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[Story] [Science]
[Story] [Science]
The Planet of Asteranus
"Are you all packed?" my mom hovered over me as
I slowly forced my eyes to open.
"Packed for what?" I asked in a tired voice.
She yelled at me, "You're not packed for your
trip with your friends?"
"Oh, Shari had packed for me." I sat up in my
bed trying to see clearly. I finally could see my
mother and Shari glaring at me from the
doorway.
I asked my computer what the time was. It
replied, "It's 8:00 AM and 23 seconds."
"Mom!" I said in an irritated voice, "Why did
you wake me up so early?"
Mom barked back, "It's not early! The ship
leaves at 2:00 PM and you need to have time to get
dressed, pack your personal belongings, and
eat."
I surrendered, but added one last argument, "All
right, but I still don't understand why you don't
let the Jacater do all the work." I used all my
courage and strength to get out of bed. I stumbled
to the bathroom. The Goolonial did my hair just how
I desired. My hair felt like velvet as I ran my
hands through it to make sure that there were no
tangles. I told the Jacater what I felt like
wearing, and it picked out the perfect outfit. I
slipped on the short, pink dress with thin straps.
It also had my favorite pink sandals with straps. I
was prepared to tackle the day.
I commanded to the Jacater to dial my friend,
Noelani. I informed her that I would have my
cellular in case she needed to reach me. She
complimented my outfit and had me forward it to
her.
When I reached the downstairs, the food was
ready. My mouth watered as the scent of the
pancakes and sausage circulated through the house.
I anxiously sat down and began to eat. I quenched
my thirst with the ice-cold orange juice. I could
actually feel it slip down my throat into my
stomach.
My TC-5000 carried my belongings to the car
after my breakfast. The door opened and I sat down.
I informed the car's telecommunication device that
I needed to travel to Leon's house. Within minutes
I arrived.
His house stood as tall as a hotel. I had seen
such structures only in the movies. Soon after
knocking on the door, it opened. I called, "Leon,
are you home?"
A voice answered me, "No, darling, he isn't. He
ran a quick errand to Don's house."
I recognized Mrs. Makahiki's voice. She always
referred to me as darling. She kindly invited me to
wait inside. I felt a cool breeze blow over my
whole body. "Make yourself comfortable," she said.
It sounded as though she was high in the sky.
I plunged onto the comfortable couch. I hoped I
could have an extensive visit, especially as a
robotic-like creature enticed me with milk and
cookies. I expressed my gratitude. The cookies
steamed with freshness. Milk added to my pleasure.
Was I in heaven? I noticed footsteps and turned to
see Leon and Don standing in the hallway staring at
me. We simultaneously greeted each other. Mrs.
Makaniki called from upstairs, "Are you all ready
to go?" Leon said we were ready.
She moved down the stairs wearing a red velvet
dress that touched the floor. She had on long
diamond earrings and very high-heeled red shoes.
She started walking towards the door. We followed
with curiosity. I asked Don if she always dressed
so elegantly. He replied with sarcasm that he
wasn't her friend but Leon's friend. I told him
that he was quite funny and he agreed.
We packed into Leon's mom's car and went to pick
up Leinani three blocks away. Mrs. Makahiki said,
"Leinani, please." "Yes, Ma'am," the computer
replied. "Hi, sweetheart, we're almost at your
house.
Are you ready?" she checked. "Eh, Auntie,
almost," Lenani declared. We reached her house just
as she stepped outside. She thanked us for the ride
as she jumped inside the car. I heard greetings
like "a`ole pilikia, pehea oe, maika`i no au mahalo
penea oe, and oid mau no." I must have looked
confused, because Leon explained that they were
just asking each other how the other was doing. Our
conversations made the ride in the car seem short.
Lenani always added excitement to our day.
We all stepped out of the car. I could see Jay
and Ubalaka Kilotamauea in the distance. I rushed
over to them. I gave Uncle Jay a warm hug. He asked
how I'd been. I answered, "Great!" Leon seemed
frustrated by our affection as he muttered, "I
don't mean to rain on your parade, but we need to
stay on schedule. All this mushy, gushy stuff is
delaying us." Mary interrupted him, "`A ole, Leon,
don't be making lidat." Leinani told her cousin,
"Gee, you didn't have to be so prissy. My
goodness!" Don moved us all to the ship.
