Friends with the Stars

Friends With The Stars

By: Silas Wickendam

This book is dedicated to everyone who is

struggling in life, separated from their family

by force, or those who know the meaning of

struggle.

Maple Leaf Writing Project

Brattleboro, VT

2019

“But she, sorry, they just joined!”

“Yes, so shouldn't we test them?”

“Why yes, bu...but not on something so hard!” When I heard that, I couldn't help thinking how amazingly appropriate that was. I am a new spy for the FBI, and they want me to do this?!

“Exactly, so if they succeeds, they will be the best spy in the whole U.S. Government!” I stop myself from jumping up and saying “Yeah, IF I succeed! What the hell, Jay!” (yes, I was spying on them in the meeting room), because, as far as I know, there is no way I will succeed. Jay is my boss. He is probably the biggest jerk on the planet. By the way, my name is Maren. They want me to infiltrate a large company they think is associated with the illegal market. Then, if they are part of it, find their plans and try my best to destroy the plans. I think they just want to get rid of me.

“I…I think I'll sleep on it.”

“O.K. Bye!”

“Bye...”

I sneaked away back to my room and lay down on my bed, going over it all. The blank white walls stared down at me on my bed. So. Infiltrating a large company linked with the weaponry black market. This is what I was choosing over family. This is what I was choosing over being with everyone I knew and loved. This is what I was choosing over the peaceful life I was used to. Ridiculous. Sadly, I can’t quit without getting attacked. By what I heard, that company I’m trying to infiltrate is making a superluminal spaceship that is supposed to find other life forms, and sell them to NASA for millions, sorry, billions, sorry, trillions of dollars. With all those words blaring in my head, I fell asleep.

It felt like second afterward, I experienced the rude awakening of the alarm clock I was forced to have in the F.B.I. Another normal day drilling, eating, cooking, exercising, and trying to communicate with my family, usually unsuccessfully. The boss, Jay is always looking for people to pick on (usually it’s me). But, in the middle of a “the people you are spying on are going to kill you and they do not know you are a spy” drill (what a ridiculously long name for a drill (it’s a lame one too...)!)But, on a rainy Tuesday, I was taken out by Jay for “a little talk”.

“Is this, like another one of those times when you pull me out to pick on me?” (Weird thing is, sometimes in the middle of it, he just “has to go” and drives away).

“No. This time, I have a mission for you.”

“Oh, is this one of those times when you say I have a mission and then, it just turns out to be that you just need someone to, like, make you tea?”

“No, definitely not.”

“Then what is it!” I was practically screaming when I said that. I hated him sooooooo much, I could… uhhh… well… it’s unexplainable. I guess he hated me, too. Probably for being a genderqueer Latino.

“You’ll see…”

“Ugh, fine.”As we walked through the hallway, I decided to make sure it was not the job I heard earlier.

“Does this involve the Black Market?”

“Yes”

“Does… it involve NASA?”

“Yes.”

“Does it involve… trillions of dollars?”

“How did you guess.”

“Hoo… boy.” Later, when we got to the meeting room, I found myself being stared at by 3 different faces, or “The Council”... oop, retry,

The

COUNCIL.

(Trumpet Music) (clapclapclapclapclapclapclapclapclapclapclapclapclapclapclapclapclapclapclap)

OK, enough of that. Anyway, I sat down , and waited for the to tell me the mission I already knew.

“Maren.”

“Yes?”

“We have a mission for you.”

“Uh huh?” Yeah yeah. Bring it.

¨We want you to infiltrate an apple company that apparently is not part of the string of apple companies. We have got a lead that they are making a superluminal rocket and release a satellite to find other life forms and sell them to NASA for trillions of dollars”

By the end, I noticed that I was the only one speaking.

“Oh. Uuuuuuuuhhh… Heh heh…” I was in for some real trouble.

“I see you’ve been doing your job” I heard one of them say. ”When did you hear this?”

“Uuuuhhh… I… heard it when it was first proposed?”

“So last Sunday? Your first day?” said #2 (Yes, they are numbered, not named).

“Yes” I said. “My first day”

I overheard Jay whispering “See? I told you she was good!”

“They, Them, thanks” I reminded Jay. I’m very strict with pronouns.

“Shut up.”

“Dude!”

“Break it up you two!” #2. Really a talker.

“Jay. You should res...” Tune out. I hate his talks.

“You done, #2?”

