One-Woman, One-Dog Mission to Space [The Little Prince Challenge]

by Ana Cristina

“Are you sure this is what you want, dear?”

“Positive, mother. And it’s not like it’s forever. It’s just 10 light years. I’ll be back before you have a chance to miss me.”

After hugging my mother goodbye I boarded the shuttle and secured my dog, Prince. Then I put on my helmet and waited for the countdown. This was a one-woman, one-dog mission to space. No return flight. Yet.

10…9…8…

I thought of my mother, hoping her worries were unwarranted, that I was doing what I wanted to do.

7…6…5…

I looked over at Prince. He was staring up at me with those soulful eyes that only dogs seem to possess.

4…3…2…

So many doubts floated in my head. I’d be the only one inhabiting Planet X-31, which was good, because then I could conduct my research without ridicule. I believed I could train dogs to speak. I pat Prince on the head. “Am I doing the right thing, buddy?”

...1…

In that eternal millisecond before the shuttle burst forward in flight, Prince opened his jowls and said, “Yes.”

Comments

Average Reader Rating: 5.0 stars out of 5

  1. One-Woman, One-Dog Mission to Space [The Little Prince Challenge]

    THX 0477's Buddy Icon THX 0477

    Posted 4 months ago

    5.0 out of 5 stars

    That was cute and fun. The countdown breaks worked nicely for that thoughtful moment before lift off. And funny ending with an answer that sort of contradicts itself. (If he can talk now, why go all the way to train him?)

  2. One-Woman, One-Dog Mission to Space [The Little Prince Challenge]

    Ana Cristina's Buddy Icon Ana Cristina

    Posted 4 months ago

    Yeah, I ran out of character space. Originally, I had my heroine replying, “Oh, crap” right after hearing Prince say that. Thanks for reading!

  3. One-Woman, One-Dog Mission to Space [The Little Prince Challenge]

    thebetweenspace's Buddy Icon thebetweenspace

    Posted 4 months ago

    Loved it. And I can’t get over how great the word jowls is.

  4. One-Woman, One-Dog Mission to Space [The Little Prince Challenge]

    OrangeOreos' Buddy Icon OrangeOreos

    Posted 4 months ago

    That last line made me laugh!

    Quite good, quite good.

    I can just imagine her expression at the end!

    Very creative entry.

  5. One-Woman, One-Dog Mission to Space [The Little Prince Challenge]

    invisibility_disability's Buddy Icon invisibility_disability

    Posted 4 months ago

    good answer, but … i’m sort of confused … wasn’t the challenge to write about a silly-ish adult?

    good story, though.

  6. One-Woman, One-Dog Mission to Space [The Little Prince Challenge]

    Ana Cristina's Buddy Icon Ana Cristina

    Posted 4 months ago

    Well, this is an adult I’m writing about here. I didn’t go right out and say it, but I thought the fact that she’d be conducting research by herself on an uninhabited planet would say enough.
    But what do I know, I’m just a silly-ish adult. :p

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