The Last Mile Trilogy

by Jacqueline Druga

  “Really though, Martin,” David smiled. “We’re going to be gone four days. What can happen in four days?”

  “My dear friend, the dinosaurs disappeared with a rock from the sky and a flash of light.” He tapped David with the folded paper and a wink. “And that happened in a blink of an eye.”

  CHAPTER FOUR

  Of the four, Lucy was the one having the hardest time saying good-bye; she knew she stood a great chance of getting homesick. After all, it was only four days in space, but with training, traveling, and debriefing, Lucy would be away from her family for three weeks. She recalled the time she went away with Doug’s sister for three days when they were first married, and called Doug every night because she missed him so much.

  Doug assured her she would be much better this time. This was exciting—a once and a life time opportunity.

  Lucy had to bask in it.

  He made her promise.

  And she did.

  Grateful for being granted unrequested time off from work, Lucy put all her energy into spending time with her family in those last few days, just in case something did happen. She even wrote notes to everyone. She wondered if she was being paranoid and decided maybe, just a little. The odds were slim, but she didn’t want to take a chance.

  As exciting as it was, she was venturing into the unknown. That scared the hell out of her. But Lucy vowed to handle it like a pro.

  She hoped.

  <><><><>

  “Get a haircut.” For several days either the greeting David Hawk received from Jon Grant or the goodbye, every time he saw him, that was his comment, “Get a haircut.”

  The day the lottery winners were due to arrive at Kennedy Space Center was no different. David was walking down the hall from the small office he’d been assigned, when he merely lifted his hand in a wave to Jon in passing.

  “I thought I told you to get a haircut.”

  David stopped. “You did.”

  “And you didn’t.”

  “Yes, I did, I got it trimmed and styled.”

  “It’s long.”

  “It’s not that long.” Granted it wasn’t ‘long’ hair by rock star standards, but it was styled in layers and went beyond the nape of his neck.

  “You’re going on Ona in two hours.”

  “And my hairdresser assured me I would look hot.”

  “You’re too old to look hot, David. You are a United States Astronaut, look like one.”

  David chuckled. “And what does a United States Astronaut look like.”

  “Not like Jon Bon Jovi in his comeback days.”

  David laughed. “I’m not in the service, and really there are no rules about hair length for a mission specialist.”

  Jon gave an arrogant ‘hmm.’ “You know if you tuck your hair behind your ears you’ll have a mullet.”

  “I have to go; Col. Reese needed to see me.”

  “David, don’t be late for Ona.”

  David started walking, lifting his hand in an acknowledging wave as he did.

  “And for God’s sake,” Jon shouted, “don’t text message while you’re on the Ona Show!”

  He arrived a few steps later at Col. Reese’s office, and knocked.

  “Come in.”

  David entered.

  Reese looked up from his desk, “Dr. Hawk, come in. Have a seat.”

  “What’s up?” David asked as he pulled out a chair.

  “Nice hair cut.”

  “Are you being sarcastic?”

  “No. You look very . . . youthful.”

  David smiled. “Thanks, I was gonna cut it completely off, but Grant was so adamant, I had to leave it long.”

  “A little old to be rebellious, don’t you think? Anyway, I got some info and I wanted your opinion on it.”

  “Sure.”

  “It was submitted by Martin Burgess.”

  “Oh.” David winced.

  “I take it you don’t buy it.”

  “Buy it?” David asked. “I buy anything Martin has to say. He’s good.”

  “Do you think he’s right?”

  “Can I ask you something?” David ran his finger over the top of his lip. “Are you concerned and, if so, why aren’t you bringing this to NASA’s attention?”

  “I did, they dismissed it. Saying it’s not possible.”

  “Ah, but it is possible, it just isn’t probable. Even Martin will say that. It’s a long shot, a very long shot.”

  “So why did he bring it up?”

  “Martin loves to plan for these things. Every couple years he thinks it will happen. Obviously, he hasn’t been right yet.”

  “What if this is the time, the one time he is?”

