CHAPTER TWO

15 years later…

"Son your Mission is in a month's time, right"?  Eric's dad asked.

"Yes dad. I can't wait to fulfill this mission". Eric, answered . Right now, they were in a restaurant , eating (obviously). He loved spending time with his dad. After spending a month with his dad, he would go back to his own apartment.

"Dad, I have been training for two years, so I think I'm prepared. Although my instructor said it is a bit tougher when you're actually on space exploration, but then he said it was the most exciting experience ever".

Eric and his fellow astronauts had been in an intense two-year training. They had learnt astronomy, oceanography, physics, orbital changes. They had been practicing how to launch. Although, they hadn't launched to space, they had to work in a stimulator for hours, to mimic the noise and tremor of launch. Eric felt he was familiar with these, but he also had it at the back of his mind that even if the stimulator had mimicked the noise and tremor, it couldn't mimic the acceleration and speed of the true launch.  Well, Eric felt assured that if there would be any difference between the 'false' (mimic) and true launch, it would be slight.

Eric and his crew members had also been taught about 'weightlessness' , the key point of space travel. They've had repeated flights in a training plane labelled the 'vomit comet'. During this plane's loop flight,  anyone inside felt weightless. Also they had series of training in a very large tank of water, to make them accustomed to weightlessness.

"I love that you followed your heart. Keep up with it." His dad said. "Ever since I lost your mum and her brother every part of me died. I even died more when you made known your intentions of being an astronaut. Though , I'm glad, you made the best out of it. Well … that was before I knew you were soon going on a mission" .

   "Dad, astronomy is very interesting. It's highly improbable that astronauts die during space exploration. So I'm interested in knowing how and why I lost mum to space travel, considering everything; my lectures, practices, exercises. There was just no way mum and uncle Kelvin could have died or floated away". Eric said reassuring his dad.

"Although it's been fifteen years, I lost your mum, it still feels like yesterday. I remember her practices, floats and she looked so gigantic in her garb" His dad smiled sadly and continued.  "first exploration was so successful, everyone came to congratulate her. Offering her gifts. The I.S.E.A  awarded her with lots of gold medals. She and I  were so glad".

Eric saw that his dad was sombre, he had to cheer him up by saying:

"That's why I'm here dad, to keep up mum's legacy" . He took his dad's hands and continued

  "Do not worry dad, I will make you so proud, okay"?

  "You have always made me so proud son, you have always been the best student. Kudos son"!

"Thanks dad". His dad nodded at him beaming.

"Hope you and Zach are good".

"Sure dad, he's my bro". Zach is one of his crew members. His best friend. Like him, Zach's  mum was dead. Maybe that was one of the reasons they got along very well.

Eric's phone rang. His senior colleague and aunty was calling him. Tessy was his mother's best friend, so he always called her aunt. She was always looking out for him, as if he were her own son.

"Hello aunt"

 "Hey dear, where are you"?

 "I'm with dad at sweet bear restaurant".

  "Okay love, when you're done, can we talk about something? Like later, in my house, let's say around 16:00?

  "Sure aunt".

  "Okay dear, I love you".

  "I love you too".

  "My regards to your dad".

 "He will hear, take care".

When the call ended, his dad nodded at him. He already knew who called.

  "Aunt Tessy wants to see me, so that we can talk about something. She claims it's very important". He told his dad.

 "Okay dear. I remember when we were in high school, Tessy , Zach's mum ; Olivia and  your mum were best of friends . I had three friends then. So the six  of us were called the 'Famous six' . We were so close. Then your mum and I started dating.  We had you when we were both sixteen and seventeen respectively". Eric's dad said with a thoughtful expression.

 "Ooh that young! It's not surprising that people think you're my elder brother  , dad . I will be twenty five in three months time and we're going to celebrate it after I'm back from space. I will definitely be back. Okay?  I'm so happy I have you dad".

   "You're everything to me son. I love you dear. Always know that". His dad said and continued:

"When are you seeing Tessy"?

Eric checked his watch and saw that he had two hours more before going to see her.

"In two hours time dad".

 "Okay, since we're done eating, let's go home".

  "Okay dad. But I won't be going home, I will just have to see her, I know she would be doing some chores . I could just help her out ".

 "Alright then son, see you when you're done, ok?

 "Okay dad, and do not think too much, okay"?

  His said to his  dad and reassured him by hugging and pecking his cheeks. Then Eric and his dad departed from the restaurant.

  **********

Eric stopped his car by aunty Tessy's garage. The house was silent as if no one was in it. Maybe she was inside, sleeping. Well he would  knock to find out. When he rang the doorbell several times and there was no response, he looked around his aunt's enclosure and deduced that there was only one car in the garage (aside from his car). His aunt had gone out with her favourite car. Eric smiled at that, she was expecting him in two hours, he didn't expect her to stay here all day waiting for him . Well since he's already here, he would just look around at the flowers in the courtyard. He came over here to prune her flowers 2 weeks ago, so he was delighted to see the flowers blooming. This neighborhood was for the wealthy. His neighborhood was for the middle class, just like his dad's.

