The hall greeted Alice’s story with wild applause.
Then a venerable scholar rose from his seat and said:
“Young lady, in you’re hand you are holding a unique book a first edition of the SF novel “The Holes On Mars.” Would you give this book to me? There’s no way you’ll be able to read it.”
“No,” Alice said. “I’m going to learn how to read myself real soon.”
End
Chapter One
Alice The Criminal!
I had promised Alice: “When you get a pass out of second grade I’ll take you along on the Summer expedition. We’ll be flying on the Pegasus to collect exotic and rare animals for the Zoo.”
I had said that back in winter, right after New Year, but right at the same time I posted certain conditions: she had to study hard, do not do anything really stupid, and under no circumstances was she to have any ‘adventures.’
Alice worked hard at carrying out her terms of the bargain, and it looked like there would ne nothing to threaten our plans. But in May, just about a month before our departure date, certain events transpired which almost wrecked everything.
On that day I was working at home, writing an article for Cosmozoology Courier. Through my study’s open door I saw my daughter enter the house on her return from school, downcast and gloomy, throw the bag with her bookreader down with a crash on the table, refuse her dinner and pick up not the book that had been her constant companion for the last three months Animals of Distant Planets but instead grab for The Three Musketeers.
“Are you having difficulties?” I asked.