But, Mama went ahead and invited the entire class via her WhatsApp group – including Loyiso The Jerk.
→ → → Haibo!
And, she made the party a disco!
As if my life wasn't complicated enough, I had to go and work on some dance moves.
I YouTubed "cool dance moves for guys" on my phone and got to work.
First, I mastered the "Jack-in-the-box". That was pretty easy.
Next, I moved on to the "Reject Foot" dance move. I kept falling over when I did that hopping movement.
As I don't have any time to practise, I think it will be safer to not try to impress Mbali with that one.
I had a quick go at the floss, but I'll never be able to learn that in my lifetime (let alone in one day!).
After spending 30 minutes working on some new moves, I decided I should just pack it all in and stick to my two old, reliable actions: the robot and the arm wave.
Girls dig those moves. I think.
Everyone attended my party. What a miracle! I guess I really must be FAMOUS. Yay, me!
Zen played some cool beats from his docking station, and people started to party.
The party was going surprisingly well, and then it happened: load shedding! All the electricity in our entire neighbourhood was switched off due to the countrywide power shortage.
I couldn't believe it. My last party on Earth was going to be a complete failure.
I was just about to start panicking when, in the pitch darkness ...
you're never gonna believe this ... wait for it
... drum roll please ...
Mbali kissed me!
Best day of my life! The girl of my dreams kissed me!
The load shedding turned out to be a false alarm and the electricity came surging back. Phew!
When the lights came back on, I was ready to declare my undying love for my special jewel, when I noticed she was standing next to Hairy Helen.
OH NO! There was a remote possibility that I wasn't kissed by Mbali, but rather by Hairy Helen. Kill me now!
There was absolutely no way I was gonna ask which girl kissed me. And, quite frankly, I really didn't want to know the answer.
In any case, I'm convinced it was Mbali. The kiss didn't feel hairy at all.
The party ended on two really high notes: first of all, Loyiso fell on his butt while trying to impress the crowd with his f1ossing. (I knew that dance move was way too tricky.) Everyone laughed their heads off.
AWESOME!
Secondly, my best buddies proposed a toast to me and everyone cheered.
SATURDAY
→ → LAST DAY ON EARTH!
WELL, THIS IS IT:
Launch Day! I made it, guys!
I'm actually perfectly content to leave for Mars. I'm well trained, Mbali has kissed me (I think) and Loyiso has been put in his place.
→ EPIC!
A massive parade came to bid me and my family farewell. Even Mrs SnoreMore and principal SnotBrain were in the crowd. (I guess they actually do like me, after all.)
Loyiso was also at the site, but I think he was just there in the hopes that the space shuttle would blow up or something.
Kurt and Zen were nowhere to be seen.
I guess the emotional stress of saying goodbye was too much for them to handle. Never mind, I forgive them.
Mbali blew me a kiss from the crowd. I knew it was her! S I G H H H .
Sergeant BullyBeef and Professor BushyBeard shook my hand, as did the city mayor.
We boarded the space shuttle and took our seats. I put on Gany's seatbelt and buckled us both in. We began the launch sequence drills:
Tata started the main engine.
I checked for any leaks.
Mama conducted voice checks with Ground Control and checked the weather.
Gogo made sure the Launch Pad and Blast Danger Area were clear of all crew.
I was really, really nervous.
But I reasoned that a great, big, amazing adventure was ready and waiting for me. I gave Gany a little pat on the head, closed and locked my space helmet's visor and prepared for lift-off.
Ground Control asked each of us if we were "good for go". We all replied: "Go."
The boosters ignited and the countdown began.
Goodbye Earth, goodbye Mbali, goodbye Kurt and Zen, goodbye pizza and milkshakes. It's been real.
10, 9, 8, 7, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2, 1 ...
B L A S T O F F !
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
Thanks to my wonderful husband, Mike, for your never-ending MASSIVE support. You TOTALLY rock!
Thanks to my gorgeous daughter, Jessica, for your love and patience in listening to my many story ideas. Love you to Mars and back again.
Thanks to Alex and Robin van Houwelingen for the most AMAZING illustrations. I am in absolute awe of your incredible talent.
Thanks to Nandi-Lessing Venter, Shawna-Leze Meiring, Renthia Buitendag, Zinelda McDonald and the entire super cool team at LAPA Publishers. It has been such a pleasurable process working on this book with you, and I feel so honoured by your recognition of my writing.
Thanks to Michelle Bovey-Wood for your wonderful editing and insight. You totally get me.
Thanks to my fabulous and lovely family and friends for your incredible support; with a special shout-out to Bertus Swanepoel and Ian MacFarlane from Top Hilton.
And, most importantly, thank you to you the reader. Keep reading, keep dreaming and ... reach for the stars!
© Publication: LAPA Publishers, a division of Penguin Random House South Africa (Pty) Ltd
380 Bosman Street, Pretoria
Tel.: 012 401 7000
E-mail: [email protected]
© Text: Lori-Ann Preston 2020
© Illustrations: Alex and Robin van Houwelingen 2020
© Cover design: Zinelda McDonald
eBook created by Full Circle
[email protected]
ISBN 978 0 7993 9790 1 (Printed book)
ISBN 978 0 7993 9883 0 (ePub)
© All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced in any manner without prior
permission by the copyright holders.
Thabo, the space dude Page 4
