TIGHT SCHEDULE
Trevor picked up Amber’s bag with the jars of thought dust safely nestled in the compartments. He tucked it into a leg pocket on his camouflage pants and slipped on the dark green T-shirt his class had been given. Somehow he would have to get away from school star night. He hoped Brownie remembered their plans.
“Ready?” his father said poking his head into Trevor’s room.
Trevor nodded and followed his dad down the stairs.
“You’re going to have a great time,” his dad said. “Don’t forget to look for the footprints and the flag in the Sea of Tranquility.”
“Dad...”
“Just kidding. But check out the craters and…”
“There’s the bus, dear,” his mother interrupted.
He squirmed out of her quick hug. “Gotta go, Mom.” He hurried out the door as the bus squealed to a stop and the doors swung open.
“Twilight Express,” the bus driver announced. “Sign in next to your name.” He pointed to a clipboard.
While he was signing, Brandon called from the back of the bus. He bumped and jostled past the crowded seats and slid into place between Brandon and Archie.
Brandon leaned against him and whispered, “We have a key to the old observatory.”
Trevor put his hand over his pocket to shield the jars. “The one in the tower?” Several kids turned around to look at them.
“Keep it down,” Archie whispered.
Brandon leaned forward. “We can slip away while they’re setting up the telescopes on the lawn and check out the real observatory.”
“Why that ancient thing? Why not just use the ones they set up outside?” Trevor said.
“The observatory is a piece of history,” Brandon said. “It’s huge. My uncle claims you can almost step onto the surface of the moon it’s so clear.”
“If it hasn’t crumbled to dust,” Archie muttered.
“Are you in?”
Trevor nodded hesitantly. That would get him out of the crowd, but it would be harder to get away from Brandon and Archie.
“We split up. Meet behind the building. There’s a window that’s always left open a crack.”
The bus rolled to a stop in front of the school. Teenagers had been recruited to keep order, and they formed a wall between the bus and the fence surrounding the schoolyard. The kids poured out of the buses and swarmed onto the field. Telescopes were setup around the track. Colored flags, blue, yellow, purple, marked each station. He looked for the green that matched his T-shirt. Their group was half way around. Mr. Willis, the teacher, was adjusting the telescope.
“This is great,” Brandon said. “We can hang out in the back of the group and slip around the modulars. From there it will be easy to get to the back of the building.”
They worked their way through the mass of green shirts. Trevor dodged the other kids while trying to protect the pocket where the fragile jars were hidden.
“Trevor!” Mr. Willis called. “You have some experience with telescopes. Why don’t you show us how to line up the spotter scope?”
“Meet you there,” Archie whispered and slipped away to the back of the group where Brandon was waiting.
Trevor trudged to the telescope.
“Tonight we will be looking at a lunar eclipse, which is perfectly safe to observe,” Mr. Willis was saying. “Who can tell me what kind of eclipse is dangerous?”
A kid in the front row muttered in a bored tone, “solar eclipse.”
“Yes!” Mr. Willis said with a big grin. “We should never stare at the sun.” There were groans from the kids at this obvious statement.
“Looking at a solar eclipse can damage your eyes permanently since you are staring at the sun with the moon passing in front of it.”
A cynical chorus of “Oh!” went up from the back.
Mr. Willis continued unfazed. “The lunar eclipse is when the earth passes between the sun and the moon. That means we are only looking at the moon, which is perfectly safe.”
Loud cheers when up.
Encouraged, his lecture dragged on.
Trevor looked at his watch. Brownie would be waiting for him. The sun was low in the sky. It wouldn’t do to shrink out here in front of everyone. He might never get to the woods and then he’d miss getting unenchanted. He felt his face getting hot as panic set in.
“Mr. Willis,” he interrupted the lecture. “I have to go.”
The teacher stopped talking and silence fell over the group as he turned to scowl at him.
“I - I’m not feeling well,” Trevor said.
“Portable bathrooms are behind the building,” Mr. Wills said. I expect you back here in five minutes.” He turned back to the group and continued his lecture. Trevor ran.
As he rounded the corner of the school he scanned the area for the boys. They must have already gone inside. He vaulted over the fence and raced toward Mrs. Hayworth’s house.
A Sprinkling of Thought Dust Page 43