  “Honestly, there’s nothing we can do about it.”

  “Nothing?”

  David shook his head. “Nothing. Come on. And the warning will be so short that you can’t issue a public statement without sending people into ultimate chaos. So, you can look at Martin as an eccentric old man or a wise man who just wants people to know. It’s up to you.” He reached into his pocket and pulled out his phone.

  “Well, we leave in eleven days. I think I’ll just keep this under wraps. Since it’s not that probable.”

  “Sounds like a good idea to me.” David stood, fingers moving in text message action.

  “Dr. Hawk. Do you think this will happen?”

  “Huh?” David looked up.

  “Can you stop for a second on the texting? Do you think this will happen?”

  “No. Not at all and I’m not really worried. Actually I think there’s more of a chance of the moon breaking from its gravitation pull and colliding into earth.” David returned to text messaging.

  “Really, you think so?

  “No, but it sounded good.”

  “Christ.”

  David laughed. “I don’t think it’ll happen.”

  “Good. Then I’ll see you at the taping.”

  David reached for the door, eyes still on his phone.

  “Oh, and Dr. Hawk, did you hear? They fired the Walmart girl from her job.”

  “Yeah, I heard. That sucks.” He opened the door, the bleep of his sent message ringing out as he did.

  Col. Reese shook his. “Long hair, now that sucks, along with his constant text messaging addiction.” He shook his head with a chuckle. “And this is our mission's brilliant scientist.”

  <><><><>

  “Good God, I look like a corpse,” Gene Bryk looked into the dressing room mirror and then moved in closer to examine his face after the makeup job was completed.

  The makeup girl giggled.

  “No, wait,” Gene said. “I look like my Uncle Harry when he was laid out in 1976.”

  “You do not. Although I don’t know your Uncle Harry, I can say you don’t look like a body in a coffin.”

  “I do.”

  A knock on the door and the producer popped his head in. “Hey, we’re gathering the winners so they can meet with the crew members before the show. Almost done?”

  “Yes,” Makeup Girl replied.

  “Ow, gees,” The producer cringed. “Can you tone down the make up on him? He looks like he should be laid out in a casket.

  The door shut.

  Using the mirror as a tool, Gene made eye contact with the girl and said, “Told you.”

  <><><><>

  His hair reminded him a bit of Greg Brady from the old Brady Bunch reruns, when he was in his ‘Johnny Bravo’ stage. Kip warned the Ona staff that no matter how hard they would try to get his hair to stay down, it would just pop back up in a few minutes. It was curly like that. He suggested small ponytails on both sides of his head, but they didn’t take him serious.

  Kip supposed maybe NASA would buzz his head so his hair didn’t get a static charge from the helmet and cause things to malfunction when he shocked something.

  They led him into a hall and told him to ‘wait here’ and someone would lead him shortly to the room where he’d finally meet his ‘crew buddies.
’ That was what NASA was calling them, Crew Buddies.

  Each winner would meet with crew members for fifteen minutes before the show and then the winners would be introduced to each other for the first time live on Ona.

  Kip was wondering who the fourth person was. He was hoping it was a girl. Not that the Walmart girl wasn’t hot, but she was married and old. Plus she was probably a downer from losing her job.

  He could only imagine the fun he’d have if the fourth winner was young and a babe.

  Kip chuckled at the thought of producing the first ever, ‘Girls Gone Wild in Space.’ He wondered if NASA would go for that.

  “This way,” someone said to him.

  Kip snapped from his thoughts with a ‘huh’ only to see some young guy carrying a clipboard leading the way.

  “I guess I follow you,” Kip said.

  The younger man smiled pleasantly and opened the door. “Here you go, sir.”

  “Me, Sir?”

  “Yes.”

  “Cool. In there?”

  “Yes.”

  “Cool.” Kip walked in.

  David stood up. “From what I read of the winner information I am going to gather you are Jarrod McGregor?”

  “People call me Kip.”

  “Kip,” David said and extended his hand. “My name is Dr. David Hawk.”

