1 00:00:08,480 --> 00:00:14,720 Speaker 1: Hello, friends, and welcome to sleep Tight Stories. Every week 2 00:00:14,800 --> 00:00:19,120 Speaker 1: we celebrate our supporters through shout outs and personal birthday messages. 3 00:00:20,200 --> 00:00:22,680 Speaker 1: We think this is also a fun way for us 4 00:00:23,200 --> 00:00:26,440 Speaker 1: to hear about all the amazing places that you our 5 00:00:26,560 --> 00:00:33,880 Speaker 1: listeners come from. Hello to Cecilia and Dominic from Lutherville, Maryland. 6 00:00:34,760 --> 00:00:38,640 Speaker 1: And Hello to Gabrielle, who just moved to London from 7 00:00:38,680 --> 00:00:42,000 Speaker 1: New York City and recently started year one at a 8 00:00:42,080 --> 00:00:46,159 Speaker 1: new school. Mommy, daddy and Cookie are so proud of 9 00:00:46,200 --> 00:00:50,199 Speaker 1: you and promise to create great family memories in London. 10 00:00:53,320 --> 00:00:57,240 Speaker 1: Happy belated birthday to Naomi and Temple, Georgia, who turned 11 00:00:57,240 --> 00:01:01,440 Speaker 1: eleven on August eighth, and Mama love you and are 12 00:01:01,520 --> 00:01:06,279 Speaker 1: so proud of the young lady you are becoming. Happy 13 00:01:06,319 --> 00:01:10,800 Speaker 1: belated birthday to Harrison in Austin, Texas, who turned nine 14 00:01:10,840 --> 00:01:14,319 Speaker 1: on August thirty, first from your mom and brother Benny. 15 00:01:16,800 --> 00:01:21,280 Speaker 1: Happy belated birthday to Ozan. Mommy, daddy and Aylen love 16 00:01:21,319 --> 00:01:28,399 Speaker 1: you very much. Happy belated birthday to Lena from Danville, California. 17 00:01:28,880 --> 00:01:32,800 Speaker 1: Love mom, dad, and Rachel. You are thoughtful, kind and 18 00:01:32,920 --> 00:01:37,080 Speaker 1: courageous and they're proud of you. Keep being silly. You 19 00:01:37,200 --> 00:01:44,440 Speaker 1: got this so Skibbety. Happy belated eighth birthday to Penelope 20 00:01:44,480 --> 00:01:49,040 Speaker 1: on September twelfth. Love Mommy, Daddy, Zubin, Phoebe and Jude. 21 00:01:49,360 --> 00:01:54,880 Speaker 1: We love you so much. Happy belated seventh birthday to 22 00:01:55,000 --> 00:02:00,280 Speaker 1: Madeline Theres in Sparta, Wisconsin. Mommy, Daddy and Izzy love 23 00:02:00,320 --> 00:02:05,720 Speaker 1: you lots. Happy birthday to Amelia in Temple, Georgia, who 24 00:02:05,760 --> 00:02:10,720 Speaker 1: turned seven on September fifteenth. Daddy, Mama and Naomi love 25 00:02:10,760 --> 00:02:16,040 Speaker 1: you so much. And Happy belated birthday to Sydney who 26 00:02:16,080 --> 00:02:24,520 Speaker 1: turned six on September fifteenth. Happy birthday to Cade, Mom, Dad, 27 00:02:24,600 --> 00:02:27,240 Speaker 1: Hayes and Remy. Think you are the best seven year 28 00:02:27,240 --> 00:02:32,280 Speaker 1: old in the world and love you. Happy sixth birthday, 29 00:02:32,360 --> 00:02:37,560 Speaker 1: sweet Emma girl on September sixteenth, Mommy, Daddy, Olivia, Noah 30 00:02:37,639 --> 00:02:43,720 Speaker 1: and Cooper love you very much. Happy ninth birthday to 31 00:02:43,880 --> 00:02:49,720 Speaker 1: Declan from Olympia, Washington. Love Dad, Mom, Emma, Chloe, Gus 32 00:02:49,720 --> 00:02:55,840 Speaker 1: and Eli. We love you, Times Infinity Bubba. Happy seventh 33 00:02:55,919 --> 00:03:00,560 Speaker 1: birthday to Evelina on September twenty first, Mama and Papa 34 00:03:00,600 --> 00:03:06,959 Speaker 1: love you. And Happy fourth birthday to Nolan Divine in Montana. 