Mission Mars Read Free Page A

for consultation. We’ll meet back here at 1600 hours tomorrow.”

    I wasn’t the only one who benefited from my new adulthood. Barry and my parents now shared a three-bedroomunit. As I walked into their quarters, I saw a paper banner hanging from the ceiling in the common area. A cake with eighteen candles rested on a plate of my mom’s best china. I cringed at the thought of how much of her weight allowance she’d used to bring it along.
    In deference to the occasion, my dad opened the family meeting with a toast of sparkling wine, but after Captain Larkin’s speech, none of us was in a celebratory mood.
    â€œI don’t see how this changes anything,” I said. “Before MarsCorp decided to require the trial period, we were prepared to board the ship in a couple of months.”
    â€œWhat’s changed is the timing of our final decision.”
    â€œI’ve made my decision.” My parents exchanged looks that left no doubt as to what the next topic would be. I spoke before either of them could broach the matter. “Dr. Grant told me.” Without waiting for my parents to respond, I said, “How long have you known that you needed my participation?”
    Mom spoke first. “Most of the last two years.” She was a teacher, a natural nurturer. She took the lead when sensitivity was required. “I know it feels like a betrayal, Celia, but we didn’t want our wishes to influence your decision.”
    The door chime interrupted further discussion. Marta and Alex burst in bearing jugs emblazoned with the logo of their favorite beer. From the looks of it, they probably blew their entire alcohol allowance for the month in celebration of my adulthood. They accepted glasses of wine and echoed my parents’ toast: Live Long and Prosper. We were all inveterate sci-fi fans.
    Devon’s arrival a few minutes later pleased me more than I wanted to show. Not really sure if he intended to jointhe celebration, I hadn’t mentioned him to my parents. The look that passed between them triggered my newly acquired paranoia. Was there something else they’d kept to themselves?
    He handed my mom a box while I made the round of introductions. Silence descended all around as my mom opened the lid, and we all stared at the contents.
    â€œWhat?” he said, his smile dimming as his gaze swept our faces, finally settling on mine. “Don’t tell me you’re all vegetarians.”
    â€œHow did you know pepperoni and olives was my favorite?” I asked.
    â€œI thought that’s how everyone ate pizza.”
    We laughed at his joke, but as the night wore on, I realized he’d been sincere. For an adult—albeit a young one—he demonstrated an amazing level of naiveté regarding a wide range of subjects. He seemed surprised, too, when my parents included Barry in the conversation. And more than once, he looked puzzled at something Marta or Alex said. He was the only one, except for Barry, who didn’t partake of the liquid refreshment that flowed liberally throughout the evening. Even my parents drank way more than I’d ever seen them consume in one sitting.

    It was well after midnight when the party broke up. Devon insisted on accompanying me to my berth, and I was in no condition to argue. I was already regretting the last two cups of beer. It took three tries to get my eye lined up properly for the security scan. If Devon hadn’t been holding my arm,I would’ve fallen on my face when the door opened. “Whoa, better help me lie down.”
    He guided me toward the sofa, but I pulled us toward the bedroom door instead. “Bed please, closer to the toilet.”
    It wasn’t until I was sitting on the bed tugging at my pants that I realized how uneasy he looked. “I’ll be fine. You don’t need to hang around.”
    â€œIt’s just—” He gave a little shrug. “I’ve never been alone in a