The Planet of Junior Brown Read Free Page A

“The universe acts the same everywhere. This being so, the Milky Way, the solar system and the planet of Junior Brown hold no unusual position.”
    â€œSpace and time,” Buddy Clark said. He let the feeble light slip through his fingers. “Energy, matter, gravitation and light.”
    â€œNot space,” said Mr. Pool, “nor light nor any of the others can be measured alone, but only in relation to one or more of the others.”
    Alone.
    Across the span of planets, Junior Brown thought, Who am I? What can I know? It’s Friday. Outside me, it might be Monday. Or nothing. Or something terrible.
    â€œEarth creatures will not survive forever,” droned Mr. Pool. “Our solar system, our Milky Way, will not survive. Travel to other galaxies will remain impossible …” He sighed. “… for movement in space seems not to exceed the speed of light. Traveling at the speed of light, it would take a being two million years to reach Andromeda, our neighboring galaxy… .”
    Soon buzzers again sounded above the three of them. “… When the youngest stars of our Milky Way die as all things will die,” said Mr. Pool, “life for beings will end.”
    Junior Brown got up slowly from his chair, his unbelievable girth of flesh and fat spreading out from his powerful frame.
    If all things were bound to die, what was the point of being born? Junior thought.
    â€œ A’m lookin’ forty mile ,” he sang softly to himself, “ Believe a’m fixin’ ta die . . .” He moved away from the light of the solar system into the void.
    â€œWait a minute, man,” Buddy told him.
    â€œI got to hurry, I got me someplace to go,” Junior said.
    â€œI know all about someplace you got to go,” said Buddy. “It’s Friday, man.”
    Buddy scrambled through the dark after Junior. When they both were within the false broom closet, they began groping around on the dark floor. After a moment Junior found his Fake Book. In no way false, the Fake Book was a thick volume of jazz and rock tunes arranged and copied professionally and in keys suitable for the average singer. The book had cost Junior’s mother fifty dollars. Junior always carried the book although he never used the arrangements. But hidden inside were his music lessons and his own classical compositions.
    Next Junior found a pile of torn and battered textbooks. He grabbed a couple of books and placed them safely with his Fake Book under his arm. Buddy took a couple of books also. Then, facing the door, the two of them stood side by side waiting tensely for Mr. Pool to release them.
    In the hidden room, Mr. Pool turned off the lights of the solar system by shutting off the system’s power source. In the total darkness, he stalked the planets until he found the big one called Junior Brown. The planet hung at a height the level of his chest. Mr. Pool found it with his hands on his first attempt.
    He had to smile. Superstitious, he couldn’t help suspecting that the planet of Junior Brown vanished as though it never existed once its light was turned off.
    But the planet of Junior Brown was safe in the room. That, to Mr. Pool, was a great comfort.
    In a moment Mr. Pool stood in the broom closet. Opening the door slightly, he listened awhile to the tramping feet, the noise of children. Then he called softly to Junior and Buddy that they could leave.
    â€œI don’t need to remind you …” he said.
    â€œNo,” said Buddy.
    â€œI will anyway,” said Mr. Pool. “One of these days we’re going to get caught.”
    â€œRight on,” Buddy said.
    â€œFurther on,” Junior said.
    â€œAnd they will get rid of me, like maybe they’ve been itching to do for years,” Mr. Pool said.
    â€œWe’re sorry about that,” Buddy said, his voice rougher now.
    â€œYou are not to worry,” Mr. Pool said. “They’ll fire me and