Simon Sort of Says

Simon, Kevin, and Agate gather sleeping supplies, lamps, and a lantern and head for the treehouse. Simon feels anxious and excited, and it overwhelms him, but he does his best to keep it in. The trio chats, eats jellybeans, and waits for the exact right moment. Simon asks if he can be the one to push the button on the microwave, but in his head, he thinks “pull the trigger” (255). Plugging in the microwave is anticlimactic, but when the sun sets and Vega appears in the sky, a hushed anticipation falls over everyone.

Kevin starts a metronome, and Simon gets in position beside the microwave. He starts a five-minute timer and sends the numbers 5, 7, and 11 in time with the metronome. Something shifts inside Simon, and he suddenly feels like a different person. He tries not to cry with joy knowing that the plan worked and that everything was under control. Kevin notices the lights at the radio telescopes turn on and people start driving up. It’s clear that they got the signal and consider it something important. Simon takes comfort in the fact that this news will surely outshine his own.