Ioonos

Chapter 2 : Surprise, surprise

 

- “Don’t tell me Apollo 13 is still on! Can’t you watch something else Hugo? I feel like I can’t escape from Tom Hanks.” Louise marched furiously over to the television and switched it firmly off.
- “Oh don’t worry, I’m sure you’ll be an astronaut one day!” she said, in consolation.
- “Right, and maybe one day you’ll be a top model. There’s no point in dreaming, the selection is super strict, I’ll never get accepted.”
- “Well, whatever happens, you’re not going to get to Mars by sitting on the sofa. Come on, you can’t just mope around all Sunday, let’s start working on the competition.”
- “Ok, ok…activate brain cells.”

The next morning Louise and Hugo took their places in the classroom. Everybody was there, but Mr. Lancelot, the head teacher, hadn’t arrived yet.
- “Hey, we could have had another couple hours sleep”, said Eddie grumpily, if I’d known, I would have stayed at home!”
- “No worries, it’s cool, if he’s not here, we can go to the library and go on line – you can find out all kinds of stuff. I saw a site about the International Space Station’s scientific programs, there’s still so much to do!” replied Sarah.
- “Let’s just take it easy - we don’t have to do anything,” said Nicolas, who still had no idea where or what the International Space Station was. “I don’t get all these stories about outer space.”
- “We really ought to tell the principal that our teacher isn’t here,” said Louise in an authoritative tone.

But just then they heard voices and steps in the corridor. The principal entered the classroom, seeming very pleased with himself and more puffed up with self-importance than usual. He conscientiously adjusted the sleeves of his shimmering new gray suit and straightened his peacock blue cravat. On his shoulder was a large black bag that no-one recognized. The people who had been with him were staying outside for some reason. For extra effect, he paused before beginning to speak,
- “My dear children,” said the principal, “a great honour and a great surprise await you this morning. Today is a day that will change the way that you think, it is a day that you will remember for the rest of your lives. It is with great joy and pride that we welcome our distinguished guests, who carry with them mankind’s dreams.”
- “Hey, Louise, what’s he talking about, who are these ‘distinguished guests’, ‘mankind’s dreams’ and all that gobbledygook?” whispered Alexandra, Louise’s neighbour.
- “Shush! We’ve got guests, that’s what! Wait and see,” Louise whispered back.

And then Mr. Lancelot entered the classroom, followed by a woman and three men who looked rather normal and friendly for distinguished guests who were supposedly carrying mankind’s dreams.