ON A PLANET CALLED NICE - WHERE EVERYONE WORKS TO KEEP THINGS NEAT AND PRETTY, AND WHERE PEOPLE LIVE IN COCOONS TOPPED WITH ALL-PURPOSE GLASS BUBBLES - THE MAIN SPORT IS TICKLEBOP RIDING. (TICKLEBOPS ARE GREY ANIMALS THAT GET GOING WHEN 'TICKLEDPINK.') ONE DAY, A LITTLE BOY NAMED VANDAL AND HIS FRIEND DARINE START A GAME OF 'BOP THE BUBBLE' - RIDING ON TICKLEBOPS, THEY TRY TO LIFT THE TOP BUBBLES OFF THE COCOONS. UNFORTUNATELY, MANY OF THE BUBBLES BREAK, BUT THEY DON'T WORRY TOO MUCH, REASSURING THEMSELVES THAT AS LONG AS OTHERS KEEP THINGS NICE A FEW BROKEN BUBBLES WON'T MATTER. BUT SOON OTHERS START GETTING CARELESS AND NICE BECOMES A HEAP OF RUBBLE. THE 'TICKLEBOPPERY' CLOSES DOWN BECAUSE ALL THE PLANET'S FUNDS ARE BEING USED TO REPAIR BROKEN BUBBLES. VANDAL FINALLY GETS VERY UPSET WHEN HIS OWN COCOON GETS WRECKED AND HE REALIZES THAT EVERYONE IS AFFECTED SOONER OR LATER WHEN PEOPLE STOP CARING ABOUT THEIR SURROUNDINGS. SOON EVERYONE STARTS TAKING CARE OF THINGS AND NICE IS AGAIN PRETTY AND NEAT. (AUTHOR ABSTRACT)