The Bubble

 

Due to a freak accident down at the factory, I ended up trapped inside an air pocket inside the toothpaste.  It wasn’t a large bubble but there was enough room inside for me to stand up.  All the surfaces were very tacky, like wet paint but it was the strong smell of mint that was overwhelming.  Every time I took a breath it hurt my lungs.  It was awful, like breathing in cold, artic air.

Everything had happened so fast, I couldn’t mentally piece it all together.  I felt a push, my feet slipped out from under me and suddenly everything went dark.  Well, not actually dark – like black, because I can see just fine.  It’s all white around me, but there isn’t any light getting in.  It really is kind of odd.  I’m just trying not to panic.  The more I freak out the harder I breathe.

I know that my journey from this large vat will take me along a pipeline towards the spinner.  It’s the spinner that forces the toothpaste into the awaiting tubes.  If I survive that process, then a secondary arm swings overhead and screws on the plastic cap.  At that point my fate will be sealed.

Not sure how long I’ve been passed out.  It must be the awful odor of mint that got to me.  Now I can’t tell if I have already made it through the spinner or what?   Maybe I’m already inside the tube.  I can’t really tell, and I have no sense of time.  I have no clue how long I have been in here.

        Saying I survive this whole thing, I can’t imagine the process of getting out.  I have no idea how close to the end of the tube this bubble is.  Am I closer to the cap, or will I be the first to get squished flat.  If I yell will anyone hear me.  I doubt it.  I might have to wait to see which way this bubble starts to move.  If it is towards my right, then that must be the cap end.  I expect I’ll sputter out with force, hopefully overshooting the sharp, pointy toothbrush bristles.  That would hurt.

I guess maybe I’m counting my chickens.  It’s possible I could sit on the shelf in the store for months before I get purchased by some customer.  Not sure how long this air pocket will support my need to breathe.  It isn’t all that roomy in here.  Yikes!  What if I don’t overshoot the toothbrush?  I’ll get smushed onto a row of someone’s teeth and pushed back and forth, or up and down, depending on…  Stop it.  I can’t let myself think like that.

I’m going to stop thinking for now.  I’m getting myself all worked up.