The gals had a ball trying to hit the fellas with the paint balls. Unfortunately, the fellas were all just better marksmen.

“The men rule,” said the commander proudly after all the girls were pronounced “dead.”

“And they drool,”said Tracy resurrecting herself from the floor of gravity created on the Sports Deck.

“We had fun!  That’s what counts,” said Bea.  “I’m having an ‘out of this world birthday!'”

For the next several days, the girls remained on the space station.  The astronauts had to work on their research of course. But they were all friendly and willing to share what they were learning about. Commander Hadfield even taught them how to cook in space.  They learned to make Peanut Butter and Honey Sandwiches in a Tortilla.

And when the girls weren’t chatting it up with the astronauts they were enjoying the view of earth from the space station.  They’d sit on the Observation Deck with Grandma and Prudence and watch the clouds swirl around or the Aurora Borealis from above the skyline The sight was simply breathtaking.

It was so quiet in space.  Bea and Purity started to feel such a sense of peace and tranquility.  They knew they’d never forget the awe they felt every time they looked out of the window of the international space station.

Sometimes, they would join their sister, Prudence during one of her meditation sessions.  Grandma and Tracy joined them too.  It was a great bonding for the girls.  They could feel themselves getting stronger and stronger with every deep breath in and every slow belly breath out.

Most nights, they’s huddle up on Prudy’s bed and watch movies together.  When the girls saw the DVD for Space Camp, they wanted to see it again and watch it through to the end. When the character Katherine had trouble flying the shuttle back into the atmosphere, Bea couldn’t help but think of her own troubles with driving.

“We talked about when it would be your turn…Well, this is it!”

“What a good movie!” said Purity.

They fell asleep in Prudence’s arms many nights.  It just felt so safe being so close to her.

“Wake up!  It’s dinner time,” said Step-brother.  Both girls had fallen asleep on their beds doing their homework.  The space station was gone.  Commander Hadfield and Tracy were gone and so was their oldest sister, Prudence.  The music on the computer was still playing though.

“Let’s wash up for dinner,” said Purity.

When Bea got up, she noticed a crumpled piece of paper in her pocket.  It turned out to be the owl she had painted at her birthday party on the Space Station.  Yes, the experience had been real.  And Prudence was still out there, thinking of her sisters and loving them too.

“Nothing really leaves us, does it Pure?” asked Bea.  “It just changes, like ice changes to liquid.  Science is everywhere. Even love has a bit of science in it.  IF you know how to see it.”

They both smiled at each other.

As they changed their shirts for dinner, this song came up on the auto play feature of YouTube:

(Click on link)

(78) 12. Marvin Gaye & Tammi Terrell – Ain’t No Mountain High Enough – YouTube