VACATION IN SPACE

Nobody can hear a scream in the vacuum of space, or so they say. Joe and Amanda were excited to board the space craft so that they could start their trip. Sure, people have travelled to space before. People have walked on the moon before. But that was for scientific purposes. Joe and Amanda were going to space to go on vacation. Yes, vacation. “I think we’re probably the first people to make this trip as a vacation,” Amanda said to Joe as they were packing their suitcases full of clothes. She was also trying to think of what else they would need. “What do you think it’s going to be like when we get there?” she asked Joe. “I really don’t know,” Joe replied. Neither one of them really knew what to expect.

They both knew that they would be spending most of their time in the spaceship. And the spaceship was fully equipped with sleeping quarters, a full bathroom, and a kitchen area. Although most of the food that they were taking with them was freeze dried meals. But they didn’t know what to expect when they actually arrived in space. Would there be other life forms? Were they going to be able to “park” the space craft somewhere and get out and explore wherever they land? Was there developed land in space? They really didn’t know what they would find when they got there. They were both nervous and eager at the same time.

Joe turned to Amanda, “12 hours and we have to board the ship. Are you ready?” Amanda took a deep breath, sighed, and said, “as ready as I’ll ever be, I guess.” They took all of the bags they packed and carried them downstairs and placed them by their front door. Then they packed up their meals and put those with the other bags. A few more hours and they would be on their way to venture the unknown.

When they woke the next morning, they ate breakfast, drank their coffee, and then packed up their car. Joe drove to the space center while Amanda sat in the passenger seat staring out the window of their car. I’m pretty sure I’m more nervous about this trip then Joe is, she thought to herself as she turned her head away from the window to look at Joe. Joe looked so calm as he drove the car. How does he remain so calm during this? Doesn’t he realize the magnitude of this trip? We’re going to space. We’ve never been there before. We don’t know what it’s like there.

Joe notices Amanda looking at him. “Are you ok, hun?”

“Yea, I’m fine. I’m just a little nervous about this. How can you remain so calm and relaxed right now? Aren’t you the least bit scared or nervous about this?”

“Well, of course I’m a little nervous, Amanda. We’re going to a place that’s not even on earth. That would make anyone nervous.”

They park their car at the space center. They gather their luggage from the trunk and look at the hug building in front of them, with the space shuttle right next to it, waiting for Joe and Amanda to board it. As they approach the building they are stopped by security. They each have to show 2 forms of photo ID, their space shuttle boarding documentation, and they have to allow to have all of their luggage x-rayed to prove that they have nothing life threatening with them. Once that has been completed, Joe and Amanda are escorted down a long hallway which leads to the spaceship.

“Well,” Amanda says as she turns to face Joe, “I guess it’s too late to turn back now, huh?”

“Definitely too late,” Joe replies.

They board the space craft and take a look around. It wasn’t what they expected. It was set up so that they’ll be able to live comfortably for their 2-week vacation. Joe notices the look on Amanda’s face. “Are you ok?” he asks her.

“What? Oh yea, I’m fine. This is just nothing what I was expecting. Look how roomy it is in here. There’s a place for us to unpack our clothes so we don’t have to live out of suitcases for 2 weeks. There’s a little kitchenette for us to store our food. There’s a definite sleeping area. And there’s an ac actual bathroom. This just doesn’t seem like an actual space shuttle.” Amanda was happy with everything.

“Well come on, then,” Joe says. “Fifteen minutes until take off. So, lets get things unpacked so we can truly enjoy the take-off experience.”

The couple quickly unpacks their luggage in the sleeping area. Then they unpack their food in the little kitchenette. They then go to their seats which give them a great view of outside.

Joe sits in his seat and fastens all straps that are attached to the chair. There is 1 lap belt and 2 over the shoulder harnesses. He also notices that the chair is very comfortable. It’s an oversized reclining chair. Perfect for this trip, he thinks to himself. “Hey, babe,” he says. “Check out these chairs. They’re so incredibly comfortable. I might just sleep here for 2 weeks,” he chuckles.

Amanda laughs as she sits in her chair. “Oh wow, yea this really is super comfortable,” she tells Joe. I wouldn’t mind just sleeping right here for 2 weeks,” she smiles.

One minute warning, they hear over the PA system in the space craft. Joe and Amanda look at each other. Nervous, excited, and smiling.

10….

9….

8….

7….

6….

5….

4….

3….

2….

1…

TAKE OFF!!

And there it is. The space shuttle takes off into the sky. Joe and Amanda look out their windows. They’re amazed as they see everything getting smaller and smaller the more into the sky they get. A little while later they see nothing but sky and clouds.

“This is actually pretty cool so far,” Amanda says to Joe.

“Yea it really is.”

Before long, they notice that it’s no long sky and clouds. They examine what they see out the window now. Joe and Amanda realize that they’re not even on earth anymore. They were going deeper and deeper into space.

Joe looks at the computer system in the spacecraft. “So, it looks like our first stop on this adventure is Mars,” he says to Amanda. “Do you think there really is life on Mars?”

Amanda ponders the thought. “I really don’t know. But if there is, I hope whoever, or whatever, it is nice and not threatening. And that they’ll be ok with visitors from earth.”

