The structure suddenly appeared early one morning.
It looked like a dome climber, the sort of thing you see in kids’ playgrounds. But it wasn’t a dome climber for several reasons. One being that these things are built in an allocated spot within the relatively safe confines of a children’s’ playground and not in the carpark at the back of a chemist’s shop. Another being that they are made of metal and not wood, more precisely, branches, tree branches. Also, whereas this structure has most of it feet embedded in the ground, some have sharp points that hover above the ground. Its uniqueness is further emphasised by the fact that several of these tips appear to be bloodstained. A feature being the main topic of conversation among the small crowd of locals that had gathered around it since the word got out that it had mysteriously appeared.
The chatter taking place was subdued, in most cases cautious murmurings.
“What is it?”
“No idea.”
“Don’t like the looks of those spear tips.”
“Is it blood?”
“I think so.”
“Does anybody know how it got here?”
“Not sure, but that woman over there seems to know something.”
“Like what?”
“Dunno, but she referred to it as a ‘horror bubble’.”
“A what?”
“A horror bubble.”
“Now, do you see what I mean?”
“Eh?”
“You know, what I was saying the other day.”
“What are you talking about?”
“I’m talking about how things get named, without giving it proper thought. Once the name gets around, it sticks and you can’t change it.”
“Ah! Yes, I do seem to recall you saying something about…”
“Of course! This is a really good example of something being misnamed!”
“I suppose it is.”
“It is. I mean, bubble! What kind of nonsense is that? A bubble, to be a bubble, has to be a sphere for starters.”
“Well, yes, I suppose you’re right.”
“Who said it?”
“What?”
“Who said it? Who called it a horror bubble?”
“The woman over there, wearing a red hat.”
“I’m not surprised. Doesn’t she tell fortunes or something?”
“Not sure.”
“There you are, you see? Classic, I tell you. It’s all about misdirections.”
“Look, shouldn’t we report it or something?”
“Nah. It’ll shrivel up and disappear when the sun’s been on it a while.”
“It will?”
“Yep, seen it before.”
“You have?”
“I have.”
“OK then. What are they called?”
“If you want us to stay friends, don’t ask…”