Stewards in snow-white uniforms smiled as they herded people towards the spaceship, as if they were acting out a choreographed scene from a film. Drifting with the crowd, a tall, paunchy figure suddenly appeared in Felix’s field of vision: the stern, full-figured Professor Matusek. He was here in the flesh. Felix turned into a pillar of salt.
\n\u201cCome on, you pocket Einstein! shouted Nelly, who usually called her brother a variety of choice names.\u201d
\n\u201cSssure,\u201d Felix stammered, and after the first scare, he dashed past the people in front of him to get on the other side of Dad, where he could no longer be seen by the physics teacher.
\nLuckily, Mum and Dad had never met him, they went to the PTA meetings, but they were held by the class teacher. Nelly was studying in another wing of the school, so she wouldn’t have noticed him either. But if Matusek spotted Felix, he would almost certainly come up to him and try to talk to his parents. And how else would he introduce himself than by delivering a sobering sermon on the \u2018F\u2019 grade physics test?” “The odds were not in Felix\u2019s favour. He could almost hear Mum’s hour-long educational speech about telling the truth, lying and the importance of learning, and he could see Dad nodding along with the show, humming sadly. That\u2019s about two months of solitary confinement that\u2019s what Dad called being grounded.
\n\u201cFelix! Stop staring, it’s almost our turn! Get over here right now!\u201d Mum shouted at him as people took their seats in the passenger lobby. They were soon allowed to board. Mr Matusek disappeared from sight, probably taking a seat closer to the nose of the plane. Felix settled into the comfortable seat, fastened his seat belt, and mentally tried to prepare for the inevitable.
\n\u201cWoooah!\u201d The rocket started up with such a bang and rapid acceleration that Felix was almost pressed into the seat, and the loud ringing in his ears even made Nelly’s screams almost inaudible. Mum clung to the armrest, while Dad was clinging to Mum, who lost consciousness for a few moments due to the sudden shock. Of course, this made Nelly scream even louder. ” “But as they left the Earth’s atmosphere, the speed became less noticeable and steadier, and through the window Felix saw a spectacular sight. From this perspective, the Earth looked like a big, light, bluish-green ball with which the giants of the Universe were playing football.
\n\u201cLook!\u201d cried Felix. \u201cYou can already see the Moon through the window opposite!\u201d
\n\u201cDear passengers! Welcome on board. We’ve reached cruising speed; you may unfasten your seat belts now and use the toilet\u201d the voice of the flight attendant came over the loudspeakers.
\nThe toilet was next to Felix’s row of seats, at the rear of the spaceship.
\n\u201cI had two cups of coffee before I left… I’m going to the bathroom\u201d Dad said, and then the door closed behind him. Then Felix saw Professor Matusek approaching from the front. He had obviously also drunk too much coffee, or perhaps he had noticed Felix when he boarded, and now he was on his way over to him.
\nEither way, Felix was hoping for the former, so \u2013 disregarding the great view \u2013 he suddenly ducked down in front of his seat as if he were looking for something.” “\u201cFeeelix! What are you looking for?\u201d
\n\u201cJust tying my shoes\u201d hissed Felix, glaring at the teacher with one eye, who was standing unsuspectingly in front of the toilet, waiting for it to become vacant again. After a few seconds, Dad stepped out, giving way to the teacher. Felix, with a sudden impulse, jumped up, said he really had to pee, and rushed into the ladies’ room in an instant, immediately locking the door behind him.
\nHe had spent about five minutes in the windowless room when Mum knocked anxiously.
\n\u201cI’m fine,\u201d moaned Felix. \u201cI just have a tummy ache…\u201d He couldn\u2019t come out up with a better excuse.
\n\u201cWe\u2019re landing in ten minutes!\u201d Mum said irritably.
\n\u201cI know, Mum, but that’s not how it works…\u201d Felix tried, even turning on the tap for added effect.” “\u201cDear passengers! Fasten your seat belts please, we will shortly be landing on the Moon,\u201d the stewardess announced, and Felix felt the plane slowly touch down on solid ground. He waited a few seconds, took a deep breath, stormed out of the toilet, and ran through everyone to the door, looking behind him to see if he could see the physics teacher in the crowd.
\n\u201cFeeelix! Where are you going? Feeelix\u201d Nelly ran after him, screaming, Mum and Dad were shouting at them in vain.
\nThe door of the spaceship opened very slowly, but just in time: Felix dashed through and ran off before he could be noticed by Professor Matusek. Nelly chased after him as fast as she could.
\nBy the time Mum and Dad had reached the passenger hall, the two children had disappeared into the crowd. Dad staggered around in panic, while Mum headed for the information desk to ask for help.
\n\u201cHave you seen two children running away from here? A little boy and a little girl. They are about this tall\u201d Mum showed the receptionist, but by then the children were already long gone.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"featured_media":1152,"template":"","class_list":["post-1154","story","type-story","status-publish","has-post-thumbnail","hentry"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\n