This Place Has No Atmosphere Read online

  It’s interesting. Not great, but interesting. For a minute I wonder what Matthew would have named it. I feel a little sad . . . but not as sad as I would have expected.

  One of the factory workers, Brendon Brando, comes over. “Do you have to be a student to try out?”

  Hal shakes his head. “No. Everyone can.”

  “Great.” Brendon smiles. “See you at tryouts then.”

  As he leaves, I hear Julie say to Karlena, “I hope that he gets a part. I wouldn’t mind auditioning to be his girlfriend.”

  The music starts again.

  Hal asks me to dance.

  I suggest talking instead.

  We discuss all sorts of things.

  He’s the first boy who I don’t feel like I have to put an act on for, be someone I’m not. He’s really a different kind of friend.

  We laugh as he imitates Mr. Conway yelling about how someone keeps using his little greenhouse as a PortaPotty.

  I pretend to be the supply person who gave a report on the shortage of toilet paper and what measures to use not to waste it.

  An older couple comes over to us.

  Hal smiles.

  They look nice and comfy, like they would be happy to hug a kid.

  Some people just look like that.

  My parents don’t.

  “Aurora, these are my parents.”

  I feel a little shy. “Hi. Nice meeting you.”

  “Hal has told us so much about you,” Mr. Brenner says.

  Mrs. Brenner nods. “I ask him how school is and all he talks about is you.”

  “Mom!” Hal blushes.

  She continues. “It’s nice to know that he’s found someone he likes so much, and I know that Mr. Wilcox thinks you are a wonderful addition to the school and getting more helpful every day.”

  “Mom,” Hal says, “you make it sound like you were checking Aurora out.”

  “I was.” She nods. “And I’ve watched her at community meals. A mother likes to check out her son’s first girlfriend.”

  “We’re just friends.” Hal’s face is very red.

  Mr. Brenner says, “I’m sure we’ll be seeing a lot of you.”

  “Aurora”—Mrs. Brenner gives me a kiss on the cheek—“it’s very nice meeting you.”

  After they leave, Hal says, “That was one of the most embarrassing times in my life . . . . Parents!”

  “I like them.”

  “I do too.” He nods. “I can’t believe they did that to me though.”

  April comes rushing up to us. “Aurora. Hal. You did such a great job getting the money to put on the play. It’ll be such a terrific experience to direct. Tolin said he’d help with the sets.”

  I smile. “Wonderful.”

  We’ve both been so busy with our new lives that we really haven’t had any time to spend together.

  April goes over to dance with Tolin.

  I look around.

  Starr is standing at the sidelines alone, watching the dancers.

  “Hal, would you do me a favor?”

  “Anything.” He smiles at me.

  “Ask Starr to dance. Please.”

  He nods and says, “Sure. And you ask Tucker to dance. And when the music stops, we’ll make sure that the four of us are near. Tucker would like that.”

  “Has he said that he likes Starr?”

  “I’m sworn to secrecy.” Hal grins. “But my plan is one that will surely work.”

  A little sneaky.

  But nice.

  I like it.

  CHAPTER 24

  “I hope you get the parts you want,” my mother says as Starr and I get ready to leave the house. “Have a great day.”

  This afternoon my mother is going to perform bionic surgery on a worker who was injured in a mining accident. She’s been so busy studying procedures that I’m amazed she remembered that today Mr. Wilcox is putting up the list of people chosen for the play.

  My father says, “I wish we could do something special to celebrate tonight, like go out to dinner.”

  “There are no restaurants here,” Starr reminds him.

  “I know.” He looks sad. “I’m very happy up here . . . but do you know what I miss? . . . Those fastfood places, food in bags that always rip before you even get it home, greaseburgers, soda cups that leak from the plastic tops. Also pizza that the delivery boy has tilted to one side, so that the cheese is all in the corner of the box.”

  My mother says, “I miss sushi.”

  “Raw fish, yuckiosity.” Starr makes a face. “That’s like eating from a goldfish bowl.”