35 00:03:07,639 --> 00:03:12,359 Speaker 1: Love from Daddy, Mommy, Emmy and Davy. You are our 36 00:03:12,560 --> 00:03:16,320 Speaker 1: favorite little Noli bear in the whole world. Love you 37 00:03:16,520 --> 00:03:23,480 Speaker 1: so so much. You're simply the best catch. How happy 38 00:03:23,520 --> 00:03:27,880 Speaker 1: birthday to you all. To reserve your special shout out, 39 00:03:28,160 --> 00:03:32,600 Speaker 1: please visit sleep tightstories dot org slash support. We can't 40 00:03:32,639 --> 00:03:50,000 Speaker 1: wait to celebrate with you. Now onto our story. Red 41 00:03:50,320 --> 00:03:55,480 Speaker 1: arrives home soaked. It has been raining all day and 42 00:03:55,520 --> 00:03:59,200 Speaker 1: she does not like the rain. Her mother got her 43 00:03:59,200 --> 00:04:04,440 Speaker 1: boots in a jack, but they are green green. Red 44 00:04:04,480 --> 00:04:07,200 Speaker 1: gets dried off and stares out the window at the rain. 45 00:04:08,440 --> 00:04:11,120 Speaker 1: Alexa starts a group chat and they talk about their 46 00:04:11,160 --> 00:04:16,479 Speaker 1: plans for the playground mystery. The group all agreed to 47 00:04:16,560 --> 00:04:20,640 Speaker 1: get started the next day, and just before they hang up, 48 00:04:21,160 --> 00:04:25,279 Speaker 1: Alexa mentions that Rachel found an old article written by 49 00:04:25,320 --> 00:04:33,600 Speaker 1: doctor Hart that talks about strange phenomena The Transfer Student, 50 00:04:34,000 --> 00:04:40,800 Speaker 1: Part twenty three. Red shook herself like a dog before 51 00:04:40,839 --> 00:04:44,560 Speaker 1: she pushed open the front door of her house. She 52 00:04:44,680 --> 00:04:48,080 Speaker 1: carefully put her backpack in the door first and then 53 00:04:48,200 --> 00:04:52,640 Speaker 1: stepped in, making a terrible squishy noise. As she walked in. 54 00:04:53,960 --> 00:05:01,280 Speaker 1: She felt like yelling in frustration, ah closing the door 55 00:05:01,320 --> 00:05:05,080 Speaker 1: behind her. She stood in the entryway for a moment dripping, 56 00:05:05,760 --> 00:05:11,880 Speaker 1: She was completely soaked. Her shoes, once shiny and pristine, 57 00:05:12,200 --> 00:05:14,760 Speaker 1: which looked just like the ones she wore on Mars, 58 00:05:15,279 --> 00:05:19,760 Speaker 1: now ruined. She looked down at them with a sinking feeling. 59 00:05:21,040 --> 00:05:24,479 Speaker 1: They'd never had rain like this on Mars. It hadn't 60 00:05:24,560 --> 00:05:29,000 Speaker 1: rained in millennia. She never had to worry about squishy 61 00:05:29,040 --> 00:05:34,440 Speaker 1: shoes or soggy hair. Back there, she wiped a wet 62 00:05:34,480 --> 00:05:37,680 Speaker 1: strand of hair out of her face. Why am I 63 00:05:37,760 --> 00:05:41,200 Speaker 1: even bothering with this hair thing? No one cared about 64 00:05:41,240 --> 00:05:46,920 Speaker 1: hair on Mars all day long. From the moment she 65 00:05:47,000 --> 00:05:51,400 Speaker 1: got out of bed, the rain had pounded down without mercy. 66 00:05:52,240 --> 00:05:56,520 Speaker 1: Of course, it decided to rain even harder the second 67 00:05:56,600 --> 00:06:01,120 Speaker 1: she stepped off the bus. Wet clothes sticking to her 68 00:06:01,160 --> 00:06:04,320 Speaker 1: skin had to be one of the worst feelings in 69 00:06:04,360 --> 00:06:08,400 Speaker 1: the universe. She thought of the green rubber boots her 70 00:06:08,400 --> 00:06:12,160 Speaker 1: mother had bought her, green of all colors, and the 71 00:06:12,200 --> 00:06:16,440 Speaker 1: matching rain jacket. No way was she going to wear those. 