Intended

“They’re putting a woman on the moon by the middle of next year,” Camilla Famiglia pointed out with a sour tone.

“You know it’s completely free of government controls or intervention,” her younger sister Quintilla said with enthusiasm.

“Still, it’s a waste of money and resources. Think of all the poor people that could be fed,” their mother Maxilla pointed out.

“Mama, this is private. Just as you’re a private citizen who has every chance to give as much money to the poor as possible,” Quintilla responded.

“Well, we were never intended to go up there,” Maxilla replied.

“With that same logic, we should be living like Amish and Menonites and not use electricity or ICE,” Quintilla responded.

“Ice? They don’t use ice?” Maxilla asked.

“Internal combustion engine, Mama,” Quintilla answered.

Camilla and Maxilla laughed. Quintilla did not. She looked at the television with the enthusiasm and interest of a child on Christmas morning.

“We should be exploring and making investments in industry that will further human flourishing,” Quintilla mentioned.

“With all the problems on this Earth? We have to deal with what’s down here first,” Camilla explained.

“Again, this is a private enterprise. If you wish to aid the guttersnipes, the downtrodden, and those in society who somehow have license to be ‘selfish’, you have every opportunity.”

“But this is space. We’re talking about going outside of the bounds of the Earth. Look at all the astronauts who’ve died to do what you call exploration. The industry that we have should be giving jobs down here,” Camilla declared.

“I don’t want you getting ideas of going up there, Max. You should be focused on becoming an engineer. One who works in Silicon Valley far away from Delaware,” Quintilla stated.

“I want to be a chemical engineer to help with missions to Mars. I intend to keep the dream and make it hardcore reality.”

“Max, you shouldn’t set yourself up for failure. You’re going to be in college next year. You have a full scholarship on your mind. I wish you would use it more. You have to think.”

Maxilla looked at her sister incredulously. “I could say the same to you, you know….”

“Oh, really?”

“The way you and Mama don’t recognize the intellect of people who wish to reach beyond this planet. You’re both too smart to not realize how crucial it is that the men and women who will occupy that capsule will be led by a legion of personnel. Those people will include chemical engineers for missions to establish controls. Those controls include the cumbustion, the manufacturing of the spacesuits, and the systems that govern the aircraft. I will be focused on tackling the inevitable problems.”

Camilla and Quintilla looked at each other and rolled their eyes. Their resentfulness stained lied blood in crisp white linen. They didn’t say a word but exchanged whole ideas with mere glances. They continued to slice vegetables and look at the TV screen. The accomplishments of the private program ran across in chirons.

Their distrust of technology they pick and choose to use denies them the pleasure of knowing that humanity has the opportunity to keep going on the strength of mind power. Their off-putting and silent attacks against daughter and sister only fueled Maxilla.

“You can do all of that, mija. Once you know that you can do anything, remember that you can’t do everything, okay?” Quintilla said.

“And you’re probably going to change your mind, anyway. You’ll get to the classes, pass them with flying colors and then want to switch majors. You’ll probably be in French Lit by the end of the semester.”