Small Wonders · complete story

Mira Takes The Long Way

Tedray · Teamwork & curiosity

Mira’s sightseeing plan had three stops, two transfers and a drawing of a very impressive fountain.

Pip loved the fountain already.

“It whistles,” he told Zuri. “A different tune for every jet.”

Ivo raised a front leg. “I can whistle for every biscuit.”

“You cannot whistle,” said Pip.

“I am willing to learn.”

At the departure desk, Mira checked the first transfer stop. Its waiting hall was unusually busy. A school orchestra was arriving, and the fountain festival had begun early.

A small boy beside them covered his ears when a recorded announcement played.

His father moved with him toward the quiet seating area.

Mira closed her timetable.

“The quick route is comfortable for some travelers today,” she said. “Others might prefer a calmer one.”

Pip looked down at the fountain drawing.

“How much longer is the calm route?”

“It takes us around the viewing loop,” said Mira. “We can keep two sightseeing stops. We would save the fountain for another day.”

Zuri had already numbered every page of her outing plan. Three pages. Three stops.

She did not like an empty page.

“We planned it properly,” she said.

“We planned it before we knew how today’s station would feel,” Mira replied.

She asked the group what they wanted. The boy’s father chose the quieter route. Dandy liked the idea of the viewing loop. Noor had never seen its new observation room.

Pip thought hard.

“Will there be somewhere to draw?”

“Several places,” said Mira.

“Then I’ll draw the long way.”

Zuri slowly rubbed out the number on her fountain page.

“Could I make that a page for unexpected things?”

“That sounds useful,” said Noor.

A trained station worker checked their boarding details. Mira piloted the protected ship along the approved route. The busy transfer hall became a glittering patch behind them.

In the viewing lounge, everyone settled into secure seats. The windows showed dark space, gold stars and the pale curves of distant relay lights.

For a while, Pip did not draw at all.

He simply looked.

Dandy produced a paper sunflower from his pocket.

“Souvenir?”

“Previous pocket occupant,” Dandy said.

Noor folded a corner of the outing map into a stand for Pip’s sketchbook. Zuri drew the quiet lounge and its comfortable seats.

The small boy waved from across the room. He was looking out of the window with his father.

Ivo practiced a whistle. A very small squeak emerged.

“A beginning,” said Dandy solemnly.

Mira called their attention to the observation screen.

“This is the far edge of the old viewing branch.”

Zuri leaned forward.

Among the relay points stood something tiny and round. Seven narrow windows circled its wall. Its roof opened into petal shapes.

“It looks like a sunflower,” she whispered.

Noor enlarged the image. The approved route stayed unchanged.

The little station had a landing bay and a welcome bench beside its enclosed entrance.

Pip found the picture of the empty bench from their earlier clue.

He held it against the screen.

The shapes matched.

Zuri opened her page for unexpected things.

At the top, in very careful letters, she wrote:

WE TOOK THE LONG WAY.

AND FOUND SOMETHING IMPORTANT.