72 00:06:18,440 --> 00:06:23,240 Speaker 1: Mom are you home, Red called, hoping for the comforting 73 00:06:23,360 --> 00:06:26,560 Speaker 1: sight of her mother in the kitchen She was almost 74 00:06:26,600 --> 00:06:38,560 Speaker 1: always there. Silence, Where are you still? No answer, With 75 00:06:38,640 --> 00:06:43,480 Speaker 1: a resigned sigh. Red trudged upstairs, leaving a trail of 76 00:06:43,600 --> 00:06:47,880 Speaker 1: damp footprints on the floor. She peeled off her wet 77 00:06:47,880 --> 00:06:53,400 Speaker 1: clothes and threw on some warm, comfortable sweats. These earth 78 00:06:53,480 --> 00:06:56,799 Speaker 1: clothes might be one of the few things she actually 79 00:06:56,960 --> 00:07:02,760 Speaker 1: liked wearing. Here she changed. She glanced at her rain 80 00:07:02,920 --> 00:07:07,120 Speaker 1: soaked reflection in the mirror. She didn't look like she 81 00:07:07,160 --> 00:07:14,080 Speaker 1: belonged on this planet. Even when she tried back downstairs, 82 00:07:14,200 --> 00:07:17,160 Speaker 1: Red went straight for the cookie jar, one of the 83 00:07:17,200 --> 00:07:24,800 Speaker 1: Earth's finest inventions. Always stalked, always dependable. She grabbed a 84 00:07:24,840 --> 00:07:28,400 Speaker 1: handful and set the kettle on to boil. She wasn't 85 00:07:28,400 --> 00:07:31,480 Speaker 1: big on milk with cookies, like some of her classmates. 86 00:07:32,240 --> 00:07:36,880 Speaker 1: The thought of drinking animal milk made her gag so disgusting. 87 00:07:38,400 --> 00:07:41,760 Speaker 1: Her favorite tea, something called gray or whatever, would do 88 00:07:42,200 --> 00:07:48,200 Speaker 1: just fine. As she waited for the kettle to whistle, 89 00:07:48,360 --> 00:07:52,560 Speaker 1: she stared out the window, watching the relentless rain beat 90 00:07:52,640 --> 00:07:57,600 Speaker 1: against the glass. There went all their plans for after school. 91 00:07:58,520 --> 00:08:04,360 Speaker 1: The playground stakout was a wash. Literally. Her mother's footsteps 92 00:08:04,400 --> 00:08:07,040 Speaker 1: could be heard coming down the stairs just as the 93 00:08:07,120 --> 00:08:12,840 Speaker 1: kettle boiled. Mom Red grumbled, grabbing her tea and plopping 94 00:08:12,880 --> 00:08:17,800 Speaker 1: down at the kitchen table. Look outside, it's a catastrophe. 95 00:08:18,480 --> 00:08:22,360 Speaker 1: It's raining so hard it's going to wash everything away, 96 00:08:23,280 --> 00:08:25,480 Speaker 1: which wouldn't be so bad if it meant we could 97 00:08:25,560 --> 00:08:32,040 Speaker 1: fly back to Mars. Her mother smiled softly, sh Red, 98 00:08:32,120 --> 00:08:36,520 Speaker 1: calm down. You know we can't talk like that. People 99 00:08:36,559 --> 00:08:40,640 Speaker 1: will either think you're crazy, or worse, they might learn 100 00:08:40,679 --> 00:08:48,560 Speaker 1: the truth. Besides, we can't leave Red side slumping in 101 00:08:48,640 --> 00:08:54,120 Speaker 1: her chair, her mother walked through the window, gazing out 102 00:08:54,160 --> 00:08:58,080 Speaker 1: at the rain with a far away look. You should 103 00:08:58,120 --> 00:09:02,439 Speaker 1: be celebrating, her mother said, after a moment. This rain 104 00:09:02,920 --> 00:09:07,520 Speaker 1: is one of the most wonderful things imaginable Back on, 105 00:09:08,880 --> 00:09:13,680 Speaker 1: she hesitated, choosing her words carefully. At our old home, 106 00:09:14,040 --> 00:09:17,040 Speaker 1: we would have celebrated the ability of the planet to 107 00:09:17,120 --> 00:09:22,240 Speaker 1: produce rain again, the surface becoming lush with life, so 108 00:09:22,360 --> 00:09:27,000 Speaker 1: we wouldn't have to live underground as much. Red looked 109 00:09:27,000 --> 00:09:30,520 Speaker 1: at her mother, who seemed lost in memories. But here 110 00:09:31,120 --> 00:09:38,000 Speaker 1: it's just wet and green, her mother laughed softly. Maybe, 111 00:09:38,120 --> 00:09:41,120 Speaker 1: but maybe one day you'll see it the way I do. 112 00:09:43,320 --> 00:09:46,560 Speaker 1: Red took another sip of her tea, her mind still 113 00:09:46,640 --> 00:09:51,120 Speaker 1: stuck on Mars. She wasn't sure she'd ever see Earth 114 00:09:51,160 --> 00:09:54,720 Speaker 1: the way her mother did. No matter how much rain fell, 115 00:09:56,840 --> 00:09:59,840 Speaker 1: Earth might be full of water, but it still felt 116 00:10:00,080 --> 00:10:05,880 Speaker 1: dry to her, missing something essential. Look at the neighbors 117 00:10:05,880 --> 00:10:09,760 Speaker 1: in the backyard, her mother said, gesturing toward the window. 