* * *

After returning home, Bubbles sat down on the couch in the living room and thought about what Mojo said. So far, no one had said that her drawings were bad, so she figured he was just trying to rattle her. A bunch of people liked her work…so what if a few people didn't? Still, she couldn't shake the feeling that something wasn't quite right.

As she puzzled over this, the professor walked into the living room. He hesitated when he saw the way Bubbles was brooding and said, "Are you all right, Bubbles?"

"Professor," Bubbles asked, "are my drawings good?"

"Of course they are," the professor nodded. "I think they're splendid…"

Bubbles shook her head, "No, I mean…are they art? Are they really good enough to be makin' all this money?"

"Well…" the professor started to say.

Interrupting, Bubbles continued, "…because the girls don't seem to like it, an' Mojo doesn't like it…an' I'm not sure a lot of other people like it, just these art guys…"

"It's all a matter of opinion," the professor told her. "What is art to some isn't to others. 'One man's trash is another man's treasure', as the saying goes."

"But…" Bubbles paused. "I just feel like it's not worth it…I mean, the money's nice and everything, but…I just think everyone would be nicer if my drawings were more like real art…"

The professor sat down on the couch next to her and said, "Sweetie, anything can become art if you put your heart and soul into it. You just have to make sure you don't lose sight of what you're trying to accomplish."

"What do you mean?" Bubbles asked.

"Well, are you trying to create art," the professor explained, "or are you just trying to make money? They're two very different things. Getting someone to enjoy your work enough to pay for it is one thing, but showing your true self and making a lasting impression through your work is something else entirely."

"So…" Bubbles said, thinking, "…if I want to show people the real artist in me, I should try to really do something artistic, not just to make money?"

"That's right," the professor nodded.

Smiling, Bubbles looked off into the air as though lost in thought, "Yes…I could do something big, something to show everyone just what kind of artist I am!" She hugged the professor and said, "Thank you! I'll be back later…"

Flying up off the couch, she headed for the door. The professor curiously asked, "Where are you going?"

"To get some things," Bubbles said with a knowing smile…then she was out the door…

* * *

The man at the factory looked down at the piece of paper that Bubbles had handed him, listing what she needed. He looked a little baffled, and asked, "So you want one canvas…in this size?"

"Yes!" Bubbles said cheerfully. "As soon as possible."

"You gotta be kiddin'," he said. "This'll cost a fortune to make…"

Bubbles wordlessly withdrew a large wad of bills, holding it out. The man took them and thumbed through it, grinning…he finally said, "That'll cover it. We can have it to you by this evening, okay?"

"Okay! I'll be by to pick it up…" Bubbles nodded, then headed off for step two of her plan…

* * *

"The whole warehouse?" the woman at the desk asked incredulously, staring down at Bubbles across from her. "Well, yes…I suppose we could, but…"

"But…?" Bubbles said.

The woman leaned on the desk and said, "Well, first of all, that would be very expensive. And secondly, why would you need them all?"

"It's for a project," Bubbles explained.

The woman shook her head, "That must be some project…"

"Yeah," Bubbles agreed. "Anyway…about the price…" She lifted the briefcase she was carrying with her and set it down on the desk. The woman opened it up, looking at the stacks and stacks of money inside, quickly counting them all with a smile.

Finally, when she was done counting, she leaned back in her chair and said, "All right, we have a deal. Just making sure you know what you're doing."

"Oh, I do," Bubbles assured her…

* * *

Late that night, Bubbles waited until her sisters were asleep, then got up and changed out of her nightgown back into her regular clothes, slipping quietly out the window. She flew away from the house, soaring over Townsville and heading for each of the factories on the outskirts.

The first one had her order. They had to go to some special lengths to assemble it, but the enormous rolled-up package, literally miles long, was ready. She was able to carry it, thanks to her strength. On the second stop, she picked up a gigantic box, as big as a building itself. This one was a bit heavier, but it still wasn't too much of a problem to carry.

Further outside of Townsville was a large grassy area where no one lived. It was perfect to begin her work. It was already pretty late at night, and she figured it would take her a few hours to complete. That was fine; it would still be ready by morning. She carefully set the roll down at the outskirts of the area and started to unroll it…the heavy-duty canvas was huge, covering almost the entire field, but she managed.

Finally, when it was done, she opened up the box and checked the contents: hundreds of thousands of crayons. With a smile, she took an armful of them out and set them to the side of the paper, then looked out across it. Taking a deep breath, she grabbed the crayons and started zipping across the paper, using her superspeed, drawing where she went.

The hours passed, with constant returns to the bin of crayons, until it was completed. She was exhausted from all the work, and rested by the edge for a moment. Next to the bin, a huge pile of paper shavings was all that remained of the crayons. Bubbles thought, It took forever, but it's finally done…

She flew high up into the air to get a good look at it, and smiled, clasping her hands in happiness. My greatest work, Bubbles thought, completed! She turned and looked over by the horizon, as the sun began to rise across it. And just in time, the sun's coming up…it's time. Time to show everyone in Townsville just what this artist can do!

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