Danny vibrated with excitement as dad put on a leather jacket. (He didn't know why his dad put one on; it was the middle of summer.)
The sun hadn't risen yet, and the stars were in full view. Today, it would be a father-son trip to the planetarium.
"Have fun, you two," Jazz said. She wore a robe, and her hair was all over the place.
"We will, Jazz," Danny said, excited.
His dad put Danny in the booster seat. He didn't even complain because the sooner they left, the sooner they would get there. It would take almost six hours to get there. (Danny suggested flying, but his daddy said it was too dangerous.)
Danny watched as the sun rose in the sky and read the pamphlet his dad had printed out over and over again.
"Can we go to the gift shop at the end," Danny asked.
"Of course, chum. What's a trip to a planetarium if we don't go to the gift shop afterward?"
"Yay," Danny yelled in excitement.
Danny spent the car ride giving his dad facts about space. Anything he could think of, from constellations to black holes to galaxies. Danny talked about it all. He even talked about how gravity differed in Space from Earth and the equations used to determine how far anything was. Danny was afraid his dad would get bored after a while but could feel his dad's enthusiasm.
Danny cheered when he saw the "Welcome to Montreal" sign in French and English.
"How much longer, daddy?"
"Half an hour," Jason said, smiling at the excited little boy.
How did he get so lucky to have Danny in his life?
Jason parked and carried a vibrating Danny into the planetarium.
Danny's overwhelming happiness and excitement hit Jason like a freight train when they entered the planetarium.
Jason put his little boy down but held on to his hand so he wouldn't run off.
"Bienvenue au planétarium du Montréal. Comment je peux vous aider?" (Welcome to the Planetarium of Montreal. How can I help you?)
"Daddy, what did she say," Danny asked while tugging on Jason's shirt.
"Bonjour, j'ai besoin de deux billet, mais je suis américain. Puis-je obtenir des services en anglais?" (Hello, I need two tickets, but I'm American. Can I get English services?)
"Of course, sir. How many tickets?"
"I need one for an adult and one for a child, please."
Danny had tuned out the two adults and stared at the ships they had hanging on the ceilings. It had been so long since he had the chance to come to a planetarium. He had been ten the last time. (He ignored that he was five this time around. It was too confusing to think about.)