118 00:10:10,679 --> 00:10:14,520 Speaker 1: There are kids outside, jumping in puddles and getting all muddy. 119 00:10:15,080 --> 00:10:18,600 Speaker 1: It looks fun. You should try it sometime. It might 120 00:10:18,679 --> 00:10:24,200 Speaker 1: change your perspective about your new home. Red glanced out 121 00:10:24,200 --> 00:10:28,080 Speaker 1: the window, watching the kids laughing and splashing around in 122 00:10:28,160 --> 00:10:33,640 Speaker 1: the rain. They were soaked, covered in mud, but they 123 00:10:33,679 --> 00:10:37,560 Speaker 1: didn't seem to care. It was so strange to her 124 00:10:38,040 --> 00:10:41,280 Speaker 1: how Earth kids found fun in something as messy and 125 00:10:41,480 --> 00:10:48,160 Speaker 1: uncomfortable as this. She couldn't imagine it. Um. Yeah, I 126 00:10:48,160 --> 00:10:50,920 Speaker 1: think I'll just finish my tea and cookies in my room, 127 00:10:51,480 --> 00:10:55,520 Speaker 1: Red replied, doing her best to hide her discomfort at 128 00:10:55,520 --> 00:11:00,000 Speaker 1: the thought of joining them. The idea of getting soaked 129 00:11:00,280 --> 00:11:04,240 Speaker 1: again was unbearable, and the last thing she wanted was 130 00:11:04,360 --> 00:11:11,920 Speaker 1: more squishy shoes. Upstairs, Red sat at her desk, staring 131 00:11:11,960 --> 00:11:14,880 Speaker 1: out the window as the rain continued to blur the 132 00:11:14,960 --> 00:11:21,680 Speaker 1: world outside. The constant streaming water distorted the view, making 133 00:11:21,760 --> 00:11:27,440 Speaker 1: it seem like the whole planet was swimming. Her thoughts 134 00:11:27,559 --> 00:11:32,080 Speaker 1: drifted back to Mars. She could almost feel the dry, 135 00:11:32,480 --> 00:11:37,719 Speaker 1: dusty red soil beneath her feet again, the endless grayness 136 00:11:37,720 --> 00:11:43,200 Speaker 1: of life underground, the sharp, dry air that always filled 137 00:11:43,240 --> 00:11:48,680 Speaker 1: her lungs. I miss home, she whispered to herself. But 138 00:11:48,840 --> 00:11:53,280 Speaker 1: Earth is so alive, so willing to support you, if 139 00:11:53,320 --> 00:12:00,040 Speaker 1: only it wasn't so annoying. She leaned her chin in 140 00:11:59,840 --> 00:12:03,560 Speaker 1: her hand, thinking about the lessons she'd learned in history 141 00:12:03,559 --> 00:12:07,840 Speaker 1: class back on Mars, the great event that had forced 142 00:12:07,920 --> 00:12:15,240 Speaker 1: everyone underground, transforming the surface into a barren wasteland. Life 143 00:12:15,280 --> 00:12:20,240 Speaker 1: on Mars required constant effort, a delicate balance that people 144 00:12:20,280 --> 00:12:24,920 Speaker 1: worked hard to maintain. I wonder what my friends are 145 00:12:24,920 --> 00:12:30,199 Speaker 1: doing now. Red's thoughts wandered to her old life. Do 146 00:12:30,240 --> 00:12:32,640 Speaker 1: they still hang out at the outer rings and talk? 147 00:12:33,679 --> 00:12:40,079 Speaker 1: Do they still joke about whatever? The memories felt distant, 148 00:12:40,559 --> 00:12:44,720 Speaker 1: almost like they belonged to someone else. She wasn't sure 149 00:12:44,720 --> 