The Stars

Hey Mom?”

I turned to look at my mother, the grass we were laying on in the backyard tickly and uncomfortable but we didnt care.

“Yeah Archer?” she replied, without breaking her gaze from the starry night sky.

“What do you think is out there? In the universe I mean?”

She finally turned to look at me. My Mom’s a beautiful woman, with blue green eyes, raven-black hair, full lips and a acne free face. I grumbled. I never get the good genes in the family.

And she looked flawless in her galaxy t-shirt and jeans, all of us wearing a matching one, the same one we've had for ages.

As though she read my mind, she giggled. I giggled too. I couldn’t help it. It’s contagious

“I don’t know. Wanna go find out?” She smiled. I smiled back.

I sprang to my feet and rushed to the the telescope in the center of the back yard, and looked through it, lines of light searing through the sky.

“Dad! Luna! The meteor shower is starting!!” I yelled, running to our suburban home in excitement.

In a few moments, feet were pounding down the stairs and the door was burst open with such force I thought it would rip out of its hinges

My 7 year old sister dashed out of the house, our Dad hot on her trail. She was squealing, out of excitement or fear of Dad tickling her, I didn’t know, and couldn’t care less. I was just bursting to see the meteor shower.

“Noooooooo! I don’t want the tickle monster!” Luna screeched as she ran, giggling in the process. 

“I’m coming!!” Dad replied in his special tickle monster voice.

I laughed and was full of energy and positivity. Before I knew it, I was chasing after Luna, colliding with Dad more often than not, running all around the backyard. Eventually, we collapsed in a sweaty heap on the floor, still laughing in between pants.

“No …….. fair. It was two ……… against ……… one.” Luna whined, still panting.

Dad and I exchanged a look and erupted in laughter. Mom soon loomed over us, her mouth quirked in a smile.

“Sorry to break your secret bro talk,” she said, rolling her eyes, “but the meteor shower has started. Wouldn’t want to miss it, would we?”

We scrambled to our favourite spot and all sat, watching the meteor shower in silence, saying the occasional ‘ooh’ and ‘aah’ at the brightest or fastest meteors.

Soon, Dad was watching me and smirked when I looked back, putting an arm around Mom. I rolled my eyes. Urk. I grinned nonetheless. I loved these quiet moments, when I got to be grateful for our family.

I looked at them, looking for changes between this year and last year. Nothing much anyway. Dad still had his stick-out-in-every-place brown hair and brown eyes. Still always shaved and only had slight stubble. And freckles. I hated my own freckles. Luna was still a mini version of Mom, though had Dad’s eyes and I had Mom’s. We both have Dad’s lean figure. And I had Mom’s hair, surprisingly with Dad’s brown streaks.

Speaking of Dad, I glanced at him, and he had suspicion written all over his face. He smirked at me again. Oh no.

“You know kids,” he said, his face close to Mom’s. Too close. Uh oh. Even mom was smirking. This is not good.

“Your Mom and I met under the stars at Archers age, and had our first kiss years later under a meteor shower too.”

And he kissed her

“Ewwwwww!” Luna screamed, jumping up and dashing to the house.

Mom and Dad were laughing hysterically. I on the other hand rolled my eyes and made a vomiting sound. My parents can act like cliche teenagers sometimes, which is both embarrassing and annoying. Not to mention disgusting. Bleh

And of course, obviously to bother me, He kissed Mom again, a longer one. And made noise.

“Dammit, that’s it, I’m out!” I announced dramatically, muttering.

“Language, Archer!” Mom called, obviously stifling a laugh.

“Whatever!” I replied, waving a sarcastic hand at them, my back turned

I could hear them cackling as I set myself on the porch and sat beside Luna who had emerged out of the house in time to see Mom and Dad kissing again. Her face was squished in disgust and her hands were covering her ears

“Mommy and Daddy can be disgusting sometimes” she muttered.

I laughed at my little sister’s truth. She was a lot smarter than she looked.

“Yeah. They are like yucky teens sometimes, aren’t they?”

Luna nodded vigorously in agreement. We watched as the meteor shower continued, naming stars and constellations we learned in school and in space books scattered around the house. Mom and Dad eventually came over, but I gave some conditions

“No kissing,” I glared at them as they giggled, “No holding hands, no touching, no cuddling and whatever gross things your thinking about. And it is mandatory Luna and I are between you”

“Deal?” I raised an eyebrow

“Ugh, deal.” Mom said reluctantly, the pair taking their posts, Dad beside me.

“Hey Archie, your the teen here, how are you grossed out?” Dad commented, breaking the silence and ruffling my already messed up hair. I glared at him

“First Dad,” I snapped “I hate that nickname.” I kept my cool. “Second, I’m 13, NOT 18. And umm, haven’t had my first kiss.”

