SUNGLASSES AND ROCKETS Part 1 : New Moon

VANESSA

When I opened my eyes I noticed that it was already dark. I looked at the illuminated hands of my watch—it was 8:40 p.m.! Without hesitation, I groped in the dark for the telephone. I found it on the night table. I put the light on and quickly dialed my beloved's number—that is, her aunt and uncle's number.

I was hoping that, for some reason, she had missed her plane. At least that's what happened in the movies, which had love stories with happy endings. I heard it ring. My heart beat quickly.

"Come on, come on..." I heard myself plead. "Come on Vanessa, pick up the phone, you can do it..."

No-one answered.

Finally I heard the recording on the answering machine: Hi, this is Cindy Jo, I can't come to the phone at the moment, leave your message after the tone and I'll be glad to call you back as soon as I can...Beeep.

I took a deep breath. I had to leave a message that she could not resist answering.

"Vanessa," I stammered, "this is Gordo. I looked for you at school...I...I...my number is 703-360-1501...what I meant to say was..."

My message was abruptly cut off by the machine's beep. I had played my final hand. Perhaps something would happen. I contemplated the telephone for a moment. No, she won't call me, I told myself dejectedly. She's probably already in Venezuela with her dozens of admirers.

Just then my mother knocked on the door and opened it.

"Gordo," she said affectionately, "come down and have dinner; I made apple pie."

"Thanks, Mom...I'll come down in a minute."

"Did you call Vanessa yet?" she asked me enthusiastically. "Did she already call you?"

Oh no! Why was she asking me this! I didn't dare tell the truth.

"Um...yes...of course..." I answered with a forced smile.

She looked at me worriedly.

"Is everything okay?"

It's impossible to pull one over on your mother. Even so, I kept trying.

"Yes, of course..."

She nodded thoughtfully. I sighed. She looked at me keenly for a moment.

"Don't rush her, give her time. Everything will work itself out."

I moved my head in an affirmative gesture.

"Thanks, Mom."

"Don't be long in coming down. Hmm?"

She turned around and went towards the stairs. I made as if to follow her, but I hesitated. I looked at the telephone again.

Impossible, I muttered after a few minutes of useless waiting, and I left my room. As soon as I put a foot on the first stair, I heard the telephone ring. Instinct told me it had to be her! I flew back to my room. I lifted the telephone, exalted.

"Vanessa!" I blurted.

"No, Darwin."

"..."

"Gordo! The doctor just called me!"

"..."

"Gordo? Are you there?"

"Yes...Hi."

"The doctor wants us to start getting ready for the trip, today!"

Darwin sounded excited.

"But there's still a month to go," I said, downfallen. "Besides, we only have to carry some backpacks..."

"True. But the doctor wants us to make some observations about the Moon, tonight."

"Does it have to be tonight?" I asked.

"You know what the doctor's like," he explained. "We're probably going to the Naval Observatory! Just imagine!"

The Naval Observatory was without doubt the best observatory for miles around; and since this had to do with Moses Masterton, that was surely where we were going.

"It sounds interesting..."

"Gordo, we only have to do what the doctor says, and we will have gotten a trip to a far-away land with all our expenses paid for!"

It seemed that Darwin had already figured out exactly what the trip to the abandoned silo would entail.

"But don't you think that maybe..."

"Gordo, the doctor already said that our only job will be to carry a couple of backpacks that probably don't even weigh that much. The rest of the trip will be well-deserved vacation time right before university starts!"

"I guess it's not a bad idea after all..."

"That's my Gordo! By the way, did you call Vanessa? She might have missed her plane and still be at her aunt's house..."

I let out a sigh.

"I'm afraid she's already gone."

"I'm sorry. Maybe the trip will cure you; you'll probably meet more girls. Foreigners are usually lucky."

"The trip will do me good," I replied resignedly.

"We won't regret it!" my enthused friend assured.

"I don't doubt it."

"Great, I'll come by for you at ten. Wait! You still haven't told me how you managed to finish the algebra exam so quickly."

"Mmmm...well, it seemed easy enough to me."

Actually, up to this moment I had not given another thought to my brilliant accomplishment.

"What was your answer to number eight?"

"Number eight?" I inquired.

"Yes, the one about the population of..."

"There were only five problems," I interrupted fearfully, "right?"

"Oh God!" Darwin groaned, "There were fifteen problems. On the front of the sheet there were five, and on the back there were ten."

"I see..."

What a day. Unlucky in school and unlucky in love. What else could turn out badly?