Chapter 2 My Brother Visits Outer Space
During the rest of first period, the teacher explained switching classes to us. When we picked our seats for our other classes, I somehow got close to Sophie. She didn’t seem to care, though. My best friend, Thomas, told me how they banned those “I upendo Boobies” bracelets and how he got to steal all the girls’ ones that had been dumped in the trash.
“You’re a pervert, wewe know that?” I told him at lunch.
“Oh shut up. I know how much wewe siku dream about wewe and Sophie dancing and stuff.” He snapped at me. “You told me how long and flowy her dress is, right?”
I nodded, knowing where this was going.
“Next time, make her dress shorter.” He nudged my shoulder. I just rolled my eyes at him and took a bite into my sandwich.
I looked across the lunch room. A few tables down sat Timmy. I had the same lunch time has him. Great. Timmy was talking to his friends. I guessed it was about Super Mario Brothers© au something of that nature.
Then, I saw Sophie sitting at the end of the long table. She was with a couple of her friends, and her so-called “boyfriend”, Brandon. I scoffed.
“What's a guy like Brandon Robbins doing with a girl like Sophie Leonard?” I asked Thomas.
“I dunno. It might be because he’s all that and crap.” Thomas took a bite of his burrito. “Girls like Sophie only cling to him because he’s popular, and “sexy”, and stupid.”
I sighed. “I just wish he would disappear, y’know? Then all my problems would go away.”
“But how’s that gonna get Sophie to like you? I mean, eliminating her boyfriend only makes her single.”
I thought for a minute. Thomas had a point. “Whatever. At least she alisema hi to me earlier.”
“Dude, wewe are obsessed with this girl.” Thomas tossed a pretzel at me.
“You’re obsessed with girls in general.” I said. “And their body parts…”
“…Touché.” Thomas glared at me.
Finally, lunch was over and the kids were dismissed to recess. Thomas wasn’t in my homeroom, and he alisema how he’d already gotten lunch detention. So it was recess, and I was alone. For a few dakika I spied on Sophie and Brandon. Usually, the kids who dated would sneak off and make out behind the bleachers. I had only ever seen Brandon and Sophie hold hands last mwaka and over the summer.
I had followed them all around the baseball field. They were holding hands, and talking about some couple that got in trouble for making out on the last siku of school. Those kids got expelled.
After a while, Brandon started to get upset. He asked Sophie if she’d at least let him kiss her. Sophie looked away.
“No, Brandon. I don’t want a boyfriend for kissing. I want a boyfriend for talking to, and being there for me, and liking me for who I am!” Sophie yelled at him. I was shocked. I had no idea Sophie had it in her.
“C’mon, babe, please? Just one little kiss…” Brandon said. I had to admit, he sounded smooth. He had a way with ladies, and a way of getting what he wants.
“Well…” Sophie said. “I guess if it’ll shut wewe up.” She smiled at him. Brandon smiled back, and Sophie seemed mesmerized. The dude was magical.
But I could NOT let this happen.
Slowly, I could see their lips heading for each other. I tried to look away, but I just couldn’t. As soon as their lips touched, I almost screamed. I noticed their lips were staying still so I was somewhat okay… that is, until I saw Brandon make a move. He moved his lips and grabbed Sophie. I could tell she was struggling to get away, but Brandon held on to her. That’s when I did what I never thought I’d do.
“Hey, Brandon! LAY OFF!” I yelled walking up from my hiding spot. Immediately I froze. What had I done?
Brandon let go of Sophie and shoved her away. She landed on the ground, and looked up at Brandon. She looked hurt, emotionally and physically.
“And what are wewe gonna do about it, wewe little PUNK?” Brandon yelled at me. “She’s my girlfriend, I can do whatever I want with her.” Sophie’s eyes started to water. She now just seemed to realize he only liked her for looks.
“You’re a JERK.” I said. “Just leave her alone! She obviously doesn’t want to be forced to kiss you!” Apparently, my jealous side had taken over me and decided to be brave today. Because I was about to get my punda whooped.