That set them off. For the next few minutes, they teased me mercilessly. I snapped at all of them, but in spite of myself, found myself grinning.

“Alright, everyone,” Dad said, looking at his watch and getting up. “It’s midnight, me and Mom have work and you lot have school.”

“No! I’m not tired!” Luna whined

“I’m gonna kiss Mommy again if you don’t go.” Dad warned, already leaning to Mom

Luna was already in the house, running upstairs, yelling “ewwww!” the whole way.

Dad winked at me and followed Luna, probably making sure she won’t get into mischief. I got up to leave, already feeling excited for next year, but mom caught my sleeve. I turned to look at her.

Her face was grave. My stomach twisted into knots. She had bad news, no doubt. Her face was only like that when something bad is happening

“Mom, whats up?” I crouched down.

She sighed miserably “Please, don’t tell your sister. She’ll be crushed. She won’t be able to bear it. But you can.”

I was really alarmed now. “Mom, what is it? Is there a em-”

“Archer, I’m sick.” I felt numb all over and looked down.

“Yes, cancer sick.” she said, reading my expression.

She squeezed my hand, which I hadn’t realized was shaking.

“Hey, look at me.” I did. I only realized then how pale she looked. She looked older, with little wrinkles. Her eyes were not as bright as they used to be. She really was sick

“Are you getting treatment? Does Dad know?” I questioned.

She squeezed my hand again, harder this time. “Yes and yes.” No wonder dad was acting all mushy around Mom

“But,” I winced. I was dreading that word, “I didn’t start treatment early. And my cancer is severe."

I gulped. Hard. My brain was already wiping up Mom's possibilities and likely scenarios. I looked down again, in fear of tearing up.

"Hey.' I looked up again. "Next year?" Mom smiled. I smiled back.

"Always"

I didn't sleep that night.

************************************************************

3 years later.

I looked at myself in the mirror in my galaxy covered room. The air was grim in the whole house and I had on a black suit. Dad wore it on prom, the day he first kissed Mom. Highschool sweethearts.

I laughed miserably. I wished so bad that was what I was going for, even if it was still 2 years away.

I wondered why I wasn't crying like Luna has for the past week. Maybe because Mom said not to. I felt a pang of guilt. And like that, I was in Mom's hospital room all over again.

Luna had been crying her eyes out the whole way, dad holding her hand, even when he drove. I felt only numbness the whole way, that is, until I looked at Mom. I was at the brink of tears then. She was deathly pale, all her hair gone from the chemotherapy, dark circles under her eyes. Well, that went for all of us . She still smiled when we came in. I trust Mom is still positive even with a deadly disease.

As though we practiced, we went to her one at a time, Dad first. He kissed her, obviously, but we didn't mind, not in a time like that. They whispered, and I only caught what Mom said.

"Take care of them for me, OK?"

Dad nodded grimly and whispered something to her before he came over. I didn't need to look at him to see tears glistening in his eyes.

Luna went and broke down in tears before she uttered a syllable. I didn't blame her. She was just 10 after all. Soon, I went up next. I didn't say anything because I knew I would either break down, my voice would crack or both. I crouched down, suddenly remembering the day she told me she was ill.

I swallowed.

"I love you. Your Dad will breakdown anyway, but I know you'll keep strong for me. Won't you?"

I was looking down but nodded.

"Hey, look at me." I did. She still looked beautiful

Mom wiped a tear off my face. She grinned.

"Look at you. You're so tall. and grown up. I can already see stubble on your face.

I chuckled. I did have my growth spurt.

"Take care of Luna especially. She looks so much like me. Your dad won't be able to look at her. Make sure he does. "

"I love you Mom." I finally croaked, nodding

"I love you too." I grinned in spite of the situation.

She squeezed my hand and she put a paper in it, winking. She closed her eyes and her grip loosened. I turned in time to hear her heart monitor go flat.

I walked over to Dad and Luna. She buried her head in my chest and I felt her shoulders shaking. Dad hugged us too, crying silently. I hugged them tightly, my fist still encircling the paper, my eyes dry. All I thought of was taking care of Luna what mom told me when I had asked her what was in the universe.

I don't know. Wanna find out?

I clutched the paper in my fists till my knuckles turned white. I promised. I was going to find out. Luna looked me in my eyes and already, it seems she wanted to do it with me.

I snapped out of my day dream as I heard footsteps at my door. I turned to see Luna was there, wearing a knee length black dress. Mom's. She looked like Mom so much. I stood my ground and didn't turn away.

