The Moon Tale

MOON PHASE - 11

"Wow..." I muttered.

A clusters of kaleidoscopic sparkling gemstones were smothered in a deep dark canyon. The exact same appearance of the primordial chondrite particle on the glass-slide under a magnifying view through the microscope. Such a unique kind of structure.

I had been doing my regular examination of the meteorite particle on the manual microscope in my laboratory, constantly for hours.

Therefore, I leaned back on my chair. As the microscope attached Micro-CT scanner was taking a ghost of time to take the pictures of that recent slides and sent them to the printer.

Looking through a giant glass window in front of my Wet lab. A spacious hallway was lined with Instructions, and computer displays were arranged on a table linked to the cotton white walls. On the center, A lady with a high-ponytail wearing safety equipment scrutinized the test tube and injected something into it. The man in the formal attire was frantically typing something on the computer next to her table. His spectacle's sooty plastic template tips had been seen through the back of his crew cut hair. As he had seated rearward in my direction.

A few steps away, a couple of senior personnel in lab coats were discussing something. One of them was standing close to the spectrometer, and the other was sitting beside him. Both were sipping their drink, probably tea or coffee.

On the left side of the corner of the hallway, just a short distance to them a 3D crystal Moon model around the size about 65cm was displayed.

Behind that 3D model, a large pale grayed poster of astronaut on the moon surface was hanged. On the lower side of the corner had written the famous words of Neil Armstrong:

'One small step for man, one giant leap for mankind.'

I remembered back in my childhood. I had been read this quote many times at my dad's work place. The 'Apollo-11 the first moon landing' was one of the factors that influenced my decision to pursue a career in this profession. Well, there were so many other factors influenced my decision to pursue a career in space research. I won't deny. Although this one was the very first pushover in my life.

"Beep, beep.."

I jumped from the chair and walked over the printer to check the photographs of the slide, as I heard the printing sounds. Took the images out and filing them into my today's work-sheet folder. Then I was about to shift into another research paper when my alarm range. It was almost dusk. I didn't realize the closing time while working. I was too load downed in work that even my lunch time was missed.

My stomach growled. I wrapped up everything quickly and headed out. Work already made me exhausted and there was no stamina remained for me to cook by myself. So I came up with a quick solution. A food truck came in the area few blocks away from the university by this hour. I reached there faster then a speeding bullet.

The 'Maìz Apetitoso Food Truck' with the spicy red colored mandala calligraphic branding was mounted on the food truck's roof in a yellow corn shaped plaque.

The food truck was painted in vivid hues, with the top orange stroke popping out against the sandy yellow background. It resembled a desert.
The wheel over the driver's side of the truck had a window-sized caricature of a cactus plant adorned with a sunglass. The cactus is a cultural symbol that signifies the triumph of good over evil.

There was a skull ornamented with bright flowers, butterflies, and other motifs had drawn, a little away to long central food serving window. The skull, on the other hand, holds an important place in Mexican culture. It represented both death and rebirth.

Over the backside of the central window of the food van, There was a satire of a 'Vanquero,' or cowboy, wearing a sombrero and sunglasses and holding a 19th century five-string guitar. The guitar bears witness to Mexico's independence and revolutionary deeds.

The chef made the 'Yee..Haw..' sound every time before the customer's order, just like a cowboy make the sound while riding horses.

Such an interesting ways to present the culture. That's one of the reason I really love about this food truck.

The food truck always had a line stretching out in front and around the corner with people waiting to get their mitts on the classic street Tacos, Burritos, Sopes and lot more. However, I had always enjoy having their pre-eminent food item the Char-Grilled Corn; on the cob with a tangy, creamy sauce really make it different, sprinkle with crumbled cheese.

Although, thanks to my busy schedule I had reached where the stream of the folks had already faded away. So I brought my food and took a pew on the side of the main road.

As a science student, I had quite distinguished opinions about to have street foods. For example, there is nothing beats the fragrance of a clean and fresh air it made me feel wonderful. I guess, food just taste better when eating out. It slowdown my stressed level and feels relax.

I grabbed a bite of my delicious grilled corn and enjoying the distant soft dusky light that made the atmosphere enchanting. Suddenly, a pink balloon passed through me. I ignored it and about to take another bite when couple of balloons flew through me.

Well, they had caught my attention so I followed them. The balloons gently floated over the food van, crossed the few people who were enjoying their evening meal then moving forward towards the meadow across the tree parkway.

I tracked it further, it flew up over the sideline trees to the Zoysia grass paved field besides the pedestrian walkway. Then it flew higher and higher. I wasn't sure when I'd lost track, until my gaze fell on a silhouette beneath a Rosy Trumpet tree. The pink petals of the tree were showering on the person who had leaned against it in the cold evening breeze.

His off-grayed leather jacket and black jeans were polarizing the light from behind the orange sun. His silky jet-black loose strands were scattering in front of his face as he typed something on his smartphone, making it difficult to identify him.

Well, the curiosity killed the cat. I had made the decision not to anticipate the same person each time I saw someone. You know what I mean. Hence, I was ready to turn my gaze, and I saw few flowers had stuck in his hair. My eyes widened, When he had leisurely ran his right hand through his hair, the tattoo of aztec revealed. The curtain of his hair lifted and his disarming face displayed under the pink mizzling of the flowers. It was Kai.

I was pretty far away from his eye sight, and the bunch of people were there in between our way. Besides we were met only once. So there's impossible for him to recognize me.

He shifted his sight, and our gazes locked. Suddenly he smiled. My heart began to accelerate. My mind was racing as I perspired. And before I respond. He flipped open his smartphone, possibly to answer a phone call. While strolling, he hung up the phone.

I guessed, I misinterpreted the situation here, perhaps , he smiled at someone he knew. I took a sigh and took a bite from my meal while staring at him. He paused for a second, returned his gaze, and waved to me. I was chocked. He then put on his helmet, hopped on his motorbike, revved up the engine and rode away. I coughed several times. Food had nearly clogged my windpipe. I remained motionless until the vroom sound of his motorcycle engine faded into the distance.

"Idiot Luna.."

I wishpered to myself and slapped the bottom of the empty water bottle on my forehead. Quite disappointed with my own behavior, I gathered my things and headed back to my tiny house.

I parked my car. And I heard the noise in the neighborhood. So I poked my head through the gate. Bruno was eating his dinner quietly. Mrs. Garcia, on the other hand, was yelling at his son Denial.