The inayofuata thing I knew, I was shoved onto the ground inayofuata to Sophie. I landed on my back, and it hurt. “Andy!” Sophie had alisema as soon as I hit the ground.
Brandon looked at me. “Don’t wewe EVER talk back to me!” He then reached for Sophie’s hand. “Let’s ditch this loser and go talk about your Marafiki some more, eh?”
Sophie didn’t do anything. She just stared at him.
“C’mon! What’re wewe waiting for?”
“No, Brandon. I don’t wanna go with you. We’re through.” Sophie closed her eyes, and fought back tears. I didn’t believe my ears.
Brandon obviously couldn’t either. “Well, FINE! I don’t want a piece of junk, taka like wewe anyways!” He stormed off.
For a moment I just sat there. We sat up and I looked at Sophie. The inayofuata thing I knew, she was hugging me.
“Thanks you, Andy… You…you stood up for me…” Sophie was teary, I could hear it in her voice.
“You’re welcome. I just couldn’t stand to see wewe uncomfortable like that.” I tried to be as honest as I could.
Sophie thanked me once more, and then ran off to her friends, who were all freaked out. I got up and walked around for a few minutes. I felt pretty proud of myself. Eventually, I stumbled upon Timmy. He was at the back gate, and he looked pretty startled.
“Hey man, guess what I just did?” I told him. He didn’t respond. “Timmy?”
“L-look…” He pointed out passed the gate. What I saw made my stomach do flips. About three hundred feet away, there were small space shuttles. And Braden’s first grade class was being loaded into the first shuttle. The first thing I thought and alisema was “What the hell?”
“I don’t know either! I’ve been standing here for the entire recess trying to understand it!” Timmy said. The first thing I thought to do was get over there and help my brother and all those kids. I started climbing the fence.
“Come ON, Timmy! We don’t have much time!” I stared at my brother.
“Are wewe crazy?! We could get in serious trouble!!!” Timmy shouted.
“Our brother is about to be launched into space! Get up here!” I grabbed his hand and pulled him up. He was surprisingly light. We both jumped down, and started running for the shuttles. I took one last look at the school. I saw Sophie talking to her friends. “Bye…” I alisema quietly.
“Whoa…” After arriving at the platform thing, Timmy and I stared at the shuttles. They were bigger in person. “Okay, c’mon, let’s go get the kids.” I grabbed Timmy’s arm and pulled him along. Then, out of nowhere, a sound that nearly bursted our eardrums erupted, and we kneeled down.
The first shuttle was taking off.
“No! We’re too late!” I screamed. The first graders were on their way to space.
“Andy… they just blasted Braden into space…” He seemed terrified.
“I’m not giving up just yet… c’mon!” I pulled his arm again.
The first place I thought to check was the little mission control room. I told Timmy to bang on it with me. We both started screaming and pounded on the door. No answer.
“Ugh…” I groaned. “There’s gotta be another way…” Then, I looked up at the sekunde shuttle. An idea hatched from my brain as I pulled Timmy along. I entered the shuttle, because it was unlocked. (AN: XDD Just pretend there’s an easy access thing… like in Space Buddies!)
“Andy…? Are wewe sure about this?” Timmy asked. I saw the worried look on his face.
My idea was crazy, but it was the only way we were gonna get Braden back. “Yes, I’m sure. Now get in that kiti, kiti cha and buckle yourself.” I ordered. Timmy seemed hesitant but went along.
I started all the keys and pushed all the buttons. I had learned how to start a shuttle at space camp. Then, I turned the ignition key. I could feel the ship starting to get ready, and I sat in my seat. “Here we go.” I muttered.
“Andy! The guys in mission control are coming at us! HURRY!” Timmy yelled. I looked over and noticed the guys in the room who were just ignoring us, now wanted us to listen to them.
Tough luck.
I grabbed the microphone and into it I screamed “This is for ignoring us!” I honked the little horn thing loudly. “And this one’s for launching my brother into space!!” Just then, the shuttle launched. I had just successfully launched a space shuttle.
I turned off the microphone, and Timmy and I screamed at the juu of our lungs.