  My mother continues. “And ice cream places that sell soft custard. And I miss my mother’s brownies.” She pauses. “And I miss Mom too.”

  We’re all quiet for a few minutes, and then Dad says, “After dinner tonight, let’s all go out for a family walk and then I’ll bring out a hidden surprise that I’ve been saving for a special occasion—something Grandma Jennifer sent up on the last shuttle.”

  “How come I never saw it?” My mother puts her hands on her hips.

  He smiles. “She labeled it Dental Supplies and told me to open it when you showed signs of missing her.”

  “Brownies!” we all yell at once, jumping up and down. “Brownies! Brownies!”

  When we finally calm down, my father says, “That’s for tonight. But now we all have to go to work and to school.”

  Starr and I kiss our parents good-bye.

  This has been a great way to start our day, I think as we leave for school.

  “I thought I was nervous trying out for the play,” Starr says. “Waiting to find out who’s got which part is even worse.”

  I smile at her. “Don’t worry. I bet you’ll get a part.”

  “That’s what I’m nervous about.” Starr crosses her eyes. “How did you ever convince me to audition?”

  “How was a cinch. I told you that Tucker was trying out too. The reason why is that I’m sure you’ll get a small part and it’ll be fun, something different from working with computers. I helped you prepare for the audition and I’ll help you when you’re in the play.”

  “Sometimes you can be terrific.” Starr smiles at me.

  I smile back.

  We continue to walk along the street. Everything is so drab—gray dust, ugly black buildings. The weather’s so nothing. I remember the days on earth where sometimes it would rain, or snow, or be sunny . . . never be quite the same . . . and you could wear different types of clothes depending on the weather.

  The only time I get wet unexpectedly on the moon is when one of the Eaglettes drools or does worse.

  This town is really boring to look at. None of the buildings is taller than five stories. Most of them are covered with lunar dust. The paths are concrete. Outside of the greenhouse and Tranquillity Park, there are no trees, plants, or flowers.

  Once you get out of the center of town, there are the industrial sections. There’s no reason to go there unless you’re industrial (not necessarily industrious), and even if you do go there’s not much to do unless you are a worker.

  It’s not fair. I know that this place was designed to be a way station to Mars, which is being designed to be a beautiful place to go in the future. But they could have done something to spruce up the moon. I don’t think it’s fair not to just because it will cost a little bit more of the taxpayer’s money and will use some of the energy for “nonessentials.” What else are they going to spend the money on? A little more color and style shouldn’t cost that much. One nuclear bomb would be much more expensive, and they’re always buying a new one of those on earth.

  I wish they’d think about those of us who have to live here and aren’t industrial. We should have rights too.

  It’s a good thing we’re doing the play up here. That’ll lighten things up. It’ll definitely turn Bored Way into Broadway.

  Starr tugs on my tunic. “Are you nervous?”

  “About what?”

  “About Mr. Wilcox announcing
who has what part.”

  I think about how he had me read for several parts and how he said “Aurora Williams, I am very impressed.”

  I smile at Starr. “No. I’m just really excited to be able to be in the play. And I can’t wait to be Emily—to play her from teenage to grown-up. It’ll be great.”

  “I hope I’m one of the townspeople who have nothing to say.” Starr crosses her fingers.

  “You’ll do fine.” I feel more excited than I have since we got here.

  As we walk into the classroom, there’s a crowd of people around the bulletin board.

  “Congratulations on getting a major role,” one of the kids says to me.

  I grab Starr’s hand and rush up to the bulletin board to check out the results.

  Barfburger’s standing in front of the board.

  “Excuse me.” I tap him on the shoulder.

  He smiles at me and moves away.

  I look at the cast list.

  Karlena’s Emily.

  I’m Mrs. Gibbs.

  Barfburger is Dr. Gibbs.

  I wish I were dead.

  Life just isn’t fair.

  CHAPTER 25

  I will not let anyone see me cry.

