Stink: Solar System Superhero (8 page)

“Of course. And the robots rescue astronauts on the Space Station.”

“Wow.” Stink had only ever dreamed of Space Camp. “Hey, we should start a new club. Friends of Pluto or something.”

Riley twirled her hair into a knot. “You mean, just for your friends?”

“Any friend of Pluto is a friend of mine,” said Stink, grinning.

Just then, Judy came to the door of Stink’s classroom. “C’mon, Stinker. Mom’s picking us up today. I have soccer, and you have karate.”

“See you later, ex–Pluto Hater,” Stink said to Riley, and they both cracked up. Stink grabbed his stuff and hurried down the hall after Judy.

Judy climbed into the backseat.

“I’ll be right there,” Stink called.

“What’s he doing?” Mom asked, looking in the rearview mirror.

“I think he dropped something,” said Judy. “Stink. Hurry up! I’m going to be late!”

Stink scrambled into the backseat. Mom pulled away from the school and took a left turn. At the first red light, a car honked.

“I wonder why they’re honking,” said Mom. “I’m sure I had my turn signal on.” As they drove on, another car honked. And another.

Honk, honk! Toot, toot! Beep!

“Mom, do you know them?” Judy asked. “They’re all waving at us.”

“Here a beep, there a beep, everywhere a beep, beep!” sang Stink, smiling to himself. Someday, a spaceship would travel to the planet Pluto, 2.7 billion miles away. Someday.

But today, Stink was happy. Happy to be here on Croaker Road, State of Virginia, Planet Earth, Milky Way Galaxy: His own little corner of the universe.

Beep, beep!