They say space is the place for a kid like me, so that’s where I’m headed. It’s a real eye opener when you wake up one day to the one drip life of a broken faucet that you can’t afford to fix and then suddenly someone comes along and says: Hey kiddo how would you like to meet God? Well who needs a plumber when somebody offers you that? So good riddance to it all, I said and here I am. They told me to say goodbye to my family and friends, because it’s the right thing to do; well I don’t need to read between the lines, I know they don’t expect me to return—God’s not into sending us back. Anyway this shouldn’t take me very long; after all, how hard is it to say goodbye to one little sister?

A small man approached the large double doors he was so familiar with and before he could knock, they opened, showing a young girl only twelve and full of freckles and smiles: “Jay bird it’s really you!” She said, sparkling with the words.

            “Who else would knock on the door at four in the morning?” The small man walked inside the doorway and let the sight of the world his child self remembered take over him. Such a simple house; one floor, two bedroom, single bath, I bet little Gloria is happy she doesn’t have to share that room with me and my chemistry messes…nah, by the looks of it she’s been missing my company.

            “How’s the Mom unit?”

            “Oh you know, all work and no play; just the way you last programmed her.”

            “Dad unit still picking up the slack?”

            “Is he ever! Yesterday me and him went to the gestation pools and fished out all sorts of weird stuff! Sigh…but you know; it’s just not the same without you. Even though he’s programmed for fun, the Dad unit still can’t mimic humor very well…”

            “Give and take sis, give and take.”

            “Yeah, yeah…it just seems like I’ve been doing a lot of giving lately so you can finish that boring school.”

            “Well actually…”

            “You’re done!?”

            “Technically…yea.”

            “That’s great! Oh man, we have sooooo much to catch up on and you owe me big time! We are so going to that thrill park that just opened up in Pennsylvania Two! I heard they have this roller hover that can—

            “Whoa, whoa, whoa Gloria! Hold on a second here…”

            “What? I was just saying—

            “I’m not back home yet…”

            “Well…that’s okay. Sorry I just got a little…well…just sorry okay?”

            Oh great there’s that infamous pouty face she makes when she’s trying to hide her disappointment. I shouldn’t have come here, I should have written a Vee-Mail. “Lets sit down for a while; I want to tell you something.”

            Gloria moved into her room, sat crossed legged on her bed and began playing with the little paisley designs on her sense fabric bed sheets; moving them around like little amoebas. “So…what’s the visit for? I haven’t seen you in over a month.”

            She still has all my old toys and books, even the old Dr. Sulfur Chemistry starter set…heh, she has it set up with her tea cups like a little mad scientist for Better Homes and Gardens.“They picked me.”

            “For what?”

            “Meeting God…”

            “Jason you can’t!”

            “I already told them yes.”

            “But! But you won’t! Why would you…oh, I hate you!” Gloria slammed the ball of her hand into the wall adjacent to her bed, rattling the chemistry and tea set up. “I knew they would pick you…you’re so smart, so A-Gene smart!” Another hit upon the wall.

            “Gloria I—

            “I don’t want to hear it Jason…I just don’t.” Pulling the covers over her head, Gloria wept underneath the sheets that faded into an ocean blue. “Just go! It’s what you’ve always wanted so just go!”

            Jason sat beside the covered lump as it wiggled in sobs. Gloria…sweet little Gloria, how could I have thought you would take this well? You’ve been alone for almost four years now…I guess I was hoping you would be happy for me—I guess I was hoping you would understand.“We’ve never had real parents Gloria…”

            “Nobody does anymore! That’s why ‘HE’ showed up; he doesn’t want us to play God anymore!”

            “I want to meet our real father…”

            “Why can’t you just wait like I have to? I’m not as smart as you—I’ll never be chosen!”   

            Because I don’t know if I believe I will once I die… “Because they need people like me to bring him negotiations Gloria.”

            “Let them send someone else Jason…please.” Gloria poked her head out from underneath the covers.

            “You know I can’t do that…”

            “I know that you won’t…”

            “No…I guess not.”

            “What do they want you to say to him anyway?”

            She’s tough, she’ll be okay while I’m gone—already she’s wiping it all away. “They want me to bring him their next proposal for Adam and Eve, they think it’s going to convince him to let us live a while longer.”

            “Will it?”

            “Maybe…if it does, then you’ll live to see past twenty.”

            “Most people say he showed up because he’s going to start something new. They say that Gods letting humans go so he can try something that fits his plan better. What do you think his plan is Jay bird?”

            “I don’t know…”

            “I love you Jason.” Gloria hugged her brother’s skinny body tighter than ever before, because she knew that was all she could do. “Just promise me you’ll do something for me when you see him okay?”

                                                            ***

            As he walked away from the house, Jason looked into the night sky as dawn slowly approached—the stars were still slightly twinkling as the sky transitioned from black to a pale orange and light pink hue. Gloria; hehe…okay, I’ll say hi for you.