During the rest of first period, the teacher explained switching classes to us. When we picked our seats for our other classes, I somehow got close to Sophie. She didn’t seem to care, though. My best friend, Thomas, told me how they banned those “I upendo Boobies” bracelets and how he got to steal all the girls’ ones that had been dumped in the trash.
“You’re a pervert, wewe know that?” I told him at lunch.
“Oh shut up. I know how much wewe siku dream about wewe and Sophie dancing and stuff.” He snapped at me. “You told me how long and flowy her dress is, right?”
I nodded, knowing where this was going.
“Next time, make her dress shorter.” He nudged my shoulder. I just rolled my eyes at him and took a bite into my sandwich.
I looked across the lunch room. A few tables down sat Timmy. I had the same lunch time has him. Great. Timmy was talking to his friends. I guessed it was about Super Mario Brothers© au something of that nature.
Then, I saw Sophie sitting at the end of the long table. She was with a couple of her friends, and her so-called “boyfriend”, Brandon. I scoffed.
“What's a guy like Brandon Robbins doing with a girl like Sophie Leonard?” I asked Thomas.
“I dunno. It might be because he’s all that and crap.” Thomas took a bite of his burrito. “Girls like Sophie only cling to him because he’s popular, and “sexy”, and stupid.”
I sighed. “I just wish he would disappear, y’know? Then all my problems would go away.”
“But how’s that gonna get Sophie to like you? I mean, eliminating her boyfriend only makes her single.”
I thought for a minute. Thomas had a point. “Whatever. At least she alisema hi to me earlier.”
“Dude, wewe are obsessed with this girl.” Thomas tossed a pretzel at me.
“You’re obsessed with girls in general.” I said. “And their body parts…”
“…Touché.” Thomas glared at me.
Finally, lunch was over and the kids were dismissed to recess. Thomas wasn’t in my homeroom, and he alisema how he’d already gotten lunch detention. So it was recess, and I was alone. For a few dakika I spied on Sophie and Brandon. Usually, the kids who dated would sneak off and make out behind the bleachers. I had only ever seen Brandon and Sophie hold hands last mwaka and over the summer.
I had followed them all around the baseball field. They were holding hands, and talking about some couple that got in trouble for making out on the last siku of school. Those kids got expelled.
After a while, Brandon started to get upset. He asked Sophie if she’d at least let him kiss her. Sophie looked away.
“No, Brandon. I don’t want a boyfriend for kissing. I want a boyfriend for talking to, and being there for me, and liking me for who I am!” Sophie yelled at him. I was shocked. I had no idea Sophie had it in her.
“C’mon, babe, please? Just one little kiss…” Brandon said. I had to admit, he sounded smooth. He had a way with ladies, and a way of getting what he wants.
“Well…” Sophie said. “I guess if it’ll shut wewe up.” She smiled at him. Brandon smiled back, and Sophie seemed mesmerized. The dude was magical.
But I could NOT let this happen.
Slowly, I could see their lips heading for each other. I tried to look away, but I just couldn’t. As soon as their lips touched, I almost screamed. I noticed their lips were staying still so I was somewhat okay… that is, until I saw Brandon make a move. He moved his lips and grabbed Sophie. I could tell she was struggling to get away, but Brandon held on to her. That’s when I did what I never thought I’d do.
“Hey, Brandon! LAY OFF!” I yelled walking up from my hiding spot. Immediately I froze. What had I done?
Brandon let go of Sophie and shoved her away. She landed on the ground, and looked up at Brandon. She looked hurt, emotionally and physically.
“And what are wewe gonna do about it, wewe little PUNK?” Brandon yelled at me. “She’s my girlfriend, I can do whatever I want with her.” Sophie’s eyes started to water. She now just seemed to realize he only liked her for looks.
“You’re a JERK.” I said. “Just leave her alone! She obviously doesn’t want to be forced to kiss you!” Apparently, my jealous side had taken over me and decided to be brave today. Because I was about to get my punda whooped.