00:12:50,920 Speaker 1: if her friends had changed, or if she had. Red 150 00:12:50,960 --> 00:12:53,319 Speaker 1: took a sip of her tea after taking a bite 151 00:12:53,360 --> 00:12:57,880 Speaker 1: of her cookie. Earth is so strange, she thought, wrapping 152 00:12:57,880 --> 00:13:02,120 Speaker 1: her hands around her warm cup. It's messy and loud, 153 00:13:02,600 --> 00:13:06,959 Speaker 1: and people do the weirdest things like jumping in puddles 154 00:13:06,960 --> 00:13:12,280 Speaker 1: for fun. Yet even as she thought it, a small 155 00:13:12,400 --> 00:13:17,240 Speaker 1: smile tugged at the corner of her mouth. Alexa would 156 00:13:17,240 --> 00:13:22,080 Speaker 1: splash in those puddles. She could almost hear Alexa's laugh, 157 00:13:22,720 --> 00:13:28,199 Speaker 1: loud and unbothered, echoing in her mind. It surprised her 158 00:13:28,240 --> 00:13:32,440 Speaker 1: how quickly Alexa had become a friend. I didn't even 159 00:13:32,520 --> 00:13:36,320 Speaker 1: want to make friends here, Red admitted to herself. But 160 00:13:36,559 --> 00:13:44,000 Speaker 1: somehow then there was Charlie, always sniffling, always making jokes 161 00:13:44,080 --> 00:13:49,520 Speaker 1: even when his nose was running. Rachel with her endless 162 00:13:49,520 --> 00:13:53,080 Speaker 1: books and quiet insights, the one who always seemed to 163 00:13:53,200 --> 00:13:58,320 Speaker 1: notice things no one else did. And Kurt so calm 164 00:13:58,360 --> 00:14:02,680 Speaker 1: and steady but always full of surprises, especially when it 165 00:14:02,720 --> 00:14:09,079 Speaker 1: came to sports or anything competitive. Red had started feeling 166 00:14:10,040 --> 00:14:14,360 Speaker 1: comfortable around them, less like the outsider she felt when 167 00:14:14,360 --> 00:14:18,560 Speaker 1: she first stepped foot in her new school. When did 168 00:14:18,600 --> 00:14:24,960 Speaker 1: that happen? She was becoming part of something here, despite 169 00:14:25,080 --> 00:14:29,440 Speaker 1: everything in her that resisted, despite her loyalty to Mars 170 00:14:29,480 --> 00:14:33,640 Speaker 1: and her memories of home. She was connecting to this place, 171 00:14:34,440 --> 00:14:40,720 Speaker 1: to these people. It felt confusing, like she was betraying 172 00:14:40,800 --> 00:14:45,600 Speaker 1: her martian self just by caring. How can I belong 173 00:14:45,680 --> 00:14:50,280 Speaker 1: in both places, she wondered, Can I even belong here 174 00:14:50,360 --> 00:14:55,720 Speaker 1: at all? She shifted in her seat, watching the rain 175 00:14:55,840 --> 00:15:00,680 Speaker 1: slide down the window in lazy streaks. She had never 176 00:15:00,760 --> 00:15:04,000 Speaker 1: expected Earth to feel like more than a stop on 177 00:15:04,080 --> 00:15:09,400 Speaker 1: the way to something else. And yet it wasn't just Earth. 178 00:15:10,440 --> 00:15:15,360 Speaker 1: It was Alexa, Charlie, Kurt, and Rachel. It was the 179 00:15:15,400 --> 00:15:20,960 Speaker 1: mystery club, the school, the endless little adventures they found 180 00:15:21,000 --> 00:15:25,360 Speaker 1: themselves in. She was surprised to find that she didn't 181 00:15:25,440 --> 00:15:32,160 Speaker 1: hate it. Could it eventually feel like home? Then her 182 00:15:32,240 --> 00:15:37,160 Speaker 1: phone started chiming. Red reached into her bag and pulled 183 00:15:37,160 --> 00:15:43,360 Speaker 1: it out. It was Alexa requesting a video chat. Red 184 00:15:43,400 --> 00:15:46,600 Speaker 1: had only talked to her briefly during class and had 185 00:15:46,640 --> 00:15:51,240 Speaker 1: apologized for not bringing the box with doctor Hart's materials. 