Eric went to the back yard to look at the plants. He always enjoyed the view of this house, the gardens, the garage, the terrace, the green house. He couldn't wait to relax in his aunt's house. He had a room in her house. He thought of his mum and uncle. If his mum were alive, she would have been so ecstatic to see him on his first space travel. Well he didn't want to dwell on that thought for now. He should just keep himself busy with watching and admiring the view , while waiting for aunt Tessy.

Thirty minutes later, he heard the sound of a car, he guessed aunty Tessy. She was back. So he went to the front yard to welcome her. When she came out of the car, she wasn't her usual self. Maybe she was stressed. But her face lit up happily when she saw him. They hugged and smiled at each other.

"You are early Eric, seems you couldn't wait to see  me . Awwwnnn you really miss me dear" his aunt teased. As she straightened out her sweater. His aunt was very obsessed with looking good.

Eric smiled at her, his aunt always teased him and that was how they got by .

 "Sure, I miss you, just like you miss me too".

His aunt went out in the wild, no wonder she smelled of woods and flowers. He removed a flower strand from her wool sweater.

 "Thanks Eric, when you get to my age, you would forget most things you normally do".

"Things Like what"?

"Well like always trying to look good. When you get to this age, you care less about the way you look".

 "Oohh you sound like you're eighty already aunt" Eric teased.

 "Fine, just overlook my state of dress, I was in a hurry to shower , arrange the house and wait for your arrival. But seeing that you're here already, I will just have to take my bath".

"Okay, I will just have to  relax in my room".

"That's good son" She said.

She closed her car door and together, they headed inside the house.

The house wasn't untidy as his aunt had said. If anything, it looked as neat as it had always been. She always knew how to make him feel welcomed and even gave him the I-told-you-so look.

"But it's very tidy aunt". Eric said reassuringly.

"Okay thank you dear" She said relieved.

Aunt Tessy was always concerned about cleanliness and tidiness. Hence, she went to take her bath and Eric went to relax in his room.  He studied himself in the  dressing mirror in his room. He touched his long blonde  hair, which he always tied at the back. People were always fascinated with his hair. He smiled at the mirror, when he saw his eyes were so blue . The color of his eyes always changes with his emotions. This meant he was so happy . He studied his height, at 6'3, he was same height with his dad and only an inch taller than Zach and aunt Tessy. He continued to check himself out and decided to stop. This is all vain , Eric thought, shaking his head and waited for her to be through with bathing .

When Tessy  was done with her shower, she called on Eric into the sitting room .

 "Your space exploration is in two weeks , no longer a month dear". She said, when they had settled down.

"Wow! I'm glad is closer now, I'm so tired of the long wait" Eric said cheerfully.

Aunty Tessy looked at him fondly and said :

 "You are the son I never had, I felt this would come as shock to you. I'm glad you're intrigued by this advance, I called your crew members and relayed the message".

 "okay aunt, although I'm excited about this , but why was the mission advanced"?

   "Well we had some information that the C. S. R  (Centre for Space Research) Australia, our opponents, would be going on space travel in three weeks time, so our own mission had to be forwarded. We can't have them being ahead of us dear. Okay"?

"This is the only time I'm happy about our vendetta. I totally accept this change aunt. Thanks for having to call me specifically to inform me".

"Sure love, you're my son".

  "I wanted asking if you were hungry, then I remembered you just left the restaurant". She said.

"For the record I'm very full…" Eric's ringtone interrupted him. He excused himself and picked up. It was Zach .

 "What's up bro"? Eric greeted.

 "All is good bro. Hope you got the message"  Zach said.

Eric didn't have to be told what Zach meant by that.

  "Sure I did" he replied.

  "Okay that's cool bro . Mr Kennedy said we will be training actively tomorrow in the neutral buoyancy laboratory".

Eric really loved this part of training, which involved practicing in a very large tank of water , so that they could get accustomed to being weightless. Their instructor always told them that for every one hour of space walking, they would spend seven hours training in the huge pool of water. That at first, had made Eric dumbfounded but as time went on , he became accustomed to the training.

 "Ooh thanks for the information".

 "Have a nice day".

 "You too".

When the call ended, aunt Tessy said:

 "I can really tell how excited you are from this info . I wish you the best of luck".

 "Thanks aunty. Well I have noticed something about our boss"

 "What have you noticed about Mr Josh dear"?

  "He has never called me to relay any information to me. I always get them from my crew members. Mr Josh calls my crew members and he's never called me, I'm wondering why. Afterall, he always awards me as his best student. He doesn't seem to like me very much .  Just a thought though".

 "He does like you dear, I think it's what you're thinking. He treats you like everyone else. Okay"?

  "Its alright aunt, I will be on my way".

  "Okay dear. I will see you and your dad, weekend.  Tell him I said hi".

Moments later, Eric was on his way home, smiling at the turn of events.