“Maren, do you agree?”

“Dunno. Tell you later.”

"You have 3 days to decide. Dismissed.”

3 days later in the meeting room, and I still am undecided.

“So, Maren, this is your deadline for your decision. Let’s hear it.” said #1.

“I don’t know.” I said “I need more time.”

“Well, today is your deadline, so, yeah.” Will #2 stop talking?

“Listen.” I say. “If you guys won’t let me think of an answer, I just won’t answer.”

That seems to work, because right away, Jay says “OK, we’ll give you 5 minutes to decide.”

5 MINUTES LATER: I really hate how the FBI gives you very minimal time for decisions.

“So, Maren, this is your final deadline for your decision. Let’s hear it.” said #1

“I don’t know. I think I need more time.”

“Well, now is your deadline, so, yeah.” Really, will #2 stop taking?!

“Whatever. Uhhhhhh…” The whole Council was chanting “Say yes, say yes, say yes…”

“Stop it! If you guys are so hype about wanting me to go, just don’t give me a choice!”

Jay (he sounds unsure) says “So, is...”

“...That a yes?” WILL #2 SHUT UP?!

“Yeah” I’m bracing myself for their celebration, but instead of celebrating, one of The Council says “Okay. You’ll be going tomorrow morning at 6:00.

Remember to bring a notebook. For at least 3 hours a day, snoop around looking for leads. Got it?” (it was #2 >_<)

“Got it.”

The next morning, as I was walking to my old 1990 Toyota Corolla, (Still subcompact model, which was made from 1966 to 1991. Old.) Jay walks up to me.

“The research we have done reveals that they have little passes to get in and out. This is an exact replica of what they use.” He hands me an envelope. “Open it only when they tell you to, like this” He shows me that they hold the envelope up to their chest with the opening to the front, and open it so only the observers can see.

“Alright, time to go, Maren. Bye!”

“Bye!” I hop in my car, feeling as scared as a rabbit with a fox. I’m kind of scared, but then again, I can just run, but that’s a bad idea. As I’m driving to this place, I can’t help but wonder what is in the envelope. I try to resist the urge, but three-quarters of the way there, I decide to open it. In it is just a piece of large cardstock with “MEMBER OF THE ORGANISATION” written on it. But, as I look it over, I see the paper is splitting in the bottom left corner. When I look more closely, I see there is polished paper under it instead of just the middle of cardstock. I decide to split it further, and when the paper is completely separated, the polished paper reads “SPY”. I knew Jay was trying to get rid of me, but I didn’t know he would do this! What an idiot. I just throw away (litter) the piece that says “SPY”, and decide to use the piece that says “MEMBER OF THE ORGANISATION”.

I get to The Organization, the pass works, I get my pretty lame dorm, composed of a cot an basically nothing else (I thought it would be more elaborate, considering the stuff they’re doing), and I unpack. I hide my notebook, pencil, and eraser in a secret-compartment jewelry box I have. Now, It’s time for my tour of The Organization. The tour guide is some old guy with the left half of his face clean-shaved, and the other side has a, like, foot-long bbeard. I think his missing right hand has something to do with it.

“OK, So…” He led me to the room I had set up in. “Oh, you already found your room! Looks like you don’t need a tour. Bye!” What? That was dumb. I think

this is actually going to be really easy. No one knows what the heck they are doing. I think I’ll give myself a tour. As I am walking down the hallway, I see a crowd of people around a room with a plaque reading Meeting Room.

I hear people saying things like “When is boss coming?” and “Will there be a r…”

It cuts off there, because someone says ”Calm down, everyone! The meeting will be at twelve tomorrow, and I don’t know” Wait. What don’t you know? I guess I’ll find out tomorrow. RRRIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIING!!! Ow. I forgot about the bed bell. Alright. Time for bed. Wait a sec. Note to self: Remember the get up and the bed bell. Another note to self: Always remember to hate the bells.

I guess this is going to be a normal morning. Ring! Ow. Yawn. Roll. Oof. Grab. Get dressed. Jelly tortilla. Where’s my coat? An evil maniac took it it! Oh, here it is, Lets go. Yep. Normal morning. Now, Let’s look for some cool stuff. I think I’ll go to, like, the most isolated part of the building. At the very center of the building, I see a giant warehouse.

I catch a worker walking by ”Excuse me? What is this place?”