186 00:15:51,880 --> 00:15:54,000 Speaker 1: She didn't want it to get soaked in the rain, 187 00:15:54,480 --> 00:16:00,080 Speaker 1: so she'd left it at home. Alexa's freckled face and 188 00:16:00,120 --> 00:16:04,040 Speaker 1: bright red hair filled the screen. Hey, Red, dry, yet 189 00:16:05,040 --> 00:16:07,760 Speaker 1: you looked as cheerful as a wet cat this morning. 190 00:16:08,520 --> 00:16:11,440 Speaker 1: You shouldn't let the rain get you down. It's fun 191 00:16:11,480 --> 00:16:15,640 Speaker 1: to play in, but seriously, you need some rain boots 192 00:16:15,640 --> 00:16:21,200 Speaker 1: and a coat. I'm not really into the whole rain thing, 193 00:16:21,720 --> 00:16:26,240 Speaker 1: and the boots I have, well, they're not quite my style. 194 00:16:26,600 --> 00:16:31,160 Speaker 1: Red replied, glancing down at her tee. So what's up. 195 00:16:32,680 --> 00:16:35,080 Speaker 1: I figured we didn't really get a chance to talk 196 00:16:35,120 --> 00:16:38,680 Speaker 1: about the case today since everyone was doing their own thing, 197 00:16:39,040 --> 00:16:44,640 Speaker 1: Alexa said, so I invited everyone for a quick chat. Okay, 198 00:16:45,560 --> 00:16:48,480 Speaker 1: sorry again for not bringing the box. I didn't want 199 00:16:48,480 --> 00:16:51,640 Speaker 1: it to get wet, Red said, feeling a little guilty. 200 00:16:52,680 --> 00:16:57,520 Speaker 1: No worries, Alexa reassured her. Before she could say more, 201 00:16:58,160 --> 00:17:01,960 Speaker 1: Charlie's face popped up on the and before he could 202 00:17:02,000 --> 00:17:08,359 Speaker 1: even say hello, he sneezed loudly. I felt that one, 203 00:17:08,680 --> 00:17:14,480 Speaker 1: Alexa joked. I guess your mom's latest concoction didn't work. Yeah, 204 00:17:14,520 --> 00:17:19,600 Speaker 1: I'm sneezing again, Charlie replied, his eyes watery and his 205 00:17:19,760 --> 00:17:23,480 Speaker 1: nose a painful shade of red. I think it's the rain. 206 00:17:23,840 --> 00:17:27,920 Speaker 1: Maybe I'm allergic to it. Well, that's something you and 207 00:17:28,040 --> 00:17:32,800 Speaker 1: Red have in common. She seems allergic to the rain too, 208 00:17:32,960 --> 00:17:38,640 Speaker 1: Alexa teased. Rachel and Kurt joined the call next, Hi, all, 209 00:17:39,160 --> 00:17:44,440 Speaker 1: Rachel said, her face barely visible behind a book. Hey, Charlie, 210 00:17:44,800 --> 00:17:48,240 Speaker 1: you look like that reindeer Santa has, Kurt said, with 211 00:17:48,280 --> 00:17:56,199 Speaker 1: a smile. Rudolph, Charlie replied, sniffling red hesitated, wanting to 212 00:17:56,280 --> 00:18:00,760 Speaker 1: ask who Santa and Rudolph were, but stopping herself. They 213 00:18:00,840 --> 00:18:04,040 Speaker 1: must be important to Earth culture, she thought, not wanting 214 00:18:04,119 --> 00:18:09,159 Speaker 1: to sound clueless. Yeah, your nose is super red. You 215 00:18:09,280 --> 00:18:16,479 Speaker 1: sneezing again, Kurt asked, yep, Charlie sighed dramatically. It's my curse. 216 00:18:19,320 --> 00:18:23,639 Speaker 1: So other than catching up with my besties, Kurt continued, 217 00:18:24,000 --> 00:18:26,960 Speaker 1: what's the reason for this call? I only have so 218 00:18:27,119 --> 00:18:30,960 Speaker 1: much time. I missed my afternoon snack, and I really 219 00:18:31,000 --> 00:18:35,600 Speaker 1: don't want to get angry. Redd and I talked last 220 00:18:35,680 --> 00:18:38,520 Speaker 1: night about how we could proceed with the latest case. 221 00:18:38,680 --> 00:18:43,160 Speaker 1: Alexa began, her voice full of energy, and I thought 222 00:18:43,200 --> 00:18:46,680 Speaker 1: I could fill you all in. If the weather cooperates, 223 00:18:46,920 --> 00:18:49,920 Speaker 1: and I think it will, we can get started tomorrow. 