  I will not let my tears go any further than the corners of my eyes.

  “Oh, no,” Starr says. “I have a real part. I’m Rebecca Gibbs.”

  Great. My little sister will be playing my daughter. Mr. Wilcox must have decided that it was all relative who got which parts.

  Mr. Wilcox must have lost his sanity.

  Karlena doesn’t even want to be an actress. When she graduates, she just wants to get married to her boyfriend, Kael, and live happily ever after.

  I don’t understand Mr. Wilcox.

  Where’s Hal when I need him? He’s being interviewed and tested by the space psychologists.

  “Excuse me,” I say. “See you all in class. I’ve got to go somewhere.”

  I turn and start walking away.

  “Where are you going?” Starr asks. I just walk away.

  Mr. Wilcox arrives and announces that school is about to begin.

  I continue to walk to the door.

  “Aurora,” Mr. Wilcox calls out, “I’d like to speak to you.”

  “Later,” I say as I walk out. “I forgot something at home.”

  There’s no way that I’m going to stop until I get out of this building.

  “Ten minutes, Aurora,” Mr. Wilcox yells. “Be back by then.”

  I look at my watch, even though I don’t plan to be back in ten minutes—or ten hours—or ten days—or ten months—or ten years.

  Who does he think he is? He can’t boss me around. I won’t even be in his stupid play.

  Why did he say he was so impressed with my acting ability and then not give me the lead?

  I slam the door as I leave the building.

  As soon as I walk out the door, I stop.

  There’s no place to go.

  I can’t go home.

  I want to go shopping—to buy myself something nice to make up for what I’m feeling. Grandma Jennifer would say that’s not the right way to handle my problems, but who cares? Anyway, once more, it makes no difference what I want. There’s nothing to buy anyway, and if I go to the general store, they’ll ask why I’m not in school.

  On the moon it’s like everyone is a truant officer.

  This is a small town and everyone knows everyone else’s business. There’s not even another town where I can go to escape.

  To leave the bubble, I’d have to get a space suit. I can just see me walking up to the Bureau of Space Suits or whatever it’s called and saying “Hi. I’m in a really lousy mood. How about letting me suit up and go for a little walk in the dust?”

  Maybe I should just try to sneak out of the bubble without a suit and fry or freeze to death.

  I should just quit the stupid play and forget about it.

  I did promise to see this through. But that promise was made when I thought that I was going to play Emily.

  Aaarg. I just don’t understand how Mr. Wilcox could do this to me.

  I wish I could go over to my grandparents’ house and talk to them while Grandma Jennifer makes brownies.

  There is no place to go.

  No place but back to school.

  I’m just going to have to deal with this myself.

  Mr. Wilcox, watch out! Here I come!

  CHAPTER 26

  Mr. Wilcox, watch out! Here I come!

  I keep saying that to myself as I stand outside the door, but it’s going to be very hard to walk into the classroom.

  Everyone’s going to be staring at me.

  I don’t even know if I can talk to Mr. Wilcox without crying.

  It’s not just that my feelings are hurt. It’s also that I’m angry, and when I’m angry I cry.

  I was really counting on the play to help me feel better about having to be on the moon, and now it’s just another thing that makes me feel terrible.

  I open the door a little.

  The older kids are working at their computer terminals and Starr is reading to the little kids.

  She’s doing my job. It’s my turn to work with the Eaglettes today. I was so upset that I forgot, and being with the kids is something that I’m really beginning to like doing.

  Back on earth it would have been so “toady” to be with little kids. Up here it’s not. I’m glad, because I really like working with the Eaglettes. At this moment I’m glad there’s something that I still like.

  I’m not sure how to handle this—whether to march up to Mr. Wilcox immediately, or do my job and talk to him later.

  In some ways I’d love to get all this over with, to let Mr. Wilcox know how I feel, but it’s not fair to Starr to let her do my job. It’s not easy making the right decision. I’m not even sure there is one right or one wrong decision in all this.