Upon entering the ship, we were permitted to
tour the facilities. Leon's house seemed small
compared to this ship. It had a spa, an arcade, at
least fifty bedrooms, a ballroom, a huge dining
hall, a swimming pool, and a gym that had courts
for volleyball, basketball, and tennis. Now, I
really believed I had entered heaven! We each
claimed three bedrooms: one for our belongings, one
for sleep, and one for play.
The ship sailed away once we were settled. It
felt like a car driving over rocks for the first
few seconds, but soon we were off to a smooth
journey. Leinani asked how long the trip would be.
Ubal said it'd probably take two to three days.
I decided that I wanted to make good use of my
time, so I dove into my physics book. I had ordered
it on-line. I finished it within an hour by just
putting on glasses and absorbing the information
without having to read it.
After effortlessly studying, I went swimming in
the pool. The water felt cold as my legs trembled
for a few minutes. I couldn't warm up by swimming
around, so I visited the spa. Hot air blew over my
frozen skin as I entered the sauna. I relaxed in
the room for almost an hour. Hunger pains aroused
me to leave. After showering in my own room, I
dressed and went to the dining area. As I began to
feel tired and worn out from the day, I hoped that
dinner would be ready. My hopes were shattered. I
ordered room service instead. The Whopper Junior
and vanilla shake quickly filled my shrunken
stomach. My eyelids grew heavy and I fell fast
asleep for two days.
I awoke to people franticly running around the
ship scrambling to complete tasks. I seemed to be
the only one calm and ready, so I returned to my
room to read about Asteranus. I wanted to learn
more about where we would be visiting. Butterflies
fluttered in my stomach as I heard the ten- minute
warning bell. A voice sounded, "Everyone finished
packing?"
Leinani seemed to be the only person unprepared
as usual. I found her franticly rushing around her
room like a wind-up doll. She cried, "I need two mo
hours which I don't get!" I attempted to calm her
as belongings tumbled out of her closet. The twenty
sets of clothes along with her ukulele crowded
around us. We shoved it all into her bulging
suitcase and ran swiftly to meet our friends.
Stepping out onto the rich, green grass, we had
finally reached our destination of the planet
Asteranus. The Lebanio family guided a tour.
Jadicolokia, his wife Danakionisha, and their
daughter Laiodonaio welcomed everyone. The trees
were huge and the mountains were beautiful and
attention grabbing they explained about the active
volcanoes that made Asteranus grow each day. The
fascination of the lush new planet made us all want
to stay forever. Jay was the only one who grew
homesick.
The Lebanios assisted everyone in settling into
their new life on Asteranus. Their beautiful home
housed everyone until they could find homes of
their own. They went to school with Laidonio and
learned all about their new world.
A week passed. The Earthlings and the
Asteranians had discovered each other's lifestyles.
The Lebanio's family reunion offered more time for
them all to unite. The excitement of new
friendships sounded throughout Asteranus. I met
Laiodonios' cousin, Oblanio. I introduced myself to
her and her boyfriend, Shanaliovaki, "Hi, I'm Sarah
Marie. I'm here from Earth." Oblanio's silky black
hair caught my attention. It was beautiful and
touched her waist. Shanaliovaki had a reputation
for being conceited. Laidonia actually hated him.
He wore a tight shirt and had too much gel in his
hair. He didn't acknowledge me when I greeted
him.
I then said, "Eh, buddy, you too caught up in
yaself to undastan what people say? Is dat it? Cauz
if it is, then I go mess up yo face outside, kay?"
He then replied, "I'm sorry, could you repeat that?
I don't speak dumb!"
Leinani looked puzzled. I translated for her,
"He wen and called you a Lolo." Leinani wanted to
remain civil, so she warned him to watch his back.
Leinani was irritated and stormed away with a red
face. I also felt her frustration. I don't like to
see anyone mistreated.