224 00:18:51,240 --> 00:18:54,840 Speaker 1: She paused, and then laughed. Oh, and after that, we 225 00:18:54,920 --> 00:19:00,199 Speaker 1: can definitely talk about missus Ferguson's wild new hairstyle. It 226 00:19:00,280 --> 00:19:04,440 Speaker 1: was Aliens from Mars, Charlie said, with a dramatic sniffle. 227 00:19:05,440 --> 00:19:09,600 Speaker 1: Just let her finish, will you, Rachel complained, finally putting 228 00:19:09,640 --> 00:19:13,960 Speaker 1: down her book. Yes, read thought to herself, let's forget 229 00:19:14,000 --> 00:19:19,879 Speaker 1: about Martians. For a moment, Alexa rolled her eyes but 230 00:19:20,080 --> 00:19:24,800 Speaker 1: kept going. So here's the plan. We start by checking 231 00:19:24,840 --> 00:19:29,080 Speaker 1: the playground after school tomorrow. We'll look for any clues, 232 00:19:29,480 --> 00:19:33,919 Speaker 1: scratch marks, weird objects, anything that seems out of place. 233 00:19:35,440 --> 00:19:37,840 Speaker 1: Then we'll talk to some of the younger kids who 234 00:19:37,920 --> 00:19:42,159 Speaker 1: use the playground see if they've noticed anything strange, like 235 00:19:42,200 --> 00:19:47,320 Speaker 1: those clinking sounds they mentioned, maybe they saw someone suspicious. 236 00:19:49,000 --> 00:19:53,080 Speaker 1: Red nodded as Alexa spoke, though she already knew the details, 237 00:19:55,760 --> 00:20:00,119 Speaker 1: and then Alexa continued, we could do a stakeout. We'll 238 00:20:00,160 --> 00:20:04,119 Speaker 1: take turns watching the playground after school, bring some snacks, 239 00:20:04,560 --> 00:20:07,640 Speaker 1: maybe even some blankets if it's cold, and see if 240 00:20:07,680 --> 00:20:11,959 Speaker 1: anyone shows up to move more equipment. If we're lucky, 241 00:20:12,480 --> 00:20:16,960 Speaker 1: we might catch the culprit in action. Binoculars at the ready. 242 00:20:17,560 --> 00:20:24,800 Speaker 1: Charlie muttered, rubbing his nose. Maybe they'll spot martians ignoring him. 243 00:20:25,119 --> 00:20:29,879 Speaker 1: Alexa finished, we'll piece together everything we find and hopefully 244 00:20:30,320 --> 00:20:36,359 Speaker 1: we'll solve this before the weekend. Simple right. Red found 245 00:20:36,359 --> 00:20:39,640 Speaker 1: herself nodding along with the rest of the group, even 246 00:20:39,680 --> 00:20:44,000 Speaker 1: though she still didn't quite get Earth's fascination with playgrounds, 247 00:20:44,320 --> 00:20:48,600 Speaker 1: but the mystery itself was starting to feel interesting, and 248 00:20:48,720 --> 00:20:53,320 Speaker 1: for once she was looking forward to getting involved. That 249 00:20:53,400 --> 00:20:56,879 Speaker 1: sounds like a good plan, Rachel said, finally putting her 250 00:20:56,880 --> 00:21:01,760 Speaker 1: book down. Yep, I'm all in, added, what's this about 251 00:21:01,840 --> 00:21:07,600 Speaker 1: missus Ferguson's hair. The group burst into laughter as Alexa 252 00:21:07,800 --> 00:21:12,840 Speaker 1: dove into an animated description of their teacher's wild new hairstyle, 253 00:21:13,760 --> 00:21:17,360 Speaker 1: something about it being teased up so high it almost 254 00:21:17,400 --> 00:21:22,879 Speaker 1: touched the ceiling. Rachel added her own commentary, comparing it 255 00:21:22,920 --> 00:21:26,719 Speaker 1: to a bird's nest, and even Charlie managed a chuckle 256 00:21:26,800 --> 00:21:31,800 Speaker 1: between sneezes. Red smiled along, but wasn't really paying attention. 257 00:21:32,640 --> 00:21:36,720 Speaker 1: Hairstyles still didn't make much sense to her. On Mars, 258 00:21:37,359 --> 00:21:40,240 Speaker 1: no one spent time worrying about how their hair looked. 