The radio pulsed again, and he told himself he didn't feel it. He rolled around and looked at Murph. He might as well ask his important question. "Murph--are you gonna take me up?" "Shoot, kid, I can't burn juice just taking one guy for a joyride." "How about if you get a full load except one? Couldn't I sit in?" Murph thought about it. "Well, you've been a lot of help and company, and you're a smart kid, too. I'll do it." Pete didn't do anything so childish as leaping into the air but he allowed himself to walk over and stroke the alluring flanks of the Hester. He felt wonderful. And around the hull of the rocket strode his mother. "Why didn't you answer us?" "Gosh--did you call me? Maybe my radio isn't working." She dialed and spoke into it. His grandmother answered. "I've got him," said his mother, and dialed down. She took him by the arm and shook him. "Come along!" "That's scranny! I've got to get Murph cigarettes! He's going to take me up! Ain't that right, Murph?" Murph had scrambled up, red and apologetic. "I'm sorry, lady--I didn't know you wanted him home. I'm really sorry." "You idiot!" was all she said, flouncing by him with Pete held by the arm. She shook Pete more and more angrily as they half ran toward home. Then suddenly he felt her trembling all over, and she broke into tears. She held him to her fiercely and suffocatingly. "They're _not_ going to get you. You're going to promise!" Bewildered and a little frightened, he pushed his head against her like a stubborn calf and was silent. * * * * * He felt a little chastened by the time they arrived home, but then things blew up again. Grammy pulled the trigger. Smiling, she hugged him and said, "Cheer up, Pete--tomorrow's the picnic on Indian Hill." They were using Indian Hill to cancel out his last day with the Hester! He gritted his teeth with a scrawtch that raised goose pimples even on himself. "I won't go! It doesn't have to be tomorrow!" Grammy's face began to winter and his mother's face grew harder as she said, very firmly, "It's tomorrow, and you certainly _are_ coming." "I won't!" he exploded, and ran out to the barn. He lay in the hay in the tallest now, feeling like a miserable sick solitary cat. After awhile he dialed his radio, 29 on the eight orb, and Murph came right in. "How's it goin', Murph?" "Oh--it's you. You in trouble?" "Nah--but I can't see you today. I wondered if you could take me up tomorrow? I mean, if there's room, that is?" "Your Ma want you to go up?" "It's okay--they just wanted me for chores today. How about it?" "Sure, if there's room." "Hooray! See you tomorrow." "Okay, kid. And look--if you don't make it, I'll blow you a kiss." "What's that?" "I thought you knew. You know how the jet flame is? Blue. Well, if you change the fuel mix it goes orange. That's blowing a kiss. Every rocketman knows about it." "Wow! I'll be there, though. You won't have to blow me one." "Okay, Pete."