  “Dude, anyone ever tell you that you look like Jon Bon Jovi during his comeback years of the nineties.”

  “Are you . . .” David leaned closer and sniffed. “High.”

  “Yes, Doc, I am. Why? You need some?”

  David chuckled. “Um, no, I’ll just pass. Have a seat.” He held out his hand. “We’ll get to know each other.”

  “Ok. Just let me know if you need any, ok?”

  “I’ll make sure I find you first.”

  “Dude, imagine if we got high in the shuttle. Totally stoned.”

  “It would give new meaning to the term being in outer space.”

  “Ha!” Kip laughed with a point to David. “That was good.”

  “I got a million of them.”

  “Let’s hear some.”

  “Hear some what?”

  “Some more of those good lines.”

  “Maybe later.”

  “Like when we get high?”

  David raised the corner of his mouth. “Sure.”

  “Cool.”

  David just shook his head with an amused chuckle. He laughed even harder when Kip began to talk about his life, starting with the third grade.

  <><><><>

  Ken paused before he entered his room. He recognized David’s laughter. It didn’t take much to amuse David. In fact, he was surprised David was able to take that long of a break from text messaging.

  Perhaps he wasn’t and was just laughing at what someone sent him.

  Or it was at one of the winners.

  None of the crew knew who they were going to meet. He would meet his winner buddy first, then the rest in person on stage.

  Although he had facts about them, Ken really was anxious to meet them.

  A part of him was hoping for the Walmart girl. His wife asked him to pass on to her that she was sad to hear that she lost her job at Walmart. Everyone felt bad about that.

  He knocked once on the door, and then walked in.

  Thaddeus stood up. “Wow, Ken Kelly. Wow. It’s great to meet you. I’m Thad Hall.”

  “Oh, hey, it’s nice to meet you, too.”

  Both men sat down at the small table where coffee was already waiting.

  “You . . .” Ken pointed. “You look a lot different than you did in People magazine.”

  “Hottest Bachelor,” Thaddeus said with a laugh. “I’m a dork, but they grabbed the best pictures.”

  “I wouldn’t say you’re a dork, but . . . not exactly dapper.”

  “Nah, that’s not me.” Thaddeus waved out his hand. “So you’re my crew buddy.”

  “I am,” Ken said with little enthusiasm.

  “You seem like you’re disappointed.”

  “No, well. . .” Ken hunched his shoulders. “I was kind of hoping you were going be the Walmart girl.”

  “Everyone wants to meet the Walmart girl,” Thaddeus smiled. “I even tried to find her but couldn’t find out her name. One would think the way the media followed her around and gave us her life, we’d get a name. I mean they made Walmart girl shuttle shirts.”

  “It’s Lucy.”

  “Excuse me?”

  “Her name is Lucy.”

  “Lucy.” Thaddeus bobbed his head. “It’s fitting. She looks like a Lucy, I think. Don’t you?”

  Ken shrugged.

  “What crew member got her?”

  “I don’t know.”

  “Bet it’s the Commander.”

  “Why do you say that?” Ken asked.

  “Because she is the Walmart girl, and they probably gave her the commander to make her feel important and better since she lost her job.”

  “Yeah, that was rough them firing her because too many people were trying to find out who she was.”

  “I felt bad,” Thaddeus said. “I think I’ll offer her a job with one of my companies. Try to give her a salary that will compensate for her and her husband’s salaries, since he works at Sears.”

  Ken sort of chuckled. “Doing what?”

  “Maybe a liaison.”

  Another laugh from Ken. “She worked at Walmart. How does that give her the qualifications for a position like that?”

  “Customer service skills and patience.”

  “And you know this how?”

  “Have you ever shopped at Walmart?”

  “Of course,” said Ken. “But I’m sure you haven’t.”

  Thaddeus fluttered his lips. “Uh, please. I was poor for the whole portion of my twenties. Gees. And she has customer service skills, trust me. I know how those Walmart shoppers can be with the store employees, especially around Christmas.”

  Ken nodded, closed mouth. “You got a point.”

  “So, tell me about you, Ken. Has this been your dream your entire life? And better yet. Did you actually buy any of the lottery tickets yourself?” Thaddeus sat back, and in European style, crossed his legs to listen.

  Ken coughed out a small laugh. He honestly, didn’t expect the Thaddeus he met, and more so didn’t expect to be interviewed himself.

  <><><><>

  Ona was the queen of compassionate, non-drama, human interest talk shows. She was a mega image to all and a symbol of humanity. It was no wonder she landed the exclusive interview with the winners before they went into seclusion for training before the flight.

  She was seated on the right side of the stage on Thaddeus’ left. A row of empty chairs sprawled out next to Ken.

  “You’re always a charming guest.” She smiled at Thaddeus. “And I have to say on a personal note, I can not wait to see you in the flight suit. You will look hot.”

  The audience applauded.

  Thaddeus lowered his head in a bashful move. “Thanks.”

  “Before we bring out our next winner, Colonel Kelly, impressions of Thaddeus after your meeting?”

  Ken smiled. “He talks a lot.”

  Ona giggled. “And with that, let’s bring out our next winner.”

  Thaddeus turned to her. “Is it the Walmart girl?”

  She held up her finger and stood. “Our second winner is the oldest of all the winners, but I have to say, he looks in great shape. I’ve met him. Now, with his crew buddy, Mission Specialist Paul Lockhart, will you please welcome, Gene Bryk.”

  Thaddeus looked over his shoulder to the tall, bulky and strong appearing Gene Bryk. He blew from his mouth and nudged Ken. “He’d kick our butts.”

  Ken gave him the shush sign of a finger over the lips.

  Gene extended his hand to Ona, stating it was a pleasure to be there, and then he, along with Paul and Ona all took their seats.

  “This is exciting,” Ona said as she adjusted in her seat and flipped
through her cards. “Welcome.”

  “Thank you, Ma’am.” Gene nodded.

  “Tell us about yourself, Gene. You have an interesting background.”

  “Well, I’m not the Walmart girl.” He joked.

  “Who is?” Ona added.

  “True.” Gene smiled. “I’m a simple guy, widower. Was a police office in Los Angeles for thirty years and just retired.

  Ona encouraged the audience to applaud. “Thank you for your service. Tell me, how did you feel when you realized you won?”

  “Well, Ona, like Mr. Hall, it had always been my dream. But it never panned out. And it was a tedious process going through the tickets. You want to check and double check each number. Not all of us had ours data-based.” He peered at Thaddeus.

  “Not all of us bought seven million tickets,” Ona said. “And when you learned you had the winning ticket?”

  “I’d say I was shocked, had to keep checking the number. I’m still a little shocked. But I’m excited.”

  Hand on chin, Ona leaned forward with interest. “How did you manage to stay anonymous?”

  “I haven’t a clue. Maybe because I’m not in the public eye or work in the public. Who knows?”

  “Capt. Lockhart, impression of Mr. Bryk?” Ona asked.

  “He’s a sensible, great guy. Glad we have him.” Paul replied.

  Ona faced the camera. “And like Mr. Bryk, our next guest was able to keep his anonymity as well. And he is the youngest of the winners, in fact, the youngest person ever to board the shuttle. Please welcome with his crew buddy, Mission Specialist Dr. David Hawk, nineteen year old, Kip McGregor.”

  Kip walked onto the stage as if he were a professional wrestler. His arms waved high in the air while David walked beside him, holding back a smirk.

  After shaking hands with Ona, Kip sat down.

  “Welcome,” Ona said with a smile. “Wow, you are young.”

  “I am. But in body only, babe, up here…” Kip tipped his temple. “I’m mature.”

  “Tell me Kip, how did you feel when you found out you had won?”

  “I was sleeping.”

  “Excuse me?”

  “Yeah, I was sleeping. My buddy told me I had the winner number.”