For Julio

love, mom

Only those who attempt the absurd can reach the impossible.

Albert Einstein

One day Julio was home eating his breakfast cereal, when he received a letter saying he won an exciting trip to space sponsored by his school. Oh boy! He showed his parents, then went to pack his bag for the trip. He had been waiting for this for weeks. Aboard the space craft, he was accompanied by a robot named Mr. Shiny Pants. I get my own robot? Cool! They were given their mission which was to explore a new planet in the galaxy. They prepared for take off and up they went.

After a while, all Julio could see was nothing but stars. Goodbye earth, he said to himself feeling sad. The robot scanned the assignment and spoke up. According to my calculations, we should be reaching our destination in a few weeks. Mr. Shiny Pants was a smart and capable robot. Julio sat down at the controllers next to his metal companion. A few weeks? But I'm just ten! Let me see that assignment. He looked down at the bottom where it read his return date. He slumped down in his co-captain chair.

Then something caught his eye at the window. Did you see that, Mr. Shiny Pants? Something was watching them from the window. But when the robot looked at it, it would disappear. See what? Replied the robot, I don't see anything. Julio pretended to look away, and the thing came back to the window and disappeared again.

Julio was scared out of his pants! There! Look! Julio jumped out of his seat. You stay here and keep steering the ship, Mr. Shiny Pants, I'm gonna take a look around. Beep Beep, Ok. He replied.

Julio got up and listened carefully. He heard whatever was out there walking on the outside surface of the ship. He followed the sound to the back of the ship towards the hatch. He started to tremble with fear when the handle of the door started twisting and turning. He looked around for a weapon. All he could find was bug spray. It's better than nothing I suppose. Hopefully it's just a big bug! Pound Pound Pound! Went the metal door. Click click click. The handle kept turning violently. I wanna go home, whimpered Julio. This isn't fun anymore. He decided to open the door.