Emeralda

Friday, 6-6-2042

Of all of the people chosen to explore a new world 20 years away, I would have never, ever, thought it would be me. Emeralda Noelle Lee, out of 7 billion other more talented candidates. I’m only 11! Yet, I had no choice. My single suitcase is ready, if I’m not. We meet at the spaceship tomorrow, to prepare for our new life. This still doesn’t seem real to me.

Saturday, 6-7-2042

Today, I lay in my bunk on the Vestigo as I write in my digipad. The ship is huge, large enough for 2,000 people. There are 26 areas, with 26 families in each. Two parents and one child per family. I drew area A. still, I can’t imagine this place as home. I still don’t feel ready for this.

Tuesday, 6-10-2042

So much has been going on. WE BLASTED OFF! We are now in space, out of Earth’s atmosphere, and never to set foot on Earth again. We are headed to Ganand, a planet far, far away. I miss my friends.

Some of the kids here are hard to get along with. When they explained how the ship works, I didn’t understand a lot of it. This is more proof that I’m not meant for this. Why me?

Wednesday, 6-11-2042

Today, this girl named Aabriella got into a fight with another girl named Natasha.

“Come on, Emeralda, it’s her fault. She broke the climbing wall harness! We can’t fix the motor now! She’s so mean!” screamed Aabriella.

“That’s not true! It was an accident!” protested Natasha.

“You tried to do a flip on the thing!” Aabriella shouted.

“Gee whiz, I’m sorry, but we can’t do anything about it.” Natasha grumbled.

It's driving me nuts.

Friday, 6-13-2042

I need to see that harness. I have a motor from an old robotics kit, but it’s probably not strong enough. I’ll try, but I wish someone else would do this. Aabriella and Natasha are still fighting. Natasha seems nicer than Aabriella.

Saturday, 6-14-2042

Today, I saw the broken harness motor. It looked difficult to fix, because it had frayed wires. It could have not been Natasha’s fault, I realize suddenly. It could have just been weathering. Everyone loves the motor, so I want to try to fix it, but I have a robotics motor, an extra rope, 3 screws, and a carabiner. It’s impossible to fix it. When stuff like this happens, I ask Ms. Buchanan, but she’s busy now.

Sunday, 6-15-2042

We went to church today, with other Christians on board the Vestigo. After church, I brainstormed solutions. Some wouldn’t work at all. Some might work, but they require parts I don’t have. I want to fix the climbing wall fast, though. All the kids agree on one thing, that the climbing wall is the only part of the gym that’s fun.

My ideas have two main categories, motorized and manual. There’s also an oddball, but I’ll look at that one later. The motorized ones need a strong motor, which I don’t have. I could also use a manual system. I remember at a friend’s birthday party, the bright purple ropes in what looked like a complicated pulley system, attached to the operator’s belt on the ground, the climber, and the top of the wall. The manual one could work, but it would need an operator, and if there was only one person, they couldn’t climb.

I observe the oddball. The concept would be somewhat like a retractable cord, but stronger, and able to hold about 40 to 150 pounds without a significant difference.

Monday, 6-16-2042

Today I told Natasha that I was making a new harness motor, and that I wanted her help. She seemed excited, and agreed to work on it with me. We got a decent amount of it done and decided to work more throughout the week.

Saturday, 6-21-2042

Natasha and I finished our prototype today! Sadly, when I reached the top of the wall, the line went slack. It needs to loosen slightly at the top, but stay taut, and slowly let the weight down.

Natasha helped me adjust the tension, and she tested it.

“How did it work?” I asked hopefully.

“Well, it was kinda loose, at the top, but otherwise it worked.”

“Let me try it. We are different weights, I need to see the difference.”

I scaled the climbing wall quickly, then jumped down. It worked alright for me, but not for Natasha. I need to fix that.

Monday, 6-23-2042

Well, I fixed the blip in the harness motor and attached things of various weights to the harness to test them, so it works! I want to share my solution during school tomorrow.

Tuesday, 6-24-2042

Today, I told Mrs. Buchanan, (a really awesome teacher) that I wanted to announce something to the class. She arranged a miniature assembly for me!

Through my nervousness, I said. “As you all know, the climbing wall harness motor has been broken for two weeks. We found a way to fix it with no electricity! The climbing wall is now back in business!”

Then, a representative from the SCHOOL BOARD stood up. “Emeralda Lee and Natasha Matthews, your problem-solving skills are creative and remarkable. Therefore, I present you with, Emeralda, the first-class citizen award, and second-class for you, Natasha.”

Everyone started cheering and I knew exactly why I was on the Vestigo.