CHAPTER 1 Happy Birthday I Think Nick began drawing a venus flytrap next to a pitcher plant and a sundew on his computer table He imagined the plant's special leaves snapping shut to catch bugs He knew he'd never really see any of the cool different Earth plants that ate bugs The colony gardeners mainly grew beans and lettuce They also grew a few other things to eat Of course even if the gardeners would let Nick grow venus flytraps or any of the other bug eating plants he wouldn't have any flies to feed them
Nick spun in his chair He looked out the one round window in his room His mom once told him there were always bugs buzzing around you when you went outside on Earth Nick didn't get outside much here on Colony Alpha But when he did he'd never seen any bugs Through the window he saw blue green moss carpeting the ground around the colony and the shadowy edge of the fluff tree woods Moss and fluff trees were boring Nick was pretty sure the first Earth colony was on the most boring planet in the universe Nick sighed He wouldn't be so bored if his mom were home She'd be making a birthday cake and telling him Earth stories She'd have some great present hidden But his mom was overdue from a mission with five other scientists No one knew where they were
Nick pressed his nose against the window I miss you Mom Before they left Nick begged to go along If they had let him go he might have found some cool plants and animals And he would know exactly where his mom was He never got to go on any of the missions He barely got to go outside Nick's dad said it wasn't safe outside of the colony He said Nick was special But Nick didn't feel special As the only kid on Colony Alpha he was miserable lonely and bored There was a sharp knock on the door Nick spun around in his chair His dad stuck his head through the doorway He looked tired He had looked tired ever since Mom left on the mission Now he hardly ever came back to their quarters Dad's hair stuck up in spots from running his fingers through it Mom called it Dad's puff Nick could hear her saying You can always tell how hard your dad is working by the size of his puff
Dad tapped Nick on the head Happy Birthday I bet you thought I forgot Come with me to the lab I have a present for you Nick hopped up and followed his dad out of their quarters He really was surprised his dad remembered his birthday It was always his mom who planned birthdays She found fun things for Nick to do while Dad disappeared into the lab This year Nick hadn't thought anyone would celebrate his birthday With the shushing sound of an air lock seal the lab door opened Nick's dad pointed to a robot standing in the middle of the room This is the project I've been working on for the past month The first one is just for you He tapped the robot on a shiny shoulder Say hello to Nick Lights winked on in the robot's face It turned to look at Nick with bulging camera eyes Hello Nick
