Astronomically Imposterble

Yellow

Elorie Moonvez, age three, is already used to the grey walls of the space station her parents work at. She's used to her parents staying after hours when they're too involved in what they're doing. She's used to playing alone in the little playroom with the toys one would find in the waiting room of the doctor's office. Not once has Elorie minded the emptiness of the room or the simplicity of the toys (not that she would--she's three) or her being alone.

So then why does it unsettle her when she sees a young girl in the room playing with the same toys?

Eyeing the girl suspiciously, Elorie slides her small yellow backpack (which is filled with snacks and coloring books for her) off her back and sets it up against the wall. The girl--who appears to be a few years older than Elorie--continues sliding the wooden blocks across the winding roads. She hasn't seen Elorie yet nor is she aware of the look she's being given. The room is silent for the most part; the only sound being distant yelling from a few rooms away and the blocks moving against the plastic tubes. Elorie continues watching her as she approaches the same toy, sitting down across from her.

"Hi," she says softly. The girl looks up and smiles.

"Hi!" she greets enthusiastically.

Elorie tilts her head to the side. "Who are you?"

The girl giggles. "Straight the point, are we?" Elorie doesn't say anything. The girl slowly stops giggling, sensing the awkwardness in the room. "You can call me Via." Elorie nods slowly, her eyes narrowing in on Via. "What's your name?"

"You can call me El." Via smiles brightly and holds out her hand. Elorie stares at it and frowns. "I'm not supposed to talk to strangers," she says. Via's smile falls as she tilts her head to the side. "Why are you here?" Her eyes widen a bit before she scratches the back of her neck. "No one plays here besides me." Via raises an eyebrow. Elorie scoots over so she can see Via better then holds her knees close to her chest. "Does your mommy and daddy work here too?"

Via shakes her head. "My daddy is a journalist," she corrects.

Elorie mumbles the word to herself, trying to figure out what that is. She eventually gives up and asks, "And your mommy?"

Via shrugs. "I don't know." Elorie's brow furrows. "I never met her." Elorie's mouth forms a small o. Via nods and looks away. Elorie leans closer to her.

"So then why are you here?" she whispers. Via giggles.

"I'm spending the day with my grandfather," she explains. "He works here." Elorie nods slowly, wondering if her parents have ever met him. "He needed to come in to check something but couldn't leave me at home alone." Elorie nods.

"I'm not allowed to be home alone either." Via smiles. "My mommy and daddy normally bring me with them too!" Via giggles softly. "That or they call the evil babysitter who smells like tuna." Elorie scrunches her nose and sticks her tongue out. Via bites her lip to keep from laughing. "I'm telling you she's evil!" she cries. Via can't help but to laugh. "She doesn't let me watch cartoons and she forces me to eat broccoli for dinner!" Via scrunches her nose. Elorie shrugs. "I like it better here." They start laughing together. Elorie releases her knees so she can sit on them. "Does your grandfather know my mommy and daddy?"

Via opens her mouth to answer but the yelling suddenly grows louder and louder until a tall, balding man wearing a dark green sweater storms into the room, his face a deep red and curses spewing from his mouth. Elorie quickly covers her ears. She's never liked the sound of yelling and she knows she's not allowed to hear some of the curses the man is saying. Via glances over to the man and frowns, The man stomps over to where the two girls are sitting and yanks Via up by her elbow. She lets out a small yelp in surprise as she stumbles to her feet.