See You in the Cosmos

Alex begins this recording saying that he has exciting news. First, though, he tells how Ken gave him an old telescope and how the drive home takes six hours in rainy conditions. When they arrive at Alex’s house, his mother is not there. Terra, exhausted from the drive, falls asleep in Ronnie’s bed. Alex helpfully removes her shoes. He listens to the voicemail messages: his own to his mom, Ronnie calling for his mom, a woman calling from the Colorado Department of Human Services, and—the exciting news—a woman named Janine Maplethorn in Las Vegas who says Carl Sagan is safe with her. Alex calls her right away: “She put him on and I said, Hi boy! It’s me, Alex!” (215). Janine found the dog under her car near a nail salon. She used Carl Sagan’s ID tag to call Alex’s house. Alex says Terra’s mom can pick him up. 

Alex records a description of his activities while Terra sleeps. He goes to the grocery store for food, then cooks pork chops, mashed potatoes, and spinach. He looks forward to his mother’s arrival home. He wakes Terra, tells her Janine Maplethorn found Carl Sagan, and offers Terra a new toothbrush.