On Nikolai's third birthday, Irina gave him a jar of bubble solution and a wand. Nikolai was confused; he had never blown a bubble before. Irina sat on the floor across from him and unscrewed the top. With Nikolai's eyes following her every movement, she dipped the wand into the clear solution and blew. The boy's eyes widened. Out of the wand came a strange object. The shiny, rainbow bubble rose into the air. Suddenly, it exploded into a million tiny droplets that showered down onto the boy and his mother. Nikolai jumped up.
"Mama, where did it go? Where is it?"
Irina smiled as she looked into her boy's worried eyes.
"Do not worry, Nikolai. It is a bubble. That is what they do." She told him. His worries assuaged, he replied tentatively,
"Can I try?" Irina handed him the jar and the plastic wand. Nikolai dipped the wand into the solution and blew hard, but nothing came out. He tried again, but the same thing happened. Irina could see the frustration building up.
"Nikolai," she said patiently, "You must blow softly, carefully. Bubbles are very delicate. You must treat them with care." Nikolai heeded his mother's words, and out of the wand came the most beautiful shape he had ever seen.
"A bubble." He said breathlessly. Irina pulled her son into her lap, and together they watched the bubble begin its journey upward.
It didn't pop until it hit the ceiling.