Andy the Astronaut The Dreamer of Space Adventures

One afternoon, Nana came into the Attic carrying someone new.

Tucked under one arm was a little boy dressed in his astronaut suit.

Under the other was a bright rocket ship.

“Everyone,” Nana announced, “I’d like you to meet Andy.”

The friends gathered around to say hello, but Nana carried Andy straight to the big window.

She placed his rocket ship on the windowsill and sat Andy right beside it.

“There you go,” Nana said.

Andy looked out the window.

Then he looked up.

And up.

And UP.

“Hello, Andy!” called Hugo.

Andy waved without taking his eyes off the sky.

“What are you looking for?” asked Terry.

“The President,” Andy answered.

The friends looked at one another.

“The President?” Hugo asked.

“Well, not exactly,” said Andy. “I’m waiting for the President to call me.”

“Why would the President call you?” asked Benny.

Andy finally turned around.

“To tell me it’s time to go to Mars, of course!”

The friends were quiet for a moment.

“Mars?” asked Hugo.

“Yep!”

Andy pointed toward his rocket.

“I’m going to be an astronaut. I might go to Mars first, but someday I’m going farther into space than anyone has ever gone before.”

Andy turned back toward the window.

He could already imagine it.

Five... four... three... two... one...

BLAST OFF!

He imagined his rocket soaring past the clouds.

Past the moon.

Past Mars.

Maybe even past planets no one had discovered yet!

But behind him, the other friends were whispering.

“Can he really go to Mars?” someone asked.

“Does the President even know Andy?”

Andy heard them.

He looked down at his little rocket.

Maybe his dream did sound awfully big.

That evening, as the Attic grew quiet, Andy stayed on the windowsill.

The first stars began twinkling in the darkening sky.

He was so busy staring at them that he didn't notice Valentina until she climbed onto the windowsill beside him.

She sat quietly for a moment.

“I have a big dream, too,” she finally said.

Andy looked at her.

“You do?”

Valentina nodded.

“Someday, I’m going to dance with the Nana’s Attic Ballet Company.”

Andy smiled.

“On a real stage?”

“On a real stage,” she said. “With lights and music and a beautiful costume.”

“Wow.”

“I used to only dream about it,” Valentina continued. “I would imagine the music playing and everyone watching while I danced.”

Andy looked back toward the stars.

“That sounds like me imagining Mars.”

“It is,” said Valentina. “But then I realized something.”

“What?”

“If I wanted my dream to come true, I had to get ready for it.”

Valentina stretched one pointed toe in front of her.

“So I practice. And practice. And practice some more.”

“Even when you mess up?”

Valentina laughed.

“Especially when I mess up!”

Andy thought about that.

Then Valentina looked at him.

“There is nothing wrong with dreaming about Mars, Andy. But while you’re waiting for the President to call, maybe you should start getting ready.”

Andy’s eyes grew wide.

He jumped to his feet.

“You’re right!”

The next morning, Andy got to work.

He learned everything he could about space.

He practiced counting backward for liftoff.

“Ten! Nine! Eight! Seven!”

He exercised because astronauts had to be strong.

He studied Mars.

He checked his rocket.

And every evening, he returned to the windowsill to watch the stars.

Sometimes Valentina joined him.

She practiced her ballet positions while Andy practiced his astronaut training.

One dreamed of dancing beneath the bright lights of a stage.

The other dreamed of flying among the stars.

And neither one thought the other’s dream was too big.

Before long, the two dreamers became the very best of friends.

One night, Andy and Valentina sat together at the window.

“Do you really think I’ll get there someday?” Andy asked.

Valentina looked up at the stars.

“I think dreams have to start somewhere.”

Andy smiled.

Then he looked at his rocket ship sitting beside him.

Maybe the President would call tomorrow.

Maybe it would take a little longer.

Either way, Andy would be ready.

Because there were stars to study.

Planets to discover.

Adventures waiting beyond the moon.

And somewhere out there was Mars.

Andy pressed his face close to the window and smiled.

“Just wait for me,” he whispered.

“I’m coming.”

The End