259 00:21:40,760 --> 00:21:45,240 Speaker 1: There were more important things to think about. She zoned 260 00:21:45,280 --> 00:21:48,280 Speaker 1: out for a moment, her mind wandering back to the 261 00:21:48,400 --> 00:21:52,479 Speaker 1: rainy day, the sound of water hitting her windows, and 262 00:21:52,520 --> 00:21:58,560 Speaker 1: the memories of her old life on Mars. Suddenly, Alexa's 263 00:21:58,640 --> 00:22:02,639 Speaker 1: voice snapped her back to the present. Oh, and speaking 264 00:22:02,720 --> 00:22:09,119 Speaker 1: of wild stories, Alexi said, grinning. Rachel found something interesting 265 00:22:09,200 --> 00:22:13,800 Speaker 1: in the school library, an old article written by doctor Hart. 266 00:22:14,760 --> 00:22:22,000 Speaker 1: Red blinked her interest immediately piqued doctor Hart. Yeah, apparently 267 00:22:22,040 --> 00:22:25,639 Speaker 1: she wrote about some strange phenomena happening in the area 268 00:22:25,720 --> 00:22:30,280 Speaker 1: around where you live now, Alexa said, laughing, it's pretty funny, 269 00:22:31,000 --> 00:22:34,960 Speaker 1: like she was obsessed with the idea that weird happenings 270 00:22:35,000 --> 00:22:40,639 Speaker 1: were happening right under people's noses. Red's heart skipped a beat. 271 00:22:41,359 --> 00:22:45,840 Speaker 1: Strange phenomena. Could this be more than just an old article? 272 00:22:47,160 --> 00:22:50,240 Speaker 1: She thought, back to the documents they found in the box. 273 00:22:51,280 --> 00:22:55,960 Speaker 1: Maybe doctor Hart's research wasn't just wild theories. Maybe there 274 00:22:56,040 --> 00:23:00,359 Speaker 1: was more to the story than they had realized. Bed's 275 00:23:00,400 --> 00:23:04,200 Speaker 1: curiosity grew as she wondered if doctor Hart had discovered 276 00:23:04,240 --> 00:23:09,680 Speaker 1: something important, something connected to her family. Do you have 277 00:23:09,760 --> 00:23:14,200 Speaker 1: the article, Red asked, trying to sound casual, but her 278 00:23:14,200 --> 00:23:18,239 Speaker 1: mind was already racing. Not with me, but I can 279 00:23:18,280 --> 00:23:22,560 Speaker 1: grab it tomorrow, Rachel replied, leaning back into her book. 280 00:23:23,200 --> 00:23:27,040 Speaker 1: It's probably nothing serious, just one of those quirky old 281 00:23:27,119 --> 00:23:33,080 Speaker 1: scientists things. But what if it's not, Red thought, Her 282 00:23:33,160 --> 00:23:37,159 Speaker 1: mind was now buzzing with questions. Maybe doctor Hart had 283 00:23:37,200 --> 00:23:42,399 Speaker 1: been right all along. As the video call ended and 284 00:23:42,440 --> 00:23:46,119 Speaker 1: her screen went dark, Red sat quietly at her desk, 285 00:23:46,600 --> 00:23:51,280 Speaker 1: torn between two instincts. She knew she needed to steer 286 00:23:51,359 --> 00:23:55,119 Speaker 1: her friends away from the doctor Heart mystery before they 287 00:23:55,240 --> 00:23:58,800 Speaker 1: uncovered too much, before they got too close to the 288 00:23:58,840 --> 00:24:05,280 Speaker 1: truth about Martian, about her, but something deep inside her 289 00:24:05,359 --> 00:24:10,200 Speaker 1: couldn't help wondering if doctor Hart's research held secrets, even 290 00:24:10,320 --> 00:24:15,400 Speaker 1: she didn't know, secrets about the AID or the resettlement 291 00:24:15,480 --> 00:24:21,679 Speaker 1: program that might change everything. For the first time, she 292 00:24:21,800 --> 00:24:24,480 Speaker 1: felt like she was standing on the edge of something 293 00:24:24,600 --> 00:24:33,800 Speaker 1: bigger than she had ever imagined. And that is the 294 00:24:33,960 --> 00:24:39,359 Speaker 1: end of this part. Good Night, sleep Tight.