Chapter 5

“Young people look up, and strive to be able to answer such strange questions we can’t help but to ask.” The media caught my attention and I realized I fell asleep before I could take all the documents anywhere. “Why won’t the moon move away from the beautiful sun?”

“We’re still working at trying to find an answer to your question.” A professor from a rival institute was soon shown next to the news woman. He was in the astronomy department, I would know as I looked into their program and he was in charge of it, but doesn’t actually do anything himself, not like my professors when they’re actually around.

“I beat you to your information about why!” I shouted at the television, with no reply directed towards me.

“Have you come onto any leads?” The woman asked, for an unfortunate no to be the response.

“We’ve been trying our best, and looking at everything we think could possibly be the problem, but there doesn’t seem to be anything that we can point out as the cause.” The man spoke, “We’ve attempted to get in contact with colleagues at other institutions, but it seems no one else is searching for a reason.”

“No one’s tried to get in contact with this lab at all!” I yelled at the television, and then the telephone started to ring. I walked over and carefully answered, “Hello, Rogen Astronomy Laboratory.”

“Philos Astronomy Laboratory.” A young man on the other side stated, “I’m surprised there was an answer, it doesn’t seem anyone is in labs.”

“Schools have been closed because of the eclipse.” I stated, and wondered why I felt so nervous at hearing this young man speak.

“Are any of the professors around to discuss research?” The young man asked.

“I’m actually the only one here.” I started to twist the wire of the phone chord around my finger.

“Are you there for cleaning the lab?” The young man asked, “If you are, I’m sorry for wasting my time with you.”

“Hold on!” I cried out as I started hearing the air of the phone being moved away, and was glad as I didn’t hear the click, or the dial tone of the call ending. “I have all the data.”

“Should we meet to discuss?” The young man asked, and I started hearing a bit of a bicker on the other side.

“Stop talking with your girlfriend, we have important things to be doing.”

“I’m not talking with my girlfriend! Someone actually picked up at a different lab and they were actually able to gather information.”

“No one at any lab has been picking up. No one’s around! No one’s researching besides us because there isn’t anything to see!”

“Give me back that phone!” Then there was the click, and I wondered if I should call back the lab to arrange to discuss what information I found. I also ended wondering if I should get in contact with any of the professors to help me with research. I didn’t personally have any of their numbers, and they weren’t anywhere around the lab so I couldn’t. There was a list of other labs though, so I was eventually able to call back the lab.

“Philos Astronomy Laboratory.” Someone picked up, the person who disconnected the call before.

“Rogen Astronomy Laboratory.” I spoke, and the phone was dropped, before it was picked up again, “I was on the phone with someone else from your lab before I was disconnected.”

“I’m sorry about that, we sometimes have some trouble keeping a hold on a call.” The man spoke, “Could I speak to the head of the research?”

“You’re already speaking to said person.” I stated, and felt a bit proud of myself for saying that, as it was true for the moment, and puffed my chest up a little though no one would see it.

“What has been discovered?” They asked.

“I would rather meet in person as previously suggested in case lines are being tapped.” I stated, and the person currently on the phone complained, and soon the young man from earlier was back on, inquiring about meeting up to relay information. It was decided that I should make my way over to their school, and get to the lab, because it has been difficult for anyone working at their lab to even go home, none the less out of town anywhere. They were constantly being watched, because people wanted their questions answered, and knowing there were people in the labs trying to answer, they didn’t let them out without information. It was even a surprise that their head professor was able to talk on television about their lack of findings. I was notified to not rush, as rushing might look suspicious to someone. But nonetheless I should get there within the week.