Her eyes weren't bright and innocent anymore. They were hard. Calculating. I felt another twang of guilt. She had grown up too fast. I think she sensed my guilt cause her eyes softened. She didn't move a muscle.

"Dad hasn't looked at me." Mom was right.

"I know."

Silence

I went to my dresser and picked up the paper Mom gave me before she died. I hadn't opened it for a week, since I was busy making sure Dad ate and Luna went to school and Dad was working from home and not moping around.

Luna was behind me, watching. I opened it, and it was a letter. I grabbed Luna by the hand and dragged her to Dad's room.

It's like he anticipated our arrival because he was on his bed, head down, deliberately avoiding Luna's eye.

"Dad"

No answer.

"Dad! Listen to me! Mom knew this would happen and I Hate it! Listen!" I didn't mean to snap at him but his attitude was getting on my nerves.

He looked at me. He had it worse than all of us, I knew that, I just didn't want him to drag us with him, or let the grief take over.

"Dear Luna, Archer and Matthew," I read, looking at Dad as I said his name. His eyes were already glistening.

"I wrote this because I knew I wouldn't make it." I swallowed. "Mathew, I'm begging you now. Look. At. Luna. I'll always be here, and Luna is your reminder that I am."

"Luna, My sweet little girl, You've grown up so fast. Be strong. I'm always here."

"Archie," I choked a bit when I got to my place. "Your 16 and all grown up. You've already figured out what I meant 3 years ago. I love you all. Take care of them for me, man of the house.

Love,

Alicia, aka Mom"

I looked up and Dad was already hugging Luna.And I joined them. The doorbell rang and we looked at each other. It was time for the funeral.

We had filed out of the house in less than 2 minutes. I went out last, and saw my BFF, Alex, holding a bouquet of flowers. She was wearing a ankle length black dress, with lace long sleeves. I blinked. Alex NEVER wore dresses. Her red hair and freckles contrasted beautifully with the black dress, her green eyes were wet with tears.

I scratched my neck and we had an awkward silence. I had met Alex on my first day of highschool and were biology partners and being the science nerds that we are, talked non-stop. She had also suffered a loss, her dad died of cancer. We've been inseparable ever since.

She hugged me, her head height at my chest. I ignored the heat in my face and hugged her back. We broke apart and she grabbed my hand and squeezed my hand. I had forgotten how close and similar Alex and my Mom were.

“Are you ready?” Her voice cracked.

“Always.”

At the funeral, things took a turn. We were at the cemetery, and as daft as I was, thought we would be a few at the ceremony. How wrong I was. Someone had brought out chairs, with hundreds of people in black sitting, some crying. It felt like the whole town was there.

Even some of our classmates were there. I hadn't realized Mom had a huge impact in our tiny town. At the front, there was a space, possibly for family and close friends. A lot of our relatives were already there, some we hadn't seen in years. The sky was sunny and bright. Mom would have loved it.

My chest had suddenly become tight as we sat down. I hadn't realized I held Alex's hand the whole way. I let go, flustered. She looked at me, concern in her face.

"Don't worry. You're free to cry. You've held it in for a whole week."

I looked at Alex incredulously. Her expression was exactly like Mom's. I hiccuped, put my head on her shoulder and cried my heart out, Luna beside me, squeezing my hand tight, Dad near Alex ruffling my hair.

************************************************************

10 years later.

My heart was pounding in my throat. I knew the whole world was watching and I had a wave of nausea. I turned my head, Alex grinning, my butterflies growing to a zoo.

We were at the launch pad, getting ready to go in. Dad's voice rang through the headphones.

"Astronauts Archer Greenby, Luna Greenby and Alexis Moon, all set?"

"Dad, we are your kids, no need to be so formal. And Alex is Archers girlfriend." Luna said from beside me, rolling her eyes.

"Shut up." I snapped. Alex laughed.

"Do all three of you know we are live on TV?"

We all shut up.

We approached the rocket, one at a time, getting into our positions.

"T - 10, 9, 8..." went a robotic voice.

"I'm so proud of you guys," Dad sniffed

"We know," we said in unison.

The rocket was shaky, the sounds were loud, my heart was racing.

I still couldn't believe it. We were going to space. All our hard work actually paid off.

"3, 2, 1. Lift off."

The sky seemed to hurled towards us, as the rocket picked up speed. Soon we were gazing at the stars, like we've always had.

"And we are in orbit." We heard cheers.

"Good luck"

I glanced at Luna, once a strong 10 year old, now 20, the youngest astronaut in the world, and Alex, my best friend (well maybe girlfriend) and nerd accomplice, now 26, set and determined. I looked at the stars, more beautiful than ever.

This is for you mom, I thought. And in the corner in my mind, I felt like she was there, answering my calls.

I know