the staff but as long as he was in the cell he couldn’t get anywhere near Mukai’s bedroom.
“So much for getting that staff,” said Jackson
“Woops,” said Mink, “I forgot to tell you about this bit.”
There was a silence, but not an unfriendly one. Jackson was deep in thought, he was determined to get the staff.
“Don’t try anything,” said Mink.
“Why not?” asked Jackson.
“Sego-guards come and check on us every 10 minutes,” replied Mink.
“Sego-guards?” asked Jackson.
“They are Mukai’s army, they work for him. They guard him, do his work for him and hunt for him. But the only thing they won’t do is chop logs,” replied Mink.
“Why is that?” asked Jackson.
“They are afraid of wood,” replied Mink.
Jackson walked to the wooden chair and picked it up. It was old and fragile and would break easily. He smashed the chair on the ground and all the legs came off. Jackson picked one up and threw it to Mink, “Here take this,” Jackson said.
Mink caught chair leg and put it on his bed. “When the next guard come we will threaten to throw the wooden legs at him if he doesn’t unlock us,” said Jackson.
“Oi,” came a rough voice, “what are you doing.”
Jackson looked up and saw a man dressed in red uniform. He carried a an electric stick for poking and wore a red helmet with a black visor.
“Nothing my Guard,” replied Mink.
“Let us out of here,” said Jackson.
“Why should I,” said the guard.
“I will throw this wooden stick at you,” replied Jackson.
The guard shivered at the mention of the word ‘wood’. He hesitated then reached into his pocket and produced a key which he used Jackson and Mink’s cell doors, “Now give me the key to Mukai’s room,” demanded Jackson.
“I can’t do that, it against regulations,” replied the guard.
Jackson moved the wooden leg forward until it was under the guard’s nose.
“Okay I’ll give it to you just take away the wood,” said the guard.
He pulled another key put of his pocket and handed it to Jackson. Jackson took the key then walked down the hall to the door at the end. He opened the door and found himself in a large room with a dining table and chairs all the way around. On the other side of the room were two doors, one open and one closed. The open door led into the kitchen so Jackson and Mink took the closed one. Mink opened the door as quietly as he could and the crept in. Mukai was in his bed facing the other way. Jackson couldn’t tell if he was asleep but then he heard faint snoring. The staff was leaning against a cupboard on the far wall. They would have to cross the whole room to get to it. Mink started walking across the room, soon enough he reached the other side. He picked up the staff and walked back. Jackson and Mink left the room.
“Good job,” whispered Jackson.
“Thanks,” replied Mink
“Now how do we get out of here?” asked Jackson.
“There’s a window over there,” replied Mink.
They walked over to the window and silently climbed out. Once they were outside Jackson examined the staff, “Look at these engravings,” he said, “they look like some strange language.”2

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“Strange language?” said Mink, “that’s no strange language, that’s Greforch.”
“What is Grefoch?” asked Jackson.
“It is the language that everybody in the Buboonie Forest uses,” replied Mink, “it says: To escape from my lair, just hold this staff, and yell out ‘Shebair’.”
“Okay,” said Jackson, “let’s give it a try.”
Jackson held the staff tight in his hand, “SHEBAIR.”
“No, no, no, no,” said Mink.
“You have to say say it like this,” Mink took the staff and yelled, “SHEBAIR.”
There was a small metallic sound like a sword being pulled out of its sheaf.
“Yay,” yelled Jackson, “it worked.”
“I think you should turn around,” said Mink.
Jackson turned around and came face to face with a Sego-guard carrying a sword.
“RUN,” yelled Jackson.
He and Mink turned and ran as fast as they could into the Buboonie Forest. The Sego-guard followed them. Jackson looked behind him and when he turned around there was a big tree. He didn’t have time to stop. WHACK. Jackson slammed into the tree. But there was no pain just a click and then Jackson was gone.4

Jackson appeared on the steps of Subiaco Primary School, “There he is,” yelled someone.
“Jackson,” said Michael, “where were you the whole school has been looking for you.”
“But that doesn’t matter, you’re here and that is the only thing that matters. Jackson and Michael walked up the steps and into the school.
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