Three more weeks passed. We all had forgotten
what had happened at the reunion. All conflicts
were resolved. New homes, new cars, and new
neighborhoods blossomed on Asteranus. Spirits were
high. Smiles were contagious. Everyone visited the
Laidonios often with gratitude and respect for
their generosity.
I began to feel uncomfortable. My head felt as
though a brick was pressing it to the ground. I
knew I must visit a doctor to diagnose my problem,
but the courage to seek an answer delayed my visit.
Finally, I drove to the only doctor I knew. As I
got out of the car, I stumbled to the ground.
Again, I felt like a one thousand pound man was
sitting on my head. I felt as though I were about
to die. I hoped for someone to rescue me. Hours
seemed to pass. I closed my eyes tightly.
Leon's voice flashed me awake. I was in the
hospital with Leon at my bedside. My voice sounded
drained as I asked what had happened. His calm
voice informed me that I had had a brain tumor. He
explained that luckily surgery and medicine had
cleared it. I thanked him immensely for his
support. He had never seemed so pleasant.
He changed the subject. "I've been waiting to
ask you if you want to go see the Oobleck with me.
I heard it is very interesting."
I said that once I was well, I'd be glad to
accompany him.
Less than a week later, I found myself feeling
100% again. Leon and I went to the beach to explore
the Oobleck. The Oobleck oozed between our toes. I
felt an ice-cold blast shoot through my body. Soon,
though, I felt warm. The Oobleck slowed me down. I
could not remove my toes from the Oobleck.
"LEON" I yelled. "HELP" my heart raced as the
Oobleck gobbled me up like quick sand.
"Its all right, Sarah, take slower movements,"
Leon told me.
Sure enough my foot slipped right out of the
Oobleck and I was set free! We went home and saw
everyone gathering around. I really wondered what
had happened.
Mary, Leon's mother, called "Hurry, Leon come
quick!"
Leon sprinted to meet his mother. His mother
told him in a quiet voice, " Jay stole a plane from
the Laidonios she told him. Leon then ran to me and
told me that my uncle had stolen a plane.
I broke into tears and they ran warm down my
face as a cool breeze blew. I couldn't believe that
my sweet and innocent uncle had done such a thing
especially to the Laidonio family who had done so
much for all of us.
All kinds of different ideas ran through my mind
as I tried to reach an explanation that would prove
him innocent but every thought just proved him
guilty. We walked back to the Laidonio's house.
I begged for forgiveness from the Laidonio
family and they said that they didn't care. They
could just buy a new one; only thing was that they
could not understand what they did wrong. They
asked me if I thought it was them that made him
want to leave the planet. I tried to explain that
he was simply upset with himself. I talked to
Leinani for over two hours as I expressed my
feelings. I thought I should leave. But Leinani
told me that if I left that would just upset them
more, and I agreed.
Leinani thought that it might cheer me up if we
went shopping to try to find a gift that would tell
the Laidonio family how deeply sorry I really
was.
For Laidonia I bought a large stuffed teddy bear
that could walk and talk and did chores you
programmed it to do. For her father I bought a
beautiful gold watch woven with silver pieces. For
Mrs. Laidonio I got a table placemat with matching
napkins that were self-refolding.
After my shopping spree Leinani and I wrapped
the gifts. I really did feel much better and I
hoped they would all enjoy their gifts. When we
arrived at the house the Laidonio family opened
their presents.
Laidonia loved her present and couldn't wait to
play with it. Mr. Laidonio loved his watch so much
he put it on right away and told her that he never
wanted to take it off. Now it was Mrs. Laidonio's
turn. Just as she ripped the paper Jay came running
through the door.
Laidonia asked him why he had taken the
plane.
"I tried to find you dad but he was no where to
be found and I didn't have time to find him so I
took it."
"But why?" I asked.
"Well I'm a scientist and I am trying to find
the cure for cancer so I started to try to find a
substance on this planet that be the cure. I tested
the Oobleck and it immediately starting killing
cancer cells. I rushed back to earth to spread the
word. I am really sorry."
"I spoke to your mothers and they really miss
you all."
So we all decided to return to good old planet
Earth. We packed up our belongings, said goodbye to
our new friends and began the long journey
home.
[Animation]
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