In a cozy cottage on the edge of a quiet village, lived a curious child named Alex. Alex’s favorite person was their dad, Papa Sam, an astronaut! Every night, Alex asked Papa Sam about space. One evening, as a soft breeze drifted through the window, Alex had a big question.
“Papa Sam,” Alex whispered, snuggling under their blanket, “what’s it like living on the International Space Station? Is it like a dream?”
Papa Sam smiled and tucked Alex in. “It’s more magical than a dream, Alex. Let’s go on an adventure.” As moonlight glowed, Papa Sam’s words carried Alex to the stars.
“Imagine waking up with no bed under you,” Papa Sam began. “In space, everything floats! I sleep in a bag strapped to the wall with velcro so I don’t float away.”
Alex giggled. “Like a floating teddy bear?”
“Exactly!” Papa Sam laughed. “I unzip my bag and—whoosh!—I float out. First, I glide to the window to see Earth—golden deserts, blue oceans, or twinkling city lights. It’s so beautiful.”
Alex closed their eyes, picturing Papa Sam by a window with Earth below. “How do you get ready if you’re floating?”
“Brushing my teeth is tricky,” Papa Sam said. “I use special toothpaste I swallow, since there’s no sink. Water floats in little bubbles, and I catch them with my toothbrush. If I’m not careful, they stick to the walls!”
“What about your hair?” Alex asked.
“I rub in no-rinse shampoo and wipe it with a towel,” Papa Sam said. “No showers in space, so that’s how I stay clean.”
“Wow,” Alex said. “What do you wear?”
“Comfy clothes, like t-shirts and sweatpants,” Papa Sam replied. “No washing machines, so we wear them a few days, then pack them to toss later.”
Papa Sam waved his hand, mimicking a float. “After getting ready, I head to the galley—our kitchen. We eat from pouches or cans, since fridges don’t work in space. The food is freeze-dried or sealed.”
“Do you eat burgers?” Alex asked hopefully.
“No burgers,” Papa Sam chuckled, “but we have tortillas with jam or cheesy pasta. Sometimes a cargo ship brings apples or candy.”
Alex grinned, imagining floating candies. “What do you drink?”
“Mostly water,” Papa Sam said. “The station recycles it, even from our breath! We have juice or coffee in pouches with special straws so nothing floats away.”
“Do you ever spill?” Alex asked.
“Once,” Papa Sam admitted, “I squeezed a juice pouch too hard, and a blob floated off! I chased it before it hit the machines.”
Alex laughed, wiggling under the covers. “What’s after breakfast?”
“Work,” Papa Sam said. “Everyone has a job. I run experiments, like growing plants or testing liquids without gravity. Sometimes I study tiny creatures, like ants or worms, to see how they live in space.”
“Are there animals up there?” Alex asked, amazed.
“Sometimes,” Papa Sam said. “We’ve had fish, spiders, and mice. We even grew marigolds once, and seeing flowers bloom felt like home.”
“Do you go outside?” Alex asked.
“Sometimes, I do a spacewalk,” Papa Sam said. “I wear a big suit and float outside, holding rails to move. I fix things or grab samples. The stars are so bright, and Earth glows like a marble.”
“Were you scared?” Alex whispered.
“A little,” Papa Sam said, squeezing Alex’s hand. “But I train a lot, and my team watches me through radios in my suit. It’s like a big adventure.”
“What about exercise?” Alex asked.
“Very important!” Papa Sam said. “Without gravity, muscles get weak, so I use a treadmill with straps, a bike, or a lifting machine. Sometimes, I do flips for fun!”
Alex giggled, picturing Papa Sam flipping. “What about the bathroom?”
Papa Sam grinned. “We have a toilet with fans to pull everything away. You strap in so you don’t float off! It’s weird but works.”
“Do you get bored?” Alex asked.
“Sometimes,” Papa Sam said. “But we call home, read, or watch movies. We have music nights or holiday parties. Once, I floated around with a birthday hat, giving out gifts.”
“Do you miss us?” Alex asked.
“Every day,” Papa Sam said softly. “I look at Earth and think of you. It keeps me close.”
“How do you talk to us?” Alex asked.
“Radios and video calls,” Papa Sam said. “There’s a delay, but your voice makes my day. I send emails and Earth photos, too.”
“Do you see aliens?” Alex giggled.
“Not yet,” Papa Sam winked, “but I’m looking.”
“What’s bedtime like?” Alex yawned.
“I zip into my bag, sometimes on the ceiling,” Papa Sam said. “I watch Earth glow with storms or the Northern Lights. It’s the best nightlight.”
“What if you have a bad dream?” Alex murmured.
“I think of you,” Papa Sam whispered. “Knowing Earth waits for me makes me brave.”
“Will you go back to space?” Alex asked sleepily.
“Maybe,” Papa Sam said. “But I love being here, telling you stories.”
“I want to be an astronaut,” Alex mumbled.
Papa Sam kissed Alex’s forehead. “The stars are waiting, Alex. Dream big.”
As Alex fell asleep, their dreams soared to the space station, gliding through halls, catching water bubbles, and sleeping under stars. Papa Sam watched, knowing each story sparked wonder in Alex’s heart, lighting a path to the universe.
And as the night grew quiet, Alex’s dreams shone with possibilities, because every story starts a new adventure.