Except for the radio playing "Tossin' and Turnin'", a silence took place among the five friends as the red Chevy steadily got closer to the Spaceport. Mary stared out past her stepfather at the window to her right towards the clear evening sky, seeing if she could spot any shooting stars. The voice of Sue startled Mary, causing her to fall forward onto Reed's lap.

"Reed, I just can't let you and Ben go into that rocket by yourselves. Can Johnny and I go with you two? We will not be in the way. As a matter of fact, we could help do something like keep an eye on the radar."

Reed did not know what to say. His eyes went from Mary, who had gotten up, and was then sitting straight up, and looking at him wondering what his answer was going to be to Sue's plead; to Sue who was giving him the widest, most beautiful eyes. Eyes Reed could hardly resist.

"Susan, Ben and I know what we are doing. But you and Johnny coming along? I just don't know..."

Mary knew good and well that was Reed's way of saying, "I guess you can tag along.". Beside herself, Mary knew only one other person who could manipulate Reed, Sue.

"Don't say anymore Reed! I'm your fiancée! Where YOU go, I go!" Sue exclaimed as Johnny followed up.

"And I'm most certainly tagging along with Sis! So it's SETTLED!"

Reed moaned, and shook his head. There was no battle, and he was already defeated. Defeated by the majority anyway, there was still one left, the child beside him who was looking at him with gleaming brown eyes. Eyes that said,

"Can I please go on the rocket too? Please? Pretty please?"

With a sigh, Reed uttered to Mary.

"I take it since everybody else here is coming, you want to go too."

Mary nodded and smiled one of her trademark charming smiles most anybody found irresistible. Anybody, except Reed that moment.

"Mary, as mature a person as you have proven yourself to be, I just don't know if someone your age should go into space. The effects may be overwhelming."

"Oh come now Father. The effects of space overwhelming to youth? If that is true, then why the heck is Johnny coming along?"

Johnny interjected.

"She's got a point Reed."

"Besides Father, don't you remember the conversation we had a couple of years ago where you said if all went well with the rocket that you would let me come along to prove to the government and world that children could handle space travel? Think of what my coming along could do for travelers of all ages! Instead of going to Europe or Mexico, people can go to more exotic places like Mars or orbit around Jupiter and Saturn!"

Reed did indeed recall that talk he and Mary had. He could of sworn he was just playing with her about that idea of her going into space with him. But obviously, Mary did not perceive his words as kidding around. Reed hated to disappoint her now, but he cared for her and her safety. Mary could sense his getting ready to say no again. She immediately reacted by gently hugging him and saying.

"By the way Father, what would I do if something was happen to you up there? You would not want me to be sent back to the Central City Orphanage, would you?"
Reed closed his eyes, and shook his head in slight distress. No, he did not want her to have to return to the Hell that was called an orphanage. What Johnny brought up did not help much either.

"Hey, didn't they find a boy who had ran away from there recently? I read he was kicking and screaming as they took him back to that place."

Like Johnny, Reed had read that story in the newspaper along with others about children always escaping from the orphanage. Mary happened to be one of those children he read about. It amazed Reed that after what she had been through there that Mary had a cheerful, likable personality and not a bitter one. He knew that his teachings had helped her in a huge way. The only decent years of Mary's childhood were those she had spent with Reed. And at that point, nothing would break Reed's heart more than to see the one he had come to call his own go back to the slum he had rescued her from. As final as it was, death is better than suffering like that again. The decision was made.

"Very well Mary, you may come along too. I just hope there is a spacesuit that will fit you."

With that said, Mary gave him another hug as he patted her head. Mary's coming along on the rocket ride did not surprise the other three at all, it was inevitable from the beginning as strong a bond as her and Reed shared. Johnny drove into the Spaceport's driveway, and parked the car a few feet away from the gate. Reed got out of the car, walked up to the guard, and showed him his I.D. The other four waited in car, anticipating what was to come. Fame? Making the history books? Or perhaps getting caught, and put in jail, or even worst, prison? All Mary, Ben, Johnny, and Sue could do was wait, and wonder as Reed went through the process of getting through the security.