Under the Mango Tree: 101 Tales (3)

DESTINATION LUNAR

Challenge No.50 - Fake Vacation.

Write a scene or story set somewhere far away from your character's home.

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The same way one can sit on their balcony on a clear night and see the lights on the neighbouring island of Martinique; it is, in the same manner, one can look up into the night sky and see the lights of Lunar City. You look up and know there are one billion people living there. It gives next door a whole new meaning.

My name is Sam and after much consideration, I decided to be a tourist and take a day trip to Lunar Colony. Maybe visit Lunar City, the Sea of Tranquillity, for sure visit the Museum of the Lunar Landing, where the Armstrong footprint is and the Lunar module.

It took me five years to save for the return ticket and another two for the funds to visit and enjoy. But I did it.

Mind you the irony of being a day-tripper to The Moon means that it takes four days! Hahahaha! Why? Because it's a day and a half each way! A day and a half to go - a day to visit - a day and a half to return. Voila! Four days to be a day-tripper.

But it was worth every XECD* that I'd spent on the venture. The view of Mother Earth from way up there is breath-taking, amazing, glorious - there are not enough words in the dictionary to describe.

They gave us space suits to wear, that was their version of a lifeboat on an ocean ship. They gave us motion sickness meds too. The rocket took us to the International Space Platform. I call it The Mall because it may have labs somewhere, but I bet the shops, restaurants and entertainment outnumber them.

From there we boarded the cruise ship and off we went. I'll tell you this much - immigration and customs are the same everywhere. Suspicious. Every last one of them.

I really don't know why. Nobody ships drugs to Lunar Colony. They are the biggest exporters. Moon Dust is the most powerful recreational drug on the market and it all comes from them. So, to treat visitors as if they were drug mules defies understanding. Defies my understanding anyway.

But all that aside, The Moon was a shock to me. Earth is a planet of splendiferous colour. The Moon is monochrome. No offence to the lunar babies, because their architecture and fashion are colourful. The natural environment is not colourful.

I spent my day at the Museum of Lunar Landing and was glad to return home - to earth. It takes a special kind of explorer to live up there.

And that's the tale of my day trip. You go if you want. I've been there, done that, not going back.

"I see you've met Sam." The Head Nurse on duty at the sanatorium interrupted.

The new nurse on the ward frowned. "The Moon?"

"Maybe one day, Sykes. Maybe one day, we will all catch up with Sam's vision for the future."

Sam nodded eagerly.

© 19 April 2022

* The Digital Eastern Caribbean Dollar is a real currency.

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