The inayofuata thing I knew, I was shoved onto the ground inayofuata to Sophie. I landed on my back, and it hurt. “Andy!” Sophie had alisema as soon as I hit the ground.
Brandon looked at me. “Don’t wewe EVER talk back to me!” He then reached for Sophie’s hand. “Let’s ditch this loser and go talk about your Marafiki some more, eh?”
Sophie didn’t do anything. She just stared at him.
“C’mon! What’re wewe waiting for?”
“No, Brandon. I don’t wanna go with you. We’re through.” Sophie closed her eyes, and fought back tears. I didn’t believe my ears.
Brandon obviously couldn’t either. “Well, FINE! I don’t want a piece of junk, taka like wewe anyways!” He stormed off.
For a moment I just sat there. We sat up and I looked at Sophie. The inayofuata thing I knew, she was hugging me.
“Thanks you, Andy… You…you stood up for me…” Sophie was teary, I could hear it in her voice.
“You’re welcome. I just couldn’t stand to see wewe uncomfortable like that.” I tried to be as honest as I could.
Sophie thanked me once more, and then ran off to her friends, who were all freaked out. I got up and walked around for a few minutes. I felt pretty proud of myself. Eventually, I stumbled upon Timmy. He was at the back gate, and he looked pretty startled.
“Hey man, guess what I just did?” I told him. He didn’t respond. “Timmy?”
“L-look…” He pointed out passed the gate. What I saw made my stomach do flips. About three hundred feet away, there were small space shuttles. And Braden’s first grade class was being loaded into the first shuttle. The first thing I thought and alisema was “What the hell?”
“I don’t know either! I’ve been standing here for the entire recess trying to understand it!” Timmy said. The first thing I thought to do was get over there and help my brother and all those kids. I started climbing the fence.
“Come ON, Timmy! We don’t have much time!” I stared at my brother.
“Are wewe crazy?! We could get in serious trouble!!!” Timmy shouted.
“Our brother is about to be launched into space! Get up here!” I grabbed his hand and pulled him up. He was surprisingly light. We both jumped down, and started running for the shuttles. I took one last look at the school. I saw Sophie talking to her friends. “Bye…” I alisema quietly.
“Whoa…” After arriving at the platform thing, Timmy and I stared at the shuttles. They were bigger in person. “Okay, c’mon, let’s go get the kids.” I grabbed Timmy’s arm and pulled him along. Then, out of nowhere, a sound that nearly bursted our eardrums erupted, and we kneeled down.
The first shuttle was taking off.
“No! We’re too late!” I screamed. The first graders were on their way to space.
“Andy… they just blasted Braden into space…” He seemed terrified.
“I’m not giving up just yet… c’mon!” I pulled his arm again.
The first place I thought to check was the little mission control room. I told Timmy to bang on it with me. We both started screaming and pounded on the door. No answer.
“Ugh…” I groaned. “There’s gotta be another way…” Then, I looked up at the sekunde shuttle. An idea hatched from my brain as I pulled Timmy along. I entered the shuttle, because it was unlocked. (AN: XDD Just pretend there’s an easy access thing… like in Space Buddies!)
“Andy…? Are wewe sure about this?” Timmy asked. I saw the worried look on his face.
My idea was crazy, but it was the only way we were gonna get Braden back. “Yes, I’m sure. Now get in that kiti, kiti cha and buckle yourself.” I ordered. Timmy seemed hesitant but went along.
I started all the keys and pushed all the buttons. I had learned how to start a shuttle at space camp. Then, I turned the ignition key. I could feel the ship starting to get ready, and I sat in my seat. “Here we go.” I muttered.
“Andy! The guys in mission control are coming at us! HURRY!” Timmy yelled. I looked over and noticed the guys in the room who were just ignoring us, now wanted us to listen to them.
Tough luck.
I grabbed the microphone and into it I screamed “This is for ignoring us!” I honked the little horn thing loudly. “And this one’s for launching my brother into space!!” Just then, the shuttle launched. I had just successfully launched a space shuttle.
I turned off the microphone, and Timmy and I screamed at the juu of our lungs.