“It’s the retractable-roof blasthome. You're new, right?” She says.

“Right” I say, and walk away. I never want to get into a big talk with anyone. I might get caught. I think I’ll go around to the back.

As I’m walking someone stops me and says “What’re you doing without your helmet? Don’t you know here’s blast construction?”

“Oop. Sorry. I’ll go.” I wonder what the hell “Blast construction” is? I guess I’ll find out later.

I look at the clock; twelve already? Twelve o’clock stop:Meeting Room. The meeting was starting, and the leader (people say is never here,) is coming to the podium in his masked face, ready with his speech.

“I know that you all have been waiting for my speech, to get into action. But first, I have gotten many requests for a reveal. So, on popular request, here goes.”

Oh cool. No speech, just a reveal… Wait a minute! I know that face! But who is it? Wait. No! It can’t be! But yes it is.

I do know that face.

Jay.

Now I know why he had to leave so much. How do I prove this? Luckily, I brought my camera. I take a quick video of him, then a picture… Oops. With the flash on. I quickly pack my camera up, then run. I think they saw me because there’s a murmur in the crowd and I think I hear Jay yelling something at them. Something about not seeing a pass. Riiiight. I take a shortcut to my room, (Glad I didn’t unpack much) take my stuff, and run to the warehouse place I found and standing there is a HUGE rocket. Now I know why the warehouse is called retractable-roof blasthome. The rocket has an inscription reading “BLAST”, and how else would a rocket be launched illegally without hidden parts? I find the hatch, get in and find this small space to hide at nearly the top . It looks a bit separable for some reason. I wonder why?

Anyway, I’ve got more important stuff to worry about. As I look around, I see this sort of hiding place. I sit there for what feels like forever until I think they give up on searching. I guess this’ll be my home until I find a way out of this place. Hopefully before they launch. Let’s see what I have to do. Hacky Sack? Nope. Extreme dot-to-dot? Nope. Ipod? Nope. Origami? Nope.

This is getting boring. I wonder if… WHOMP! Oof! Oh god, did this whole thing tip on it’s side?! Shoot. Launch time. Don’t think I can get out without being killed. Guess I’ll go with the rocket. Waaait. Crap. The detachable part IS A DANG SATELLITE!!! I am so dead. WHOMP! Oof! Clack!

Ten. This is going to suck.

Nine. Grabbed my stuff.

Eight. I got this.

Seven. I’m ready.

Six. I wonder how much I’ll weigh?

Five. I hate this.

Four. I’m ready?

Three. GET ON WITH IT!!

Two. Oh, I got to get a railing!

One. Got it.

Lift off. BOOM! Oh, ow, it’s deafening! Good thing I have earplugs. I bet I can rest through this playing…Hacky Sack? I hit the Hacky Sack, it flies to the ceiling, and stays there. Shoot. C-CLACK! Extra shoot. The satellite disconnected. I guess now it’s time to nod off. Bye… Ow! What was that? Wait… That’s my Hacky Sack! AND THAT MEANS I AM IN SOME PLANET’S ATMOSPHERE! Brace yourself for impact. CRASH! I look up… OH MY GOD. I’m surrounded by these creatures that look something like a cross between a beetle and a gorilla.

“Umm… Hi?” I say, trying to communicate confusion.

“Ne undera ge di. Komiare.” Is their only response. They drag me over to this chair and stick this dome on my head. Is this a brainwash? I hope not. Another one of those aliens pits one on their head and does a bunch of gestures… Wait. This is a communicator? It is a communicator! Wow. This planet is advanced! I give them a recap on everything. They say something that sounds like “Iner plet aie, ne?” and then, “Ye” then, FLASH! When I recover from the flash, I’m standing… no… standing in front of the Organisation. Then, FLASH, the building is down, everyone that worked there was tied with metal straps (lucky break, Jay is there)… With a knot tied in the front?! WHAT IS HAPPENING!! Wow. What a w...universe.

Then I think of something. “Could I go see my family in Cuba? I want to stay with them.” FLASH! My mom, Mira is walking out looking glum.

“Mom!*”

“W...Maren! You’re back!*”Her voice sounds tired, as if she was not feeling well for a long time.

“I have a declaration to make*” This is probably going to be the best moment of my life. “I am never leaving again*”

“Ya fin taber? Fa, ne”

“Ye.” And they are right. Work is done. It’s time to be with family.

*Spanish