Minimum Paige

The days Henry had spent at the University of Phobos were some of the best of his life. He fondly recalled his dorm parties, his trip to the Martian poles on spring break, and the time he spent in the University of Phobos Billiards Club. The memories did bring back a bit of resentment, once again due to his mother:

"Henry dear, why don’t you apply to the University of Georgia, or Florida perhaps? I know your grades are good enough to be accepted."

"Because I hate Earth, mother."

"Come now, Earth is not that bad. Especially the South. It is much warmer down there than it is here on Mars."

"Mother, you know I don’t mind the cold."

Eventually, Henry and his mother compromised. Henry agreed to apply to the University of Luna. He was accepted there as well, but chose Phobos as it was much closer to home.

* * *

Henry awoke nearly ten days later, his seat in the reclining position. On his lap was a bag of peanuts and a freeze dried ham sandwich. Groggily, he tore open the peanuts and began to eat slowly. He gathered his thoughts. He was on a spacecraft from Callisto to Earth. Seven days ago, he asked the attendant to administer a one week dose of hibernation drug. It was a common practice on long space journeys. Even with his laptop and book, two weeks could quickly become mind-numbingly boring. The protein in the peanuts and ham was supposed to ease the shock of awaking.

Munching on the ham sandwich, Henry opened his laptop to see where they were. The ship would be coming up on Mars soon, to refuel. Already, Henry could feel the retro-rockets firing, slowing the ship to docking speed. "One last slingshot around Mars," Henry thought. "Then I will be at the place I hate the most."

Seeing Mars out of the porthole gave Henry mixed feelings. On one hand, he really loved living on Mars and attending school on Phobos. Henry gazed upon the Martian surface, looking for the American homestead he grew up on. The ship was currently stopped at the Martian space station, being refueled for its’ final burn to Earth. Phobos began to arise from the edge of Mars; Henry could make out the observatory from here.

Phobos reminded Henry of his commencement. How happy his mother and grandmother looked. How proud Uncle Danny said he was of him. He remembered his microbiology teacher, Dr. Hutson telling him about the research station he was starting on Callisto, and wondered if Henry would like to join him. Henry thought about it for a day, and realized short he had no job lined up on Mars. He called Dr. Hutson and asked when the spaceship left. That was nine months ago.

As the ship departed from the station, it immediately began to burn its’ engines. Maneuvering itself around Mars, it picked up speed. Henry’s seat pushed on him with the force of a bulldozer. The ship made on circuit around Mars, then another, then another. Upon the completion of the third circuit, the ship ignited its’ engines brighter, broke free of Martian gravity, and rocketed into space.

One week latter Henry’s mood grew even sourer. He could see it now, Earth. Earth, some insignificant little speck of blue light; old, outdated, outlived. Earth reminded him of his mother, and reminded him of that letter she sent him, one week after he had arrived on Callisto: