July/August 2018

 “Wake up, Tommy,” I said. Tommy, my thirteen-year-old robotic brother (he really is a robot—no kidding) needs to wake up! He always walks with me to school. He likes to sleep though. And eat. And sleep some more. Oh, and get into trouble. It’s not like our dad cares. He’s too busy being the Big Cheese at NASA. Not that I care. He never pays a bit of attention to us. I mean come on, it’s not like paying us attention costs $100. “Laika, school was cancelled in Houston today because the Astros won the World Series last night,” Tommy mumbled into his pillow. That was when I hit the roof. “But we have our fifth grade bake sale at school today!” I groaned. “Why did the Astros have to win?” I muttered. “Why did the Astros have to win? So I could sleep in!” Tommy pumped his fist in the air. “You and your darn sleep,” I muttered under my breath. “Hey, I heard that!” Tommy threw a pillow at my face. “Laika, you and Tommy are going to have to come with me to the office because there is no school today,” Dad said as I stomped downstairs. Nooooooo. I hate the office. It’s so boring. Too much math and calculations. “What about a babysitter?” I asked nervously. “Are you kidding me? After how you two were playing hide-and-seek in the washing machine? Absolutely not,” Dad said. “Mom would have gotten us a babysitter.” “Can you not bring up Mom’s death every time we argue?!” Dad huffed. Man do I wish that Mom hadn’t died because Dad really just lost the ability to love and care. As I looked out the window of our car, I thought about all the other kids in Houston who are sleeping in or watching a movie or playing video games while I have to go to the most boring office ever. Life is really annoying sometimes. “Okay, Tommy, at the office you’re not going to do anything that will get me into trouble. Go reboot or update yourself. I don’t know, just don’t get into trouble,” I said. “All right, sheesh. Don’t get yourself in such a frenzy,” Tommy huffed. I tried to prepare myself for the office. I brought a stack of books by James Patterson. I hoped that having the books would help with the boredom. “We’re here,” Dad said. Dad’s office was big. I had to give it to him. The ceiling was a huge cupola like the churches you see in movies. The office smelled of brain power, math, and rockets. I’m not sure if a room can smell like those things, but somehow it did. I hate those smells. The room had white walls and machines everywhere. Every nanometer was covered by a machine. Oh, and coffee. There were scientists running around with coffee in plastic cups, mugs, and thermoses. Actually, it also smelled like coffee. “Alright, kids: listen up. Stay where I can see you. NO MESSING AROUND. You hear me? I am working on a rocket that will go up into outer space in three days and we only have to install the return gear. So I need this work day. Got it?” Dad drilled. “Chill, Dad. We get it,” Tommy said. “That’s what you say every time…” “Dad! I’m going to go read!” I called out. Two hours later, I finished my books. I looked around to make sure that Tommy was within Dad’s peripheral vision. But, as usual, he wasn’t there. I didn’t worry. Yet. I just assumed he went to recharge at the power station. I checked there, but no robot. That’s when I began to worry. “Tommy, Tommy! This isn’t funny anymore! Come out from your hiding spot right now!” I hollered. I peeked around a corner hoping that Tommy would be there. But nope. I checked around every door. Or so I thought… I popped my head around the last corner and… Oh, wow. I saw a huge room with a rocket that almost scraped the paint off the ceiling, with a catwalk that led into it. Then I heard a banging. I cautiously crept inside to go investigate. “Hello? Is there anybody there? I’m looking for my robotic brother,” I called out. The inside was round and filled with buttons and switches and technology. There was a cockpit, a fridge, sleeping quarters, and a tube-like thing. I looked out a window, and I saw a bunch of scientists in white coats scurrying around. Then I heard the banging again and followed it. It led to… Tommy. He was camouflaged with all the buttons! “Tommy, what on earth are you doing here?!” I yelled. “I was bored. Duh. Weren’t you?” Tommy shrugged. I was so mad. If we had been in one of those cartoons on television, steam would have been coming out of my ears. Actually, steam was coming out of my ears. “Sir, you’re coming with me. We’re getting out of here before Dad realizes we’re gone. And don’t even think about touching anything,” I commanded. We passed by another window that I hadn’t seen earlier. As I looked out the window, my mind began to wander and think about how cool it would be to go to space. “I wonder what this big red button does,” Tommy said. “Tommy, don’t touch the launch button!” I cried out. Too late. He had pressed the button. Then I felt a deep, low, hollow rumble. The rocket was beginning to launch. We ran for the doors, but they closed just as we got there. “Now commencing countdown. Ten, nine, eight, seven, six…” a female voice said over a loudspeaker. “Tommy, what are we going to do?” “This is awesome! We’re going to fly on a real rocket!” “Super helpful, Tommy.” The rocket rose into the sky like a giant coming out of his 200-year slumber. I looked out the window and the houses, fields, and buildings shrank and