We Dream of Space

Due to the weather, the Challenger launch is postponed for several days. In Fitch’s section of Ms. Salonga’s class, she asks the students if any of them believe that life might exist on other planets. She tells them about the messages that humans have begun sending into space for over ten years already, communicated via radio telescopes. Ms. Salonga asks each student to write their own message, considering what they would share about life on earth with anyone who might be out there in space. Vern, who has a crush on Rachel Hill (who the Jessicas claim likes Fitch) has been talking about how he has called her at home again. When Fitch tells Vern not to expect her to return his call, Vern lashes out, claiming that Fitch is simply jealous because only girls like Amanda Piper are interested in him, and Fitch has the strong urge to shove Vern.

At home, Cash is working on his homework at the section of the dining room table that Bird has managed to clear off. When Cash pipes up to share information about outer space with his mother, she asks “What planet am I on?” (276).

After class, Bird, who has taken Jessica Diaz’s advice to heart and decided to tell Devonte she isn’t interesting in dating anyone, asks him to stay back for a moment to talk. She tells him that she doesn’t like him romantically, but that she does really enjoy being his friend. To Bird’s surprise, Devonte tells her that he doesn’t like her romantically either. He says that although he thinks she’s very nice, he’s not the kind of girl that he would develop a crush on. She doesn’t ask what he means by that, but he elaborates, saying “You’re just kinda, plain. You know?” (282). He insists that he doesn’t see this as a negative, but that he too wants to remain friends.

At the arcade, Fitch’s new admirer, Marsh, continues to lavish praise on Fitch, and pester him to teach him how to play, but Fitch does not have the same exasperation and annoyance that he felt when the younger boy began following him around.

Back at home, Bird begins drawing a schematic of her music box, as the recent slights she has heard play repeatedly in her mind: that she is plain, unpretty, uninteresting, etc.

In his room, though he is not certain exactly what he wants to say, Fitch turns to the section in the phonebook containing listings for everyone named Piper. Amanda’s first name isn’t listed, so Fitch calls every number until finally he reaches her house. When Amanda answers, Fitch can’t bring himself to say anything in reply and eventually hangs up.

On Sunday night, Cash and Mike are watching the 76ers game. Bird appears from her room, and her father asks if she would like the join them in watching the game. When she declines, her father mentions that she seems like she is not her usual self. Cash explains that she’s sad about the repeated rescheduling of the Challenger launch. Their father remarks that sending men and women into space together seems like “a recipe for disaster” (297). Tammy asks what he means. Doubling down on sexist ideas, he reiterates that he does not think it is a good idea. They argue, and Cash turns his attention to the basketball game to try to drown them out; Bird sneaks back to her room.

With tension mounting in the house, Bird slips outside with the keys to the family car, sitting inside in the driver’s seat with the engine running. She imagines the ignition process of the Challenger and tries to block out the distracting sounds when she finally realizes Fitch is shouting and her through the car window and banging on the glass. He asks what she’s doing in the car, assuring her that their parents’ argument has ended, and she can come back inside if she wants to. Fitch gets into the car, sitting in the passenger’s seat, and after a moment, he apologizes to his sister about his earlier outburst. When Bird says she believes that perhaps he was right that she would never work for NASA, he insists he was wrong. He suggests they go back inside before his parents come outside. Inside, Cash informs them that the 76ersr lost the basketball game. Back in her room, despite her brother’s apology, Bird ruminates on negative thoughts about herself. Feeling discouraged, insignificant, and unworthy of her goals, she goes to sleep without her customary conversation with Judith Resnik.

Fitch has decided that he must apologize to Amanda Piper. He hasn’t seen her in weeks but has managed to find out that she is in Ms. Salonga’s sixth period class. He waits outside the door for her at the end of fifth period, asking if he can talk to her. Nervous, he stumbles over his words a bit before mustering his courage and looking her in the eye. When he says he’s sorry, walks past him into class without speaking. Fitch feels a sense of relief that he has done his best to make amends.