The Last Ship Leaves at Noon

“Honey, you know the spaceship to Saturn only allows six suitcases per family,” Lincoln’s mother scolded him anxiously. She shook her head at the giant collection of literature Lincoln had put aside to pack. “But Mother, there’s only one library on Saturn! Moreover, the Reader Ship only delivers new books every two months. What shall I do?” His mother laughed at her dramatic son.

“My dearest Lincoln, you can enjoy bartering with new friends, like you do with your friends now. It is not necessary that each book be unused,” she chortled somewhat mockingly. “Furthermore, your father’s work assignment is only for a year - it is not immutable.”

She continued folding clothes in neat piles, sighing at the gravy stains running down the leg of his sisters space suit. “Please go upstairs and ask Minnie to hurry. The last ship to Saturn departs at noon, and your father will be waiting for us at the space port.

Lincoln rose reluctantly then hustled to his sister’s quarters as his mother had requested. He knew Minnie was probably still worried about leaving their favorite robot, Ritchie, behind. He dreaded leaving Ritchie too, but being the elder brother, he needed to set a good example.

When he entered Minies room. He was not surprised to find her with her arms around the robot. “Be careful or I will rust,” Ritchie attempted to joke. Ritchie had originally been assigned to help them with their homework, but quickly became part of the family. Now with their relocation to Saturn, Ritchie had to stay behind.

“Ritchie needs to stay on Earth,” his mother had explained gently to them. “You are not the only children he tutors, you know.” Lincoln considered all of this as Ritchie looked up at him.

“Greetings, Lincoln,” Ritchie said in his monotone, electronic voice. “I have been telling your sister some interesting facts about your new home.”

“Yes,” Lincoln added. “On Saturn there is a gigantic library that has free ice cream and a rollercoaster!” Ritchie gestured in the affirmative. “You are indeed fortunate,” he said to them both assuredly, his eyes twinkled like dancing stars. Minnie blinked her round emerald eyes. “Hmph, what do you know? Robots don’t read or eat ice cream,” she said definitely.

She rose from her soft bed to embrace Ritchie. He hugged her back with his long, silvery arms. “How will we find you when we come back from Saturn?” she asked.

“I will find you,” Ritchie promised. “Now you two get along. If you miss your ship, you will miss my surprise. It waits for you on Saturn.”

“What is it?” Minnie exclaimed. “Is it a present?”

It is better than a present,” Ritchie said confidently.

Minnie smiled with anticipation and kissed Ritchie goodbye. Now she had something to look forward to in her new home. Lincoln wondered if it was possible that the twinkling he saw in Ritchie's eyes were silver tears. “No, Lincoln decided, “It must be Robo-Oil. Robots can’t cry.”

The Saturn spaceship was nearly full by the time the family reached the launch pad. It was a long trip, which meant two things to Minnie: time to catch up on her sleep and time to dream about what awaited her on saturn.

“I can’t wait to see what my surprise from Ritchie is!” Minnie said excitedly. It seems like only minutes had passed when the silver spaceship landed in a large red crater. Lincoln bolted from his seat and poked his head through a space port to gaze at his bizarre new surroundings. He was stunned and relieved at how comfortable he felt. As they disembarked, their father pulled up in a small space car. “Welcome to Saturn!” he said. Then he smiled as a robot poked his head up from the back seat. It was Ritchie! “But how… why?” Lincoln asked, amazed and confounded.

“Simple,” explained Ritchie. “The first ship to Saturn left at dawn … and I have a job to do.