A Trip to the Stars

The little rocket hummed on the launchpad, trembling with excitement, as Milo buckled himself into the seat and counted down from ten. When he reached one, the engines gave a great roar, and the rocket lifted up, up, up — past the rooftops, past the clouds, past the highest, sleepiest birds — until at last it slipped into the velvet dark of space, where the stars were waiting like a thousand friendly lamps hung across the sky.

The Kind Galaxy

Milo had always heard that space was cold and empty, but this galaxy was nothing of the sort. Every planet he drifted past had someone who waved a cheerful hello. A moon-cat stretched and purred on a hill of silver dust. A comet zoomed by, giggling as it went, leaving a long trail of sparkles that hung in the air like scattered sugar. Even the rings around the giant planets turned slowly, like carousels waiting for riders.

A Planet in Trouble

Then Milo noticed a small blue planet, blinking sadly, its light growing dimmer and dimmer. He steered his rocket closer and pressed the button on his radio. “Hello down there,” he said gently. “What's the matter?” A tiny, worried voice floated back up to him. “Our star has drifted off to sleep, and however loudly we call, we cannot wake it. Without its warm light, our flowers will not grow, and our gardens will fade away.”

Milo Has an Idea

Milo thought harder than he had ever thought before. Then he remembered the sparkles the giggling comet had left trailing behind it — bright, glittering, and full of light. “Follow me!” he cried, and off he flew, chasing the comet across the dark. He caught up at last and, very carefully, gathered a jarful of its shimmering dust, screwing the lid on tight before turning back toward the sleepy little star.

Wake Up, Star

Milo floated up close to the star and, holding his breath, sprinkled the comet dust gently over it. For a moment, nothing happened at all. Then, slowly, the star began to glow. First there was a flicker. Then a shimmer. Then a bright, warm, golden light came pouring out, spreading across the whole blue planet below. Down on the ground, the flowers lifted their drooping heads and opened, one by one, turning their faces up to the light.

Home Again

“Thank you, Milo!” sang the little voices, and the whole galaxy seemed to twinkle its thanks all at once. The moon-cat purred. The comet looped a happy loop. When at last it was time to leave, the stars lit the way back down through the dark, like tiny lanterns showing him the road. Milo steered his rocket gently home, yawning a great and happy yawn, and by the time he landed he was already dreaming of tomorrow's adventure among the kind and shining stars.