As Joe and Amanda land on Mars, they cautiously leave the space craft and begin to walk around. It wasn’t what they had expected. It appeared to be dusk out. They were expecting it to be very quiet, with no buildings, no rivers or lakes, nothing. But what they found instead was a nice surprise. They noticed a couple of little stores, a lake, a hotel, and bicycles. No cars. But lots of bicycles. They didn’t see any humans, but instead they saw another life form.

“Who, or what do you think they are?” Amanda asked Joe.

“I don’t know,” Joe responded. “But I hope they understand English,” he chuckled.

They both started to slowly walk towards the creatures that they saw. There were about 6 of them. These other forms of life were about the same height as an average human. They appeared grayish in color, and they had no hair. They had huge wide eyes that were green. They did not appear to have eyelids or eyelashes. Their torso was like an oval shape, and their arms and legs were comparable to humans. They had very long fingers but no fingernails. Their feet were like webs, and those webs had been separated to form toes.

The boys and men were wearing suits and ties. The girls and women were wearing dresses.

“Well, they look nice enough,” Joe said.

“Let’s see what happens as we get closer to them,” Amanda said.

As they got closer, one of the girls looked up from playing and spotted the humans. She stood up and started walking towards Amanda and Joe. She said to them, “Hi, I’m Faeryn. Who are you and where did you come from?” Amanda and Joe looked at each other and then back at the girl.

“I guess they speak English,” Amanda said.

“Of course, we speak English,” Faeryn giggled. “It’s the first language they teach us in school.”

“Well then, hello there, Faeryn. It’s very nice to meet you. I’m Joe and this is my wife, Amanda. We are from Earth. We’re here on vacation.”

“I figured you’re not from around here,” Faeryn says as her father walks over them. “Faeryn,” he says, “have you made a couple of friends?”

“Yes, father. This is Joe and Amanda. They are from Earth. I don’t think we’ve ever had visitors from earth before who actually stayed and spoke with us. I guess they’re not scared.”

Amanda and Joe stared at Faeryn’s father. He was very tall, probably close to 7 feet. He was very thin and had long thin arms with thin fingers. He had the same oval face and green eyes as his daughter. He was wearing a black suit as if he was going to or coming from work. They wondered what kind of work he does.

“Why would we be scared?” Amanda asked. “We weren’t sure what to expect when we landed. We kept an open mind and just hoped that whoever we ran into would be nice.”

“Well in that case, let me properly introduce myself. I’m Xandy. I can show you around the area if you’d like. As Faeryn said a few minutes ago, whenever anyone from any other planet comes here, they run away screaming because they’re scared. You know when you hear thunder on earth? That’s the visitors screaming as they’re getting out of here as quick as possible. Come, follow me. I’ll show you around this little community that we have here.”

“Can I come along for the little tour too, please, father?” Faeryn asked?

“Of course, you can,” Xandy replied. “Would you like to be the tour guide?”

“Yes, please, father. That will be fun.”

Amanda and Joe just stood there staring at first. And then Joe spoke. “A tour of the community. That sounds great. Thank you.”

The four of them started walking down the dirt road. Amanda noticed that it was more like a path instead of a road. But then again, there are no cars. Just a lot of bikes. I guess you don’t really need roads when there are no cars, she thought to herself.

At that moment a large group of kids came peddling as fast as they could down the road. Right behind all four of them. One of the bicyclists ran right into Joe. Joe screamed and fell on the ground.

“Well, I guess that one made it to earth,” Faeryn said.

“You guess what one made it to earth?” Amanda asked, as she knelt down next to Joe. “Joe. Babe. Are you ok?”

Startled, Joe looked up at Amanda. “I think so. Whoever that was, got my leg pretty good. It hurts. But I think I’ll be ok.” And then he looked at Faeryn. “Yea, one of what made it to earth?”

“The scream,” Faeryn replied. “I bet that scream made it to earth.”

“Let me explain,” Xandy interrupted. “Every time there’s a loud enough scream up here, you guys hear it down on earth.”

Amanda and Joe look at each other. Amanda helps Joe slowly back to standing. “Are you sure you’re ok?’ Amanda asks him. “Yea I’m fine. I think it was just the shock of it all.”

Amanda and Joe, both with perplexed looks on their faces, look over at Xandy and Faeryn. “We’ve never heard screams from Mars down on Earth,” Joe told them.

“Ah, but yes you have,” Xandy said. Faeryn nodded her head behind him. “Yup,” she piped up. “You know every time you hear thunder on Earth? Well, it’s actually screaming from up here.”

Amanda and Joe were bewildered. They had never heard of that before. They weren’t sure if it was true or not. “Are you sure?” Amanda asked them. “We’ve never heard of that,” Joe added.

“Oh yes, I’m definitely sure of it,” Xandy said, and Faeryn nodded her head. “I know we’re so far from earth, but you guys still hear screaming from all the way up here.” Come on, lets continue down the road to the restaurant. I know a great place to have lunch.

Amanda and Joe followed Xandy and Faeryn down the road while they tried to wrap their head about what they had just learned about the screaming and thunder.