  Mr. Wilcox is at his desk holding an individualized writing conference with Vern—barfburger and my play husband.

  I refuse to embarrass myself and make a scene.

  I’ll do my job and speak to Mr. Wilcox when he’s alone.

  It’s so hard to be grown up when all I really want to do is stamp my feet, scream, and throw a temper tantrum.

  Walking into the classroom, I concentrate on looking straight ahead at the corner where Starr and the Eaglettes are sitting.

  Once I get there I sit down on the floor as Starr continues to read the story. She takes a second to look up, smile, and wink at me.

  One of the kids, Dani, kisses me on the knee and then puts her head down on my leg.

  Another, Marilla, climbs onto my lap and hugs me.

  Putting my arms around her, I kiss her on the forehead.

  Starr continues to read, and Marilla sucks her thumb and pats my cheek.

  I feel a weird combination of calm and crazed.

  Starr finishes the story and I sneak a peek over at Mr. Wilcox’s desk. He’s meeting with another student.

  The Eaglettes, Starr, and I start to build a robot out of Legos and Silly Putty.

  I’ve finally started to relax when I feel a tap on my shoulder.

  It’s Mr. Wilcox.

  It’s time to deal with everything.

  Watch out, I think. Watch out!

  I’m not sure whether the warning is for him or for me.

  CHAPTER 27

  “Okay, kids. I’ll be standing outside the door. No funny business,” Mr. Wilcox calls out. “I don’t want anyone to feed a peanut butter sandwich to the computer disk drive . . . or to put a carrot stick into the pencil sharpener to make cole slaw . . . or to tap-dance on each others’ heads.”

  Everyone laughs. Everyone except me.

  I hate it when teachers act funny and nice when I’m angry at them. It’s always better when everyone hates the teacher. Then I don’t feel so alone if I do.

  Even Starr laughed.

  I almost smiled but then remembered what he’d done to me.

 
; Let Karlena laugh at his jokes.

  “Okay, Aurora. Let’s go outside.” Mr. Wilcox looks down at me.

  We stand in the hallway outside the classroom.

  I have my arms folded in front of me.

  He leans against the wall. “So, Aurora. Do you want to talk about what’s bothering you?”

  I take a deep breath and nod.

  Mr. Wilcox says, “Don’t worry. We’ll work this out.”

  I glare. “Don’t worry! How are we going to work this out? What you did was so unfair.”

  “Aurora, tell me exactly what’s bothering you.”

  This is so frustrating. He knows what’s bothering me.

  Mr. Wilcox waits.

  I try to organize my thoughts and then begin. “You know I want to be Emily, and I think I should be. I’m the one who suggested doing the play, and Hal and I went to the council and got permission and support to do it. Also, you said I read really well for the part and you know that I want to be an actress and I have more acting experience than anyone else on the moon. I don’t see how you can be so mean and so unfair to give the starring female role to Karlena.” I stare up at him.

  He returns my stare. “Aurora. You went to the council to get permission to put on the best play possible. You weren’t given that go-ahead just so that you could have what you think of as the starring role. And Emily isn’t the only major part. There are several, and Mrs. Gibbs is one of them. Karlena, without acting experience, is a lot like Emily. She’s grown up here in a small town and she wants a lot of the same things. In that way, the part is easier for her. When Emily dies ten years later, Karlena can handle that scene too . . . with some coaching from you.”

  Coaching from me! How unfair can he get? Who does he think I am, St. Aurora?

  He continues. “The part of Mrs. Gibbs was given to you because it’s very important to the play and it will be a ‘stretch’ for you. It will help you grow and try out new things.”

  “But I know that I can be great as Emily.”

  He smiles at me. “You can also be great as Mrs. Gibbs. You’ll just have to work harder.”

  “Why do I have to try out another new thing? Isn’t it enough that I’ve had to move, to leave everyone and everything I cared about?” I start to cry. “Life isn’t fair.”