#justinpowell

            Julia watched the stars to see movement and her best friend streak across the sky. She shivered in the cold air despite being bundled up in purple and pink. The hood of her jacket was down and revealed two parallel ponytails. They bounced as she hopped to warm herself. She turned to her grandmother sitting down against a tree on this hill.

            “When will we see him, grandma?”

            “Be patient. Is your pipe flute ready? He’ll need you to lead him home.”

            “Yep, I practiced the melody you taught me. I did it all night until my mommy and daddy said it was bedtime.”

            The grandmother smiled in the nippy air. The chill bit like the bugs fled during the winter but she would always find a smile for Julia. She took hold of a pipe flute from her bag. Its many tubes ascended in height from left to right. She blew through it and a melody came. Julia took out her pipe flute and tried to repeat it.

            “Let’s have a little practice, dear.”

            The melody for tonight was played first by the grandmother and replicated by Julia. They continued a few more times until a swaying Julia became lost in the music. The grandmother put her pipe flute down and started to clap to the melody. Her granddaughter bobbed while moving side to side with eyes closed. After a minute of this she rolled up her sleeve to see her watch.

            “Any time now, Julia.”

            The little girl opened her eyes, took her mouth from the flute and grinned with excitement. She turned around and ran back to the hill’s peak. Her eyes scanned the sky. She could see airplanes and stars but no satellites. Then she caught site of a light moving slowly moving across the night.

            “I see Raleigh, grandma!”

            “Good. Play the little melody. I am sure he is listening and waiting to hear you lead him home. Our canine astronaut is counting on you.”

            Julia put the pipe flute to her lips and blew the little tune again. Her grandmother watched as she played without blinking. She so desperately wanted her dog back that she would play for hours if necessary. The pain when Raleigh went missing days ago was so great that it gave birth to a comforting lie. The grandmother never wanted to fool her or use her innocence against her. When the parents found Raleigh’s body along the side of a road, desperation set in.

            “Keep on playing dear. I am sure he hears you. The space agency always equips their space dogs with only the best listening devices.”

            Julia continued to play the tune. It may have been naïve of her or perhaps her trust in her in grandmother was too great but she believed those words absolutely. She played until she lost sight of the passing satellite behind barely visible clouds. The flute was removed from her lips and she turned back to her grandmother.

            “Will Raleigh win a medal when he gets back?”

            “I don’t know but when you go into space you can look different when you come back. Raleigh is a mongrel. That means he is a mixed breed and they can easily change.”

            “Will he remember me?”

            “Oh, my little stargazer, come over here and warm up.”

            Julia walked over to her grandmother and snuggled up close. They watched the stars together until they caught sight of a shooting star. It raced downward.

            “Is that Raleigh landing?”

            “I am sure it is. He must have heard you and knew that it was safe to land.”

            “Should we make a wish too?”

            “Yeah, let’s wish him a safe return.”

            “No grandma, I wish I could stay here all night. The space agency is looking after Raleigh.”