“Tweenar, wake up. It’s yesterday.” Zeena shook him awake.
Tweenar climbed from his pod and glared at his younger sister.
“You weren’t a grump when you were older,” Zeena said, then skipped out of his sleeping chamber.
Why was she happier every day she got younger on this weird planet while he was more miserable? Even the sonic shower didn’t soothe him this morning, especially since he had to stand on a stool to adjust the spray. He didn’t like being ten. He wanted to be twelve again. He wanted his Soaring Permit. He wanted to own a Propul and explore another galaxy. He wanted to play Athox with the guys.
He was stuck here until his parents finished their experiment, but the experiment had speeded up their becoming younger. They were already acting like teenagers. Did they even work on that experiment anymore?
He pulled on his flight suit and sighed at the way it fit. He rolled up the arms another turn and tugged the pant legs up to his ankles where they belonged.
Where they belonged. That was it. His family had to go back where human time didn’t run in reverse, and it had to happen before his parents became ten and he started crawling.
As he entered the eating chamber, music from the Comix System blared. His mom and dad, dressed in lab coats, danced around the floor in jerky steps.
“Tweenar! Look. This is what we called the Quasar Twist.” His mom waved her arms overhead and danced toward the exit.
Like a space geek, his dad danced after her.
Zeena sat near the food dispenser clapping her hands to the music like she was three. He would not go through his sister’s terrible twos again.
He hurried to the office chamber, booted the Viz-Com, and logged on. He entered Zim’s code.
Zim’s face flashed onto the screen. “Hey, T, how’s it go . . . Is that you, Tweenar?”
“I need your help.”
Zim laughed.
“What’s so funny?”
“Your voice. You sound so different.”
Tweenar made his voice lower. “Are you going to help me or not?”
“Sure.” Zim still had a smirk on his face.
“Can you get your dad’s Propul? I need a ride home.”
“Are you kidding? I just got my Soaring Permit.”
“I have to get off this planet. I’m headed for diapers.” Tweenar made a fist at the screen. “Don’t laugh.”
Zim shook his head. “I can’t.” He rubbed his chin like he always did when he solved equations. “Don’t you have your permit yet? You’re twelve.”
Tweenar gritted his teeth. “I was twelve. I’m back to ten. My parents are almost too young to sponsor me at Gallactic Licensing.” He rubbed his eyes. “If I don’t do something quick, I won’t be able to reach the controls.”
Zim frowned. “Wish I . . . Wait! How many lessons did you have on the Propul before you left here?”
“Six.”
“That’s almost enough. Too bad you don’t know your parents’ ignition code.”
A smile spread across Tweenar’s lips. “I do know it.” He’d take their Propul. His parents would come to their senses and follow him home. If he got Zeena on board, they’d come fast. They’d put him in Obedience Orbit forever, but that wasn’t as bad as becoming a baby. “Zim, you have to talk me through take-off and landing.”
“No! I—”
“I’ll be back.” Tweenar signed off.
A small fib made it easy to get Zeena into the Propul.
“So where are we pretending to go?” Giggling, she fastened her harness and sat staring at the view screen where Zim’s face appeared.
“Tweenar, you can’t take Zeena! It’s dangerous.”
“Zimmy!” Zeena squealed with delight.
Tweenar punched in the ignition code.
“This is wrong,” Zim said.
“Come on. Read the manual,” Tweenar said.
Zim took him through pre-flight step-by-step. Tweenar followed each instruction, pleased that he remembered a lot from his lessons.
“Key in the trajectory and press the start pad.” Zim’s voice quivered.
Tweenar reached his hand forward and held his breath. Zim was right. This was dangerous. He could still stop. He glanced at his flight suit that got baggier every week he became younger. Zeena giggled and bounced in her seat.
With a shaky finger Tweenar pressed the pad. They shot into space.
The view screen flickered but instead of Zim, his dad scowled back at him. “What are you doing?”
“I’m going home!” His dad’s face scared him even though it was a face Tweenar remembered from his dad’s academy yearbook.
“Turn around,” Dad shouted.
Suddenly the control panel went dark. The Propul spun out of control and hurtled into space.
“Tweenar, stop,” Zeena screamed. “Tweenar!”
***
“Tweenar, wake up. You’re late for Athox practice.” Zeena shook him awake.
~The End~
Illustration Copyright © 2008 Feras Nouf
Copyright © 2